Why you can trust The Zebra

The Zebra partners with some of the companies we write about. However, our content is written and reviewed by an independent team of editors and licensed agents. Reference our data methodology and learn more about how we make money.

Author profile picture

Ava Lynch

Senior Analyst

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty

Ava joined The Zebra as a writer and licensed insurance agent in 2016. She now works as a senior analyst, providing insights and data analysis as one…

Author profile picture

Tony Garcia

Multi-line Team Manager, Insurance Expert

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty

Tony has worked as a Sales Team Manager at The Zebra since May 2021.

Prior to The Zebra, Tony worked for Texas Service Life Insurance Company, spendi…

Author profile picture

Ross Martin

Manager, Content Quality

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty

Ross joined The Zebra as a writer and researcher in 2019. As a licensed insurance agent, he specializes in writing insurance content to help shoppers…

What factors are most important for car insurance rates?

A rating factor is an individual characteristic of a customer used to price car insurance premiums. Put simply, the less risky your rating factors are, the cheaper your car insurance policy will be. Some auto insurance rating factors — such as driving record or vehicle type — have relatively sizeable impacts on car insurance costs. Others — like gender or marital status — are less important.

Below are the 15 rating factors most often used by car insurance companies, along with some associated costs by insurer.

 

1. Age

Age is a very significant rating factor, especially for young drivers. Between the most expensive insurance premiums — paid by teen drivers — and the most affordable — paid by 50-year-olds — is a cost gap of over $5,500 per year. Insurance companies view teen drivers as very risky and potentially expensive clients to insure. Data show that teen drivers drive more recklessly and get into more accidents than do drivers in any other age group.

INSURANCE PREMIUMS BY AGE
Insurance provider 6-month premium — 16-year-old 6-month premium — 50-year-old
Allstate $4,393 $930
Farmers $4,013 $755
GEICO $2,221 $549
Liberty Mutual $5,268 $693
Nationwide $2,518 $646
Progressive $5,047 $712
State Farm $2,040 $608
USAA $2,114 $461
Average $3,452 $669

 

At what age do car insurance rates go down?

Age becomes a less important rating factor at the age of 20, and even less impactful at the age of 25. Auto insurance premiums reach their low point in a driver's mid-50s before rising for older drivers aged 70-plus.

 

2. Driving history

This rating factor is straightforward. Car insurance companies see a driver's past as an accurate predictor of their future performance. A history of tickets or violations will inflate the cost of current and future insurance premiums. The below data show how a speeding ticket (speeding 16 to 20 miles per hour over the limit), a DUI, and a reckless driving charge may impact insurance premiums.

Average Premiums by Violation.png

 

3. Credit score

Credit is a major — but often overlooked — rating factor. Data shows drivers with poor credit file more claims than do drivers with better credit. And when they do file claims, they are generally more expensive than claims from drivers with good credit. The difference in car insurance rates between drivers with the lowest level of credit and the highest is over $1,500 annually. This comes out to a $784 increase for a six-month policy or $130 a month.

 
INSURANCE PREMIUMS BY CREDIT HISTORY
Insurance provider 6-month premium — Very Poor Credit

6-month premium — Great Credit

Allstate $1,692 $885
Farmers $1,293 $714
GEICO $1,087 $512
Liberty Mutual $1,921 $705
Nationwide $1,059 $637
Progressive $1,658 $617
State Farm $1,435 $527
USAA $1,199 $475
Average $1,418 $634

 

In the above table, "worst credit" is defined as a credit rating between 300 and 579. A "best credit" rating sits between 800 and 580.

 

4. Years of driving experience

This rating factor is simple. The more experience you have behind the wheel, the less likely you are to make the mistakes that lead to violations and claims. For an insurance company, this means you’re less risky as a client. Drivers with many years of experience typically enjoy lower insurance prices than do newer drivers. Learn more about finding affordable car insurance as a new driver.

 

5. Location

Location functions as a rating factor on two levels: state and zip code. Car insurance is regulated at the state level and subject to each state's regulations. For example, Michigan, a no-fault state, requires all drivers to carry unlimited Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage by law. This makes car insurance expensive because the costs of PIP coverage and “unlimited" coverage are passed to insurers. Car insurance rates in Michigan are greater than $2,000 per year more expensive than in Ohio, just one state over.

Car insurance is also priced by location at a more granular level. Car insurance is priced by ZIP code to help insurance companies adjust for the external rating factors associated with each area. Insurance costs are higher in locales with more drivers. ZIP codes prone to floods, wildfires, crimes such as vandalism or theft, or other risks also face higher rates. In many cases, those in rural areas pay less in car insurance premiums than do their urban counterparts.

 

6. Gender

Another lesser-known risk factor, gender primarily impacts rates for young drivers. On average, a male teen driver pays $754 more per year in auto insurance premiums than does a female teen driver. Again, this is because car insurance companies see young male drivers as more likely to take risks than their female counterparts. The relatively safe driving habits of young female drivers result in their earning lower rates than teenage male drivers, on average.

