There are a lot of things that affect your car insurance quotes. Some things are out of your control. Men typically have higher rates than women. Young drivers have more expensive premiums than older drivers. The city you live in may be more prone to accidents and have more traffic, leading to the entire population having to pay more for insurance.
Then there are things you can control, namely your behavior on the road and the type of vehicle you drive. Which one is more important to consider though? The cheapest cars to insure are often models that have a lot of safety features and are easier to drive.
Good driving behavior can mean staying alert behind the wheel and following all of the rules of the road. We’ll discuss in-depth what behaviors and car models are most insurance-friendly so you can save as much money as possible on your monthly rates.
#1 – Road Rage
One of the easiest ways to avoid high insurance rates is to avoid engaging in road rage. Driving seems to empower people to behave in ways they wouldn’t normally in their regular life.
Whether it’s because they are behind the wheel and they feel more comfortable, or they just get tense when driving, the insurance consequences of road rage are often much steeper than if you were to drive an expensive vehicle model.
Road rage can lead to a lot of irrational feelings and bad results. If you start tailgating someone because they cut you off, you might run into another driver. Collisions raise insurance premiums tremendously. If you caused the accident because of your temper, it’s your fault and your insurance company will view you as an even higher-risk customer.
Road rage can lead to bad behavior in parking lots, too. If you are caught puncturing someone’s tire or scratching their paint as retribution for something on the road, you could get fined and your insurance will be billed to repair the damage.
You could also be arrested for vandalizing someone’s car. Your criminal record has a large effect on your insurance rates, much more than the vehicle you drive. This will make it hard to get an insurance company to give you a good policy in the future, especially if you engage in one specific dangerous behavior.
#2 – DUI and DWI
Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is the worst driving behavior there is. It will affect your insurance rates more than any other factor we’ll talk about on this list. Why? Because it’s such an avoidable decision that can have lethal consequences for those around you on the road.
Some insurance companies will never give you a policy again if you have a DUI on your record. You should go to a defensive driving school, do some community service, and do other activities that prove you are a changed person and a better driver than before the DUI.
Still, you are going to have expensive insurance rates if you have ever been pulled over or arrested for drunk driving. The point of the discussion is how to limit the damage in the aftermath of this poor decision you’ve made.
#3 – How expensive are car repairs?
We’ve made it sound like driver behavior is the only thing that affects your insurance rates, but there are definitely decisions you make about what vehicle to drive that affect your rates. The main thing that makes insurance rates go up with certain vehicles is how expensive the car is to repair if you have to file a claim.
Sports cars and vintage models are going to be very pricey because it’s hard to find the parts for them after they get damaged so it is advisable for you to have an emergency fund for car repairs. Driving an electric car is good for the environment, but bad for your insurance company. Technology such as the battery is expensive to replace if damaged.
Car modifications can also increase your insurance rates. If you add tinted windows or make your car a different color like red or bright green, your insurance company might view the vehicle as more of a risk. Try to make your car or truck look as boring as possible and very functional if you want to save some money on insurance.
#4 – Car Safety
Cars that are safe are also cheaper to insure because they lead to fewer consequences after an accident. The Toyota Camry and the Honda Civic are two of the safest cars on the market. If someone gets into an accident in one of these vehicles, they are potentially not going to have as many medical bills because their injuries will be less severe.
This saves the car insurance companies a lot of money in the long run. This is what it’s all about when shopping for insurance. You need to show your agent that what you are driving is less risky to insure.
No matter what car you drive, you can make updates to the vehicle to show insurance companies you care about safety. Adding a tracking device or a safe driving app to your car will show your driving behaviors to your agent and you can get some discounts on your insurance.
Making sure your vehicle has updated tabs, no cracks in the windshield, etc. are all ways to demonstrate you care about being a safe driver with a safe vehicle no matter what model it is. This is a great way to bring rates down on sports cars and electric vehicles.
#5 – The Verdict
You can probably get the vibe after reading this that your behavior behind the wheel is the most important thing to get better insurance rates. The type of car you drive is important, but even the vehicles that can be bought online which are cheaper to insure can become expensive if you have a poor driving record.
Keep calm behind the wheel. Try to think about what damage you will inflict on yourself and others before getting angry at someone. Other good driving behaviors should include following the laws even if you find them inconvenient and getting good sleep to stay awake. Don’t text and drive either.
If you drive at a high level with supreme skill, this is the main way to get the insurance that fits within your budget.
Shawn Laib writes and researches for the car insurance site, Clearsurance.com. He wants to help everyone become better drivers and get cheaper insurance.
