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Hello and welcome to our Padlet on Canadian Auto insurance. We will be looking at some useful articles,online tools and videos to help you gain an understanding of auto insurance and find the best coverage and rates. We will do this by looking at the different factors companies consider when giving you a rate as well as the steps you can take to lower that rate.

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You Really Can Lower Your Car Insurance Cost

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You Really Can Lower Your Car Insurance Cost

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Summary: In this article from the New York Times they are dealing with various ways you and other people can lower the cost of insurance and they give quite a few different examples how this can be done. One way insurance costs can be lowered is by buying later model cars. The reason being is that the newer the car the more it's going to cost on insurance because they are made more sophisticated than their older models. Another way to lower insurance cost is obviously, not being in car accidents or avoiding tickets whether it be speed, parking, Etc.
Reason for choosing: The main reason for choosing this article is because I have recently received my G2 and found this article to be very informative. It had really good points on how to save money when looking for insurance which is very important to those of us that are students and have to manage our limited income very wisely.

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After years of increases, auto insurance has become a budget pain point for many. But experts say there are ways to keep your rates down.

Credit... Minh Uong/The New York Times

It's getting more expensive to insure your car, but there are some steps you can take to keep premiums affordable.

Average annual automobile insurance rates in the United States rose to $1,548 in 2019, according to an analysis by The Zebra, an insurance comparison website. While that was just a 2 percent increase from 2018 - roughly on a par with the annual inflation rate - it followed several years of larger increases, the report said.

Advanced technology is partly to blame for the higher costs, The Zebra said. Automakers are incorporating more anti-theft and safety features into their vehicles, like collision warning systems and blind-spot monitors, which make them safer to drive but more expensive to repair after an accident.

Even a minor fender bender can prove costly to fix, said Robert C. Passmore, assistant vice president of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association. Modern bumpers may house advanced sensors that must be replaced or recalibrated after an accident. Repairs no longer involve just "banging it out with a hammer," he said.

"They save lives and reduce the number of accidents," Mr. Passmore said of the new safety systems. "But there's some costs that come with it."

Insurers are also imposing stiffer penalties, or surcharges, for drivers ticketed for distracted driving. The average surcharge for texting while driving, for instance, is 23 percent of the premium, or more than $350 a year, the report found. These fees typically last for several years.

While insurance rates vary significantly by location because of differences in traffic congestion, crime, weather and state regulations, about two-thirds of American drivers saw their premiums increase last year, The Zebra's report found. (It analyzed 73 million auto rate quotes from 418 insurers using a driver profile based on a 30-year-old single man with a good driving record and a 2015 Honda Accord EX.)

In some cities and states, the annual cost is much higher than the national average. Michigan had the highest average rate at more than $3,000, followed by Louisiana and Florida, each topping $2,000. Maine and North Carolina have the lowest rates, at just under $1,000 a year. While average rates increased in most states, they fell in 17 states and the District of Columbia.

Exactly where you live, down to a few yards, can have a big impact. People living in lower-income ZIP codes were quoted more expensive premiums than those in neighboring communities, a 2018 Consumer Federation of America report found.

Insurers use multiple criteria to set auto rates, including a driver's age, driving record and typical annual mileage. Criteria vary, since state governments set insurance rules. Some states allow consideration of a person's credit history - the better your credit score, the more you save - so it helps if you pay your bills on time. Some let insurers consider a customer's marital status and occupation. At least a half-dozen states, including California, have banned the use of a driver's sex in setting insurance rates. (Nationally, women pay rates that are about 1 percent higher, The Zebra found, but the disparity is greater in some states.)

Other criteria are based on the vehicle, such as the model year and whether it's a sedan or a truck.

One way to keep premiums down, say industry experts and consumer advocacy groups, is to compare quotes from different insurers, ideally every year or two.

"It's worth a little bit of effort," said J. Robert Hunter, an insurance expert with the Consumer Federation.

