The cost of car insurance depends on numerous factors, including: location, driving record, the car, and many others. Following I will elaborate on 3 major factors that influence the cost of car insurance. Read on and you’ll see whether it would be easy for you to buy cheap car insurance.

1. Location. If you’ve ever seen the data on average automobile insurance rates by state, you’ve probably noticed the difference in rates. A given state or city can influence car insurance rates by the following: cost of living, road safety, population levels, and weather conditions.

By the cost of living, the most expensive areas are: Hawaii, the District of Columbia, Alaska, California, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. However, in some of these areas (Hawaii, California) car insurance is quite affordable due to other reasons, such as smaller amounts of required insurance.

By road safety, some of the most dangerous areas are: Miami and South FL ( no fault insurance here by the way ), New York City (especially Brooklyn), Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. As you can see, the most populous areas are usually the least safe, and therefore more costly for car insurance. Some of the most populous areas also have a problem with road rage, and that’s why drivers in those localities have to pay more. For example, Florida auto insurance is expensive largely for the reason of road rage issues.

By weather conditions, the most dangerous areas are: parts of Washington (cloudy, humid, and rainy), Oregon (cloudy and rainy), New York (cloudy, rainy, and snowy), West Virginia (cloudy and rainy), Louisiana (very humid), Oregon (cloudy and humid), and Hilo, Hawaii (very rainy). The fact is that bad weather conditions increase the incidence of car accidents. This happens for reasons of diminished visibility (rain/snow/fog), diminished traction (water/snow/ice), and diminished control of the vehicle (e.g., strong wind). Some drivers are affected by the weather and become more aggressive or timid. The sharp changes of seasons also affect drivers, who will need time to become acclimated to new conditions.

Insurance companies take all of the above into consideration, when they calculate your premium. Just recall the facts about your area (cost of living, road safety, population levels, and weather), and it should become clear whether car insurance would cost more or less in your area compared to others.

2. Driving record. Your driving record is like your grade report card from high school or college. Car insurers review your driving record to see whether you were a “good student”. If you’re good, they’ll offer lower rates. If your driving record is far from perfect, they will charge more. Just remember: you can’t change your grades, but you can change your driving record. A few years of good driving and the points will start to come off of your driving record, helping you become eligible for lower car insurance rates again.

3. The car. This is yet another major factor. Autos that are “unfriendly” insurance-wise will always cause you to have to pay more for car insurance. This includes: expensive cars, sports cars with powerful engines, and unsafe vehicles. People, who drive medium-range autos with smaller engines and many safety features, pay much less. If the cost of your automobile insurance is very high and you don’t know why, check into whether your vehicle is influencing your costs. To save money, it may be wise to sell the auto that is expensive to insure and buy one that costs the same or less, but is much cheaper to insure.

Other factors that influence car insurance rates are: age, gender, credit score, marital status, and mileage. Factors like credit score and mileage can also be worked on to lower your insurance rates.