 

INSURANCE PREMIUMS BY AGE & GENDER
Gender and age group 6-Month premium
Female teen driver $2,446
Male teen driver $2,823

 

7. Insurance history

Unless you are a brand new driver, insurance companies see a lack of continuous coverage as an indicator of higher risk. In an insurance company's estimation, if you were licensed but didn't have insurance, you may have been driving while uninsured. The below data show the difference between drivers with no previous coverage and five years of consecutive coverage: $182 per year.

Average Premiums by Insurance History.png

 

8. Annual mileage

Annual mileage has a major bearing on insurance premiums — mainly in California. The national difference in annual premium for drivers who travel fewer than 7,500 miles per year versus those who drive 15,000-plus miles annually is $92. But in California, this difference is nearly 32% — or $557 per year. Below are the US averages by mileage driven and insurance company.

Average Premiums by Annual Mileage.png

For more information on how annual mileage affects car insurance rates, see the related articles below.

 

9. Marital status

Marital status has a minor effect on auto insurance rates. Historical data show married drivers share driving duties, filing fewer individual claims. The difference between car insurance rates for married, divorced, single, and widowed drivers is minimal.

 

10. Claims history

Every single insurance company views a long claims history as a red flag. Included in your claims history is any insurance claim you file — and any claim filed against you. If your insurance company pays out a claim, you should expect your rate to increase. Below are estimated rates from popular insurance companies across the US after an at-fault accident.

 

Insurance provider None 6-month premium after at-fault accident
Allstate $994 $1,508
Farmers $762 $1,113
GEICO $638 $998
Liberty Mutual $823 $1,179
Nationwide $673 $1,087
Progressive $802 $1,386
State Farm $656 $808
USAA $474 $644

 

11. Coverage level

The more coverage you carry, the more expensive your premiums will be. The cost difference between the lowest levels of car insurance coverage and the highest can add up to more than $1,000 annually. The reason for this is simple: if you carry more coverage, your insurance company is obligated to pay out to meet a higher coverage limit.

Premiums by Coverage Level.png

See our guides to car insurance deductible amounts below:

 

12. Vehicle

Insurance rates on a brand new sports car will be more expensive than premiums for an old Civic. If a vehicle costs more to replace, the insurance company will charge you more each month to cover these potential costs (via collision and comprehensive coverage). Find car insurance rates by vehicle type.

 

13. Vehicle ownership status

Car insurance companies categorize car ownership in three ways: owned, leased, and financed. Premiums vary by ownership status.

For more information, see our guides to each of these stages:

 

14. Discount options

Auto insurance discounts depend on your location and insurance company, and many are reflections of your individual rating factors. If you’re a homeowner, pay your insurance premium upfront, or have a clean driving record, you might qualify for a discount. Below are some common discounts.

 

15. Insurance company

The biggest factor in determining auto insurance costs is the insurance company you decide to go with. Rates vary substantially from company to company and while there are other factors that comprise your driving profile, you could be paying too much for car insurance simply because your current company is too expensive. Let the Zebra help you gather quotes from as many companies as possible using your individual rating profile to find the best possible rate for you.

Find an affordable car insurance policy today!

Location pin icon
No junk mail. No spam calls. Free quotes.

Related Questions

Other people are also asking...

MIP at 18, I am getting it dismissed and expunged. Do not have my license yet, will insurance be affected?

MIP is a non-moving violation, which does not impact your insurance rates. When it comes to the cost, if you're around 18-20 you can expect your premium to be quite pricier than those paid by older folks. If possible, I recommend getting insurance under your parents' policy. There are man…
Jul 28, 2019 Gastonia, NC

If I hit an object in the road, can I claim this under my comprehensive coverage?

Insurance companies consider hitting an object in the road to be an accident. Unfortunately, that means you will need to use your collision coverage, the incident will be considered your fault, and you'll likely see an increase in premium. I would recommend getting a few repair estimates first…
Nov 23, 2016 Winston-Salem, NC

Why am I getting quotes that are so drastically different?

Thank you for reaching out to The Zebra!Insurance quoting and rating is a very complex process, and it can get a little confusing. When you quote something on our website, the coverages you were quoted might not be exactly the same which can cause variances in the price. Specifically in Florida, th…
Jun 15, 2023 Mt. Dora, FL

How many years of driving history do insurance companies check?

While it can vary by carrier, most car insurance companies will charge (i.e. increase your premium) for any ticket or violation within the past 3 years. You typically won't be charged for anything that happened beyond 3 years ago, however insurance companies will still pull 5 years of driving …
Feb 20, 2018 Middletown, Connecticut

About The Zebra

The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.

  • The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
  • The Zebra’s insurance content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
  • The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
  • The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.