If you find a lower rate, state insurance department websites often offer information about consumer complaints, to help you evaluate a company's record of handling claims before you switch. You may want to go beyond the most visible brands: Consumer Reports recently included some lesser-known companies, like the Rhode Island-based Amica Mutual Insurance, among its highly rated insurers.

Another way to lower your premium is to increase your policy's deductible, the amount of money that you must pay before insurance coverage begins. (With a $500 deductible, you would pay $500 for a $1,000 claim.) Raising your deductible to $1,000 from $500 will save an average of 13 percent on your premium, The Zebra found. Just be sure to put money aside so you can afford to pay the deductible if you have a claim, said Jon Linkov, the deputy auto editor at Consumer Reports.

And be careful not to let your policy lapse, said Nicole Beck, a spokeswoman for The Zebra. Even a short gap, she said, could trigger a substantial increase when you buy a new policy.

People who drive infrequently may want to consider usage-based insurance, which uses technology to monitor driving and can save about 3 percent, the report found.

For help in understanding coverage, try an online guide from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Here are some questions and answers about car insurance:
Are some cars more expensive to insure than others?
Yes. Older cars, for instance, are generally cheaper to insure than new cars. The driver of a three-year-old Honda Accord would save about 12 percent on premiums compared with the cost of insuring a new model, the report found.

If you are shopping for a car and want to keep insurance rates down, consider a gently used, late-model car, Mr. Linkov said.
Am I required to insure my car?
All states except New Hampshire require minimum levels of liability coverage, which pays for another person's property damage, medical care and other costs caused by you.

Other types of coverage are usually optional (although if you finance a car, your lender may require them). They include collision coverage, which pays for damage to your car if it hits another car or something else, like a tree or a wall; and comprehensive coverage, which covers damage to your car from most everything else, like fire, hail, flooding and theft.

If your car is aging and its value has declined substantially, you may want to consider dropping optional coverages, to lower your premium, said Mr. Hunter, the insurance expert.
Are driver discounts available?
In many states, yes, so ask your agent. Insurers may offer discounts for bundling auto coverage with other types of insurance, like homeowner or renter's policies. There may be other discounts for having your premium payment automatically deducted from your bank account, or paying the full premium upfront, The Zebra found. Younger drivers may receive credit for maintaining good grades or taking a driver's education course.

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You Really Can Lower Your Car Insurance Cost

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After years of increases, auto insurance has become a budget pain point for many. But experts say there are ways to keep your rates down. It's getting more expensive to insure your car, but there are some steps you can take to keep premiums affordable.

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Summary: This website is used to provide users with personalized quotes from different Canadian insurance providers and allows them to find the best rates. The site also provides a breakdown of 7 different factors that will affect your rates such as (location and driving record) and what factors do not affect your insurance rate. Just like IBC.ca this site provides users with the provincial coverage requirements and a description of each type of coverage, in this case it is presented in a chart. The chart makes it super easy to follow and understand. Ratehub also provides a section that lists ways to save on your insurance ranging from the more well known methods to lesser known ones like a method of tracking your driving online and saving for driving well.
Reason for choosing: I think it is very important to make sites such as these user friendly and stress free as this process is already rather stressful for most people who are not overly familiar with how auto insurance works. This site does an excellent job of being very informative and hits the mark on being user friendly. On top of that the benefit of being able to get online quotes from different providers and compare them all in the same place simplifies the process of trying to find a good insurance rate and saves users time.

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How car insurance coverage differs by Province

Auto insurance is mandatory in every province and territory. However, there are differences depending on where you live. For instance, coverage and rates vary across the country. Throughout the majority of Canada your only option for insurance is through the private market, but in a few provinces there is mix of both public and private insurance.

In Alberta, Ontario, the Atlantic provinces, and the territories, there are only private insurers. In British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, basic auto insurance is available from the government and additional coverage is available from private insurers. Quebec, on the other hand, has is it's own unique regulations - public insurance covers injury or death while private insurance covers property damage.

*Table information sourced from http://www.ibc.ca (2017)

In the chart below, you'll find the types of insurance, the coverage options available, and the average rates across Canada.

Average Provincial Car Insurance Rates

*Graphed data sourced from https://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/autoinsurance/fair-benefits.html (2017)

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Best Car Insurance - Compare Auto Insurance Quotes | Ratehub.ca

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Auto insurance is mandatory in every province and territory. However, there are differences depending on where you live. For instance, coverage and rates vary across the country. Throughout the majority of Canada your only option for insurance is through the private market, but in a few provinces there is mix of both public and private insurance.

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Summary- From what I see in this image the geico lizard is standing behind the company name because he's the mascot for them. Also with 15 minutes you can save 15% more on car insurance.

Reason for choosing- The reason why I picked this is because thinking about Auto insurance this is the first thing that comes to mind because its so well advertised. Also having a mascot like this is useful because it makes it way more memorable.

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Ontario car insurance -Here is what you need to know 

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Ontario car insurance -Here is what you need to know 

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Summary: This video lists the different types of coverage such as liability (bodily injury liability and property damage liability) both being mandatory in ontario. It then provides a brief description of what these cover i.e. lawsuits against you due to property damage would be covered by your property damage liability coverage. It also brings up the minimum required amount of liability being 200,000 but that it is recommended to have 1 to 2 million liability because the injured persons decide how much they want to try to sue you for. The video then follows a similar format of listing a different type of coverage and providing a brief description for uninsured motorist coverage, direct compensation property damage, accident benefits coverage, comprehensive coverage and more.
Reason for choosing: While this video doesn't go super into depth on these topics it is enough that it gives you a basic understanding of the different types of coverage and what each one covers as well as seme suggestions on what type of you should increase and why it is important to consider getting more than the minimum liability. I personally didn't know that they can sue you for an amount they decide and that is important to consider before just going with the minimum coverage. Overall this video is a great starting point in understanding the basics of auto insurance in ontario.

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Ontario Car Insurance – Here’s what you need to know

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Summary: In this video it begins by the CP42 reporter asking what is insurance fraud and why is it such a problem in Ontario. The interviewee Sean Sportun vice chair of crime stoppers says that “Auto insurance fraud comes in different shapes and sizes whether it being a false injury claim or a staged collision.” Another interviewee says that he believes the increase in Auto insurance premiums is because of fraudulent insurance claims. They wrapped up the video with some tips to tell apart if it's being staged or not. Some signs of being in a staged collision are pedestrians coming out of nowhere assigning blame to somebody, tow truck drivers that just arrived on the scene, or even if the one in the accident seems fine and when the police arrive they start complaining about back pain faking an injury.
Reason for choosing: The reason behind choosing this is that it makes for an interesting topic to make observations on. The second reason I decided to use this video is because it had some good information about insurance fraud and how to tell if someone is trying to commit insurance fraud against you. It is important to know what to look for so that if it happens to you, you know what to take note of when making a statement about the incident.

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What cities have the most expensive auto insurance in Ontario?

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What cities have the most expensive auto insurance in Ontario?

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Summary: In this video CTV News reporters get a personal view of the city of bramptons high insurance costs. They interview a lady who talks about her insurance rates and states that she has been driving for 20 years with no insurance claims and she still pays $4000 annually. The video is wrapped up by some statistics showing that out of the 10 most expensive cities to insure your car in Ontario Brampton’s #1. In addition the average premium in Brampton is playing up to 65% more than the provincial average.

Reason for choosing: This video caught my attention and I had previously heard that insurance rates in Brampton were really high and I was curious to hear just how much people were paying for insurance. I was also really interested in the fact that people can end up paying more just because of the city they live in. I figured that average rates would differ on the provincial level but didn't expect to see a big difference based on different cities.

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What cities have the most expensive auto insurance in Ontario?

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This is the very recognizable mascot of Belair direct, they do a great job of advertising but that also means they are likely charging more than companies that don't have large advertising costs to cover.

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Summary:

This website is a tool designed to help people make informed decisions when considering auto insurance, it includes sections that cover more general knowledge information such as how rates are calculated from which you can find subsections such as how to get lower premiums. The site covers things such as the specific laws etc that apply to your province, Details about what to look for when buying insurance etc. It then breaks these subjects down even further. It provides information and links to things like lists of the most commonly stolen cars and other resources to help you decide on what car to get, and what kind of coverage to consider if you are trying to keep your insurance costs low while still getting the best insurance plan for your needs.
Reason for choosing- Very professional looking, easy to navigate, Gives you a ton of different options so that you can find the specific info you are looking for without having to look through a ton of info you aren't looking for. Personally speaking I hate when a site tries to give you way more information than you ask for at one time. The way it is presented is easy to follow and breaks it down into smaller parts making it easy to take in the information and not feel overwhelmed or stressed about the subject. I will for sure be using this site once I am in the market for car insurance.

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​​​​​Auto insurance is required by law across Canada. It covers the owner/driver, passengers, pedestrians and property involved in a vehicle collision. ​

Driving a vehicle is a basic necessity for many Canadians. But once you are behind the wheel, the chance of something going wrong is very real. As a driver, the lives and property of your passengers, fellow drivers and pedestrians are in your hands.

Whether you're just learning, commute every weekday or enjoy Sunday drives in your classic car, it's important to understand how auto insurance works.

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By law, insurance is required for motor vehicles intended to be operated. Know what insurance is necessary and what's optional.

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Know how insurance premiums are calculated, where to turn for insurance if you are a higher-risk driver and what additional auto insurance coverage is available.

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To become fully licensed, new drivers must pass all stages of the graduated licensing program.

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Stolen, flooded or collision-damaged vehicles carry a permanent record - known as a brand - that's linked to its vehicle identification number (VIN).

File a police report, submit a tip or make an anonymous call to 1-877-IBC-TIPS (422-8477). The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Is your vehicle among the top-10 stolen cars?

From driving​​ while distracted to lending your car to a family member or friend, know and manage your liability risks.

Stay calm and write everything down. Never admit liability if you have been in a collision.

Disaster can strike at any time. An emergency kit in your vehicle can keep you comfortable and even save your life.

Life comes with risk.Thankfully, insurance can give you peace of mind.

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​​​​​Auto insurance is required by law across Canada. It covers the owner/driver, passengers, pedestrians and property involved in a vehicle collision. ​ Driving a vehicle is a basic necessity for many Canadians. But once you are behind the wheel, the chance of something going wrong is very real.

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#1. What did we learn about auto insurance that surprised us the most?

We were most surprised when we learned that people would go to such great lengths just to commit a crime that is Insurance fraud. The part that shocked me the most is when they were talking about staging accidents just to make a fraudulent claim. It's surreal that people are so skillful to be able to pull this off especially multiple times too.

#2.Provide a real life example of how this subject is relevant or interesting to us?

Now that we are at the stage in life that we are looking at buying our first cars there are a ton of factors to consider, including how much a car costs to insure due to theft rates, safety ratings and much more. We also need to understand what kind of coverage is required living in Ontario and based on our situation what kind of additional coverage we should consider and why.

#3.If you could pass on knowledge to a family member or a friend what do we think would be the most important part to pass on?

There Is a lot of great information that could be passed on but if we had to choose only one it would have to be to check out the website Ratehub.ca. I would pass this on as the most important because the website is used to provide users with personalized quotes from different Canadian insurance providers and allows them to find the best rates. The site also provides a breakdown of 7 different factors that will affect your rates. which is ideal when looking for the best deal. Plus I find it is better to pass on a knowledge of a place where they can find a ton of information as opposed to trying to pass on the information itself to prevent inaccuracies.

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Summary- This video gives a few reasons why you should have a dash-cam for insurance reasons. Such as their ability to show exactly what happened and doesn't rely on witness statements being accurate in the event of an accident. Another great point touched on in this video is how they can be used to stop insurance fraud attempts either pedestrians jumping out or sudden brake checks etc.

Reason for choosing- While this may not get you a lower rate these are important things to consider, if people see events leading up to an accident wrong or make fraudulent claims you want to have something to disprove these claims. Having a recording of these events can disprove such claims and keep yourself from being sued, or having your insurance increase for a not at fault accident. While not all of the video really applies to insurance, the part that does make solid arguments for purchasing a dash-cam.

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5 Reasons Why You Should Have A Dash Cam

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13 things that affect your car insurance

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13 things that affect your car insurance

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Summary: In this article they discuss different things that have an affect on your personal car insurance. It then continues to explain that each of the things they take into account are weighted differently and depending on how these pertain to you will ultimately decide how much your insurance will cost. The main factors that affect your insurance rate are location, age, driving experience, driving record, vehicle type, the coverage and deductible amount you choose.
Reason for choosing: The site gets straight to the point and covers very useful information. It also touches on very informative points to consider when looking to purchase a vehicle and helps to expand on your understanding of the factors that go into forming insurance rates. All of this information is important is because if you are educated on the subject it is easier to tell the difference between a good insurance quote and a bad one

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En Español: 13 cosas que afectan su seguro automotor

Believe it or not, car insurance rates aren't arbitrary numbers made up by auto insurance providers; they are carefully thought-out calculations. Using your personal information and company claim data, car insurance companies use their own algorithms to make an educated guess on how likely you are to file a claim - or, to put it another way, how much you could cost the insurer. The riskier you appear, the more you will pay for car insurance. The safer you seem, the less you'll pay.

Some risk factors may not be obvious, like your credit history for instance, but insurance companies have statistical data to back up the reasons they use these rating factors.

What are the rating factors?

Insurance premiums start out with a base rate based on broad categories of drivers, such as females under the age of 25 living in Tampa, Florida. Then, insurance companies look further at individual risk/rating factors that affect the probability of you placing a claim.

The main rating factors for auto insurance are:

Each factor is weighed differently.

Marital status does not affect your claim probability as much as your geographical location does and so carries less weight with your insurer. Each insurer also weighs the factors differently, which is why car insurance companies typically come up with different premiums for the same person. Insurers also look into their own claims data as part of this process. One provider may have fewer claims for your model vehicle, and in turn, offer a lower rate than another auto insurer. Due to different calculations by each car insurance company, it's essential to shop around to get the best price.

Your car's insurance rates may increase or decrease when there is a change to any of these risk factors.

1. Location

Insurers typically start by asking for your ZIP code because where you live is the start of most base rates. If you live in a highly populated, urban area, then congestion, accidents and insurance claims are more prevalent. Living and driving in a metro area will make your rates higher than if you live in a rural area, where having an auto accident due to these factors is less likely.

From your ZIP code, car insurance companies can tell the rate of stolen cars in your area, cases of vandalism, amount of claims (and fraudulent claims), as well as damaging weather. All of this helps them to discern the risks associated with insuring you and your car in that ZIP code.

Not all states allow your location to be a major rating factor. For example, California law requires that car insurance companies calculate rates based on your driving record, annual miles driven and years of experience before considering your geographic location.

2. Age

"The younger the driver the higher the rates" could be the motto of auto insurance. Young, novice drivers have statistically shown to be immature behind the wheel, easily distracted and to crash - a lot - so they are the riskiest category of drivers to insure. Rates decrease at different times with different insurers, but generally your rates can drop as much as 20 percent when you turn 25.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that drivers ages 30 to 69 are much less likely to crash. If you keep a clean record, auto insurance rates typically stay fairly flat for drivers until they become a senior driver.

Young and elderly drivers are typically found to pose the most risk and pay more as a result. Studies have shown that senior drivers have slower reflexes, which cause their crash rates to go up. Also, as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) points out, the risk of being injured or killed in an auto accident increase as you age.

Here are the states that don't allow insurers to rate on age:

California (but can rate on years of driving experience, so those with less experience may pay more)

Hawaii

Massachusetts

Passenger vehicle drivers in fatal crashes by age and crash type, 2016

Age Single vehicle Multiple vehicle All crashes

Number % Number % Number %

Source: IIHS

3. Gender

Most states allow insurers to rate on gender since crash statistics are different for males and females. Data shows males are more likely to crash - especially in the early years of driving when they are known to be more aggressive as a novice driver.

The IIHS notes that men typically drive more miles then women and engage in riskier driving behavior - such as speeding, driving when intoxicated and not using a seat belt. The IIHS also found crashes involving male drivers tend to be more severe than female drivers. Insurers review this information and rate accordingly.

That doesn't mean that males will always pay higher rates than females. Gender differences in fatality risk diminish with age. When men and women enter their 30s, in general auto insurance rates become comparable for both sexes with many insurers, and depending on their own data may allow males to get slightly lower rates than females. But as drivers age into their 60s, rates for males tend to start to increase again over the females as crash statistics again show men of an older age crash more than females.

These states do not allow gender to affect rates:

Hawaii

Massachusetts

Michigan

Montana

North Carolina

Pennsylvania

4. Marital status

Married couples have been found statistically to be less of a risk to insurance providers than their single (including those who are divorced or widowed) counterparts. Married couples have been found to be less active and safer than single drivers, resulting in fewer accidents and claims. A study by the National Institute of Health found that single drivers were twice as likely to be an auto accident as married drivers.

In general, car insurance rates can be from 5 to 15 percent lower for married couples due to their marital status. Married couples can also receive discounts when they combine their policies, such as a multi-car discount and a multi-policy discount for bundling homeowners or renters policy (or other policies) and auto insurance with the same company.

Massachusetts is the only state that doesn't allow auto insurers to rate on marital status.

5. Driving experience

No doubt about it: inexperienced drivers pose more risk. Anyone who hasn't driven a car is automatically a higher risk to car insurance companies, whether you're 16 or 50 years of age.

Teens are the biggest category of inexperienced drivers and also pay the most because their age and inexperience are a double whammy. A 40-year-old getting a license is thought to be more mature and conservative than a 16-year old behind the wheel and receives a lower rate.

The more years you have under your belt, the better. Even better for your wallet is if you have been licensed for many years and have a clean driving record. That combo will get you better rates, plus discounts for being a good driver.

6. Driving record

How safe of a driver you are is really important to your car insurance company because your behavior on the road directly affects your risk to an insurer. Drivers with a clean driver's history qualify for better rates and also are eligible for a good/safe driver discount, which typically is pretty good.

Drivers who have an accident or moving violation (speeding, DUI, etc.) on their motor vehicle record are more of a risk for auto insurers, resulting in higher car insurance rates.

Generally, a minor violation, such as a speeding ticket, can affect your rates 20 to 40 percent. With some companies, a first ticket may not result in a surcharge (increased rates), but it will cost you your good-driver discount (which can be up to 30 percent). If you have a major violation like a DUI, your rates can go up 100 percent or more due to the combination of lost discounts and increased rates. Multiple violations or accidents can make you uninsurable under some car insurance companies' underwriting rules. You can still find insurance, though it may be with a nonstandard insurer and cost you more until the incidents fall off your motor vehicle record.

7. Claims record

Insurance companies don't just look at your driving record, but also gather reports on what claims you've made with them or previous auto insurers. At-fault claims will likely result in a surcharge, while not-at-fault collisions and comprehensive claims may not. How much was paid out is analyzed, since claims under a certain amount, such as $1,500, may keep you from a surcharge.

The number of claims you've had also matters. If you've had three claims in three years, auto insurance providers are going to see you as risky to insure and either hike up your rates or decide not to renew your policy at the end of the term.

8. Credit history

Though it may be controversial, research has shown that those with lower credit scores (typically under 600) are more likely to file more claims, file inflated claims, and even commit insurance fraud. You'll likely see a hike in your premiums due to a low credit score. Consumers aren't fond of this practice, and a few states prohibit insurers from using credit history as a factor.

