Reader’s Question:

How can I get good vehicle insurance rates?

Rachel

Kansas City, MO

The vehicle insurance rates you’ll get depend on how safe a driver your prospective insurer thinks you are. If they think you present a small amount of risk to them, meaning they don’t think you’re often going to be involved in accidents and making claims, you probably have a big chance of getting affordable vehicle insurance rates. Car insurance companies have done statistical research on millions of drivers. These studies measure how safe a driver is based on age, gender, the jobs they have, and the car models they own. That’s why they always ask for this information when you request a quote or apply for a policy. They’re also going to naturally check your driving record and sometimes even