A whole host of factors are taken into account when deciding what premium to charge.
Car grouping
All cars have a group rating between 1 and 20. This is based on the cost and availability of spare parts, the price of the car, performance, security features, and repair times. The higher the rating, the higher the premium. Drivers aged under 25 who own a car with a high rating pay particularly high premiums.
Who's driving?
The more drivers you insure, the more expensive your premium is likely to be. To cut costs, name the drivers you want to insure rather than opting for an 'any driver' policy. Older drivers pay less than younger ones, though premiums often start to rise again once you're over 70. And young women often pay less than young men. Your premiums will also be higher if you've got a bad claims record or past convictions.
Where you live also affects your premiums. In general, if you live in an urban area, you're likely to pay more than if you live in the country.
Other important factors
You'll sometimes pay more if you keep your car on a driveway or on the street than if you keep it in a garage. If you modify your car in a way that makes it more attractive to thieves or enhances its performance, your insurer will charge you a higher premium. With some insurers you'll pay more if you do a lot of mileage (12,000 miles a year is considered to be average) or if you use your car for business. |