Your credit rating and history may also affect how an insurance company allows you to pay for your policy. Since statistics have shown that customers with low credit scores are more likely to miss a payment, insurers may ask you to pay a large percentage of the policy up front. Customers with very poor credit scores may be required to pay the entire six- or 12-month premium upfront in order for the policy to be issued.

The following states prohibit use of credit scores and history as a factor:

California

Hawaii

Massachusetts

9. Previous insurance coverage

Insurance companies find that those without a lapse in coverage are less likely to get into an accident, so having a continual auto insurance history can help get you a better rate. It doesn't matter if your prior car insurance policy was with your current insurer or someone else, though if you keep continual coverage with the same company for at least a few years, you'll likely earn a loyalty discount, as well.

If you were on your parent's policy previously, let your new insurer know so it won't appear that you were without prior coverage when applying for your first individual policy.

Having a lapse in coverage -- even just a day -- can result not only in higher auto insurance rates, but also get you penalized by some states.

If you're selling your car or going out of the country for a few years, keep a non-owner's auto policy, which is typically pretty cheap. For a stored car, you can see about reducing coverage to perhaps just comprehensive (if you don't have a lienholder), but still keep the auto policy active.

10. Vehicle type

The type of car you drive affects your rates since the way in which one drives these types of cars differs. If an insurer's data says that drivers with your model vehicle have been in more accidents or filed more claims, then your rates will be higher.

Additional factors determined from your vehicle model:

Purchase price

Theft rate

Cost of repairs

Accident rate

Safety tests

And just because a car does well on safety tests doesn't mean it will be cheap to insure. Cars with extra safety features, such as collision-warning systems, may add to the price of insurance if the cost to repair or replace the feature is expensive. For many insurers, there isn't enough proof the added features are worth a discount.

11. Use of vehicle

Insurers also want to know why you're driving your car. A vehicle used to commute to school or work poses more of a risk than the car you only take out of the garage once a week. Personal use of a vehicle costs less than business use, since those using their car for business purposes have a higher chance of being in an accident due to increase driving time.

If you use your car at all for business, check to see if it's still covered under your personal auto policy. You may need a business-use or commercial policy instead and be voiding your personal policy by using your car for business. If you use your vehicle for ridesharing, get a policy which covers that specifically. Business and ridesharing policies cost more than personal policies, but that is because the risk the insurer is taking on is more.

12. Annual mileage

The less you drive, the less risk you have of being in an accident.

You insurer can also try to determine from the length of your commute if you head into a metro area from your rural or suburban home. If you live outside of Atlanta, for instance, but your commute is 30 miles, your insurer can predict that though your local area is low risk, your commute into the heart of a heavily populated metropolitan area puts you at greater risk.

If annual miles driven go down, let your insurance company know - likely you can save money.

13. Car insurance coverages (and deductibles)

The more types of coverage with higher limits you have, the more it will cost you since the insurer is taking on additional risk by giving you more coverage. Check your state requirements, keeping in mind that minimums won't necessarily cut it in a serious accident, and compare quotes to see if extra coverage and protection makes sense for your financial situation.

Here are the main coverage components of a policy:

Control what risk factors you can

You can't control your age or gender, but there are some factors you can control.

Keep a clean driving record, build a good credit score, purchase a vehicle whose insurance won't break the bank, and choose the right coverages for your needs.

Just because your rating factors aren't perfect doesn't mean you can't get better rates. Each insurance company weighs your risk differently, so make sure you shop around once or twice a year. Find the insurer that is pricing competitively for your particular combination of factors. Rate quotes can vary by hundreds of dollars or more.

Strive to keep insurance companies happy by posing less of a risk with the rating factors you can control, and in turn, your wallet will be happier, too.

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13 things that affect your car insurance rates

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En Español: 13 cosas que afectan su seguro automotor Believe it or not, car insurance rates aren't arbitrary numbers made up by auto insurance providers; they are carefully thought-out calculations.