For many drivers, how the cost of car insurance is calculated by insurance providers is mystical and confusing.
Costs are partly centered on insurers’ estimates of the number of claims to be paid in a year to cover vehicle repair and clinical rehabilitation costs for injured individuals. All drivers basically pay directly to the common risk pool to cover the cost of the claim.
Let’s take a look at the points that insurance providers take into account when pricing:
Your driving record
Of course, your driving record is a pretty big consideration for pricing, and it’s the only aspect of your premium that you can directly affect. For example, if you have a ticket or a fatal error on your record, you will pay a higher price than you would without it. On the other hand, drivers who maintain a good, clean driving record over a long period of time will find their prices lower.
Your years of experience as a driver is also important. New drivers are at greater risk because they have much less experience. That means their prices are bigger. The longer you drive, the better your price will be due to a better driving experience. Although young drivers have a tendency to have higher prices, keep in mind that new drivers of all ages will be perceived as having a greater risk.
The vehicle you own
It’s not just you as the driver, but also the car you decide to own that adds to your insurance rates. Various cars are sorted by inning insurance providers according to a mix of factors. A high-value luxury car will cost more to guarantee because it costs more to repair or replace. Cars are statistically more likely to be associated with major accidents, so they may also see higher prices.
Vehicle break-ins are another problem, and in some parts of the nation, it is increasing. Every year, car robberies cost Canada $1 billion. In other words, if your vehicle is more likely to be taken, then the underwriting fee will be more expensive.
Where you live and travel
Your zip code is another factor that determines your insurance rates. Some cities have more vehicles per head than others. Locations with a greater accident or robbery event will carry a higher price. It’s also important to be specific about your home. As a matter of fact, if you park in the garage rather than on the street, you may see a lower rate because the chances of your vehicle being damaged or picked up are much less.
How much you have from home work is also included in the calculation. Long journeys imply higher prices because you spend more time driving. If you don’t work or work from home, and your car is rarely driven, the risk of an accident is reduced. It may equal a premium reduction.
Various other factors considered by insurance providers
All insurance prices are risk-based, and each driver is equipped with a unique combination of factors that can raise and lower prices. This means that each driver will have a different fare because the level of risk is unique to them.
For example, the more likely you are to file an insurance claim with a higher premium. That premium is based on what the insurance provider thinks you need to pay in an accident claim to repair your vehicle. Today, modern vehicles are really computer systems on wheels with all the technology at their disposal. However, there are a few things you can do to lower your premium.
The important thing to remember is that each insurance company calculates risk in its own way and places varying quantities of importance on each factor. That means you can find a lot of discrepancies in the insurance estimates you receive.
Other aspects that insurance providers can use include:
- Information about distracted driving. It’s increasing across the country, and is therefore a pretty big reason for accidents. This may be one of the factors that the insurance provider evaluates.
- Insurance fraud is a problem that accounts for about 15 cents of every money paid in car expenses.
- Severe weather events such as floods and hurricanes increased significantly across Canada, causing heavy losses that destroyed both homes and vehicles. The Canadian Bureau of Insurance estimates insurance providers paid $41.5 billion in claims in 2019.
Looking around for auto insurance estimates is the quickest way to find out how varied the prices are – and how much you could pay just to try to get a few estimates.