Wednesday, August 13, 2008

How Your Driving Affects Your Auto Insurance Rates

By Dennis Q. Thomson


Suppose you are attempting to better your auto insurance rates and do not have a great driving record. In this situation you should research online car insurance rates based on your current driving record and find companies who help customers get a second change.

Each month when you receive you car insurance bill you wonder how is it possible to decrease your auto insurance rates in order to lower the monthly premium. Time and time again your annual insurance rates continue to go higher for no apparent reason. The vast majority of the auto insurance companies continually up your online car insurance rates to adjust for inflation or just to increase their profits.

However, there are many factors involving your driving record that determine your car insurance rates. Many of us have some knowledge of what these factors are and their effect on car insurance rates, but it is important to review this data to be sure you thoroughly understand your situation.

Auto Insurance Rates And Traffic Citations

In general, having just one minor ticket on your record is not going to affect your auto insurance rates quite that much. If you were speeding only a few miles over the limit or missed a stop sign, you may have a small increase in your rates by only a few percentage points. It's when you have more than one ticket and they are considered major that you'll really feel the pinch.

As an example, if you receive a moving violation for speeding, normally the insurance company will find out how fast over the limit you were going; less than 10 miles, 11 to 15 miles, or 16 and over. Generally, if you are speeding at more than 16 miles per hour over the limit your car insurance rates will be higher than someone who was caught speeding at only 5 miles per hour over the limit. Also, if over a three year timeframe you only get cited for one such violation it will have less impact on your rates than if you received multiple violations.

Serious traffic offenses also will hurt your car insurance rates drastically. You will see an increase in your rates of 10% to 25% for driving while intoxicated or under the influence. Think about how high your auto insurance rates could go if you combine a few major traffic violations and a DUI offense.

The Amount of Time You Spend Behind the Wheel

Would you believe how much you drive and why you drive also affects your car insurance rates? The more your car is on the road the more likely it is to be in an accident. If you commute long distances you're going to be paying more than the person that doesn't work or that works from home. There may not be much you can do about where you work but you can think about how you use your car and consider if it's not time to start carpooling and using other means of transportation as much as possible.

In addition, if you choose to use your car in conjunction with your business your auto insurance rates will be adjusted. Insurance companies take this into consideration because of the additional risk involved and the possibility of having to settle a future claim. With auto insurance rates on the rise and there to stay, it is best to try all means necessary to reduce your online car insurance rates as low as possible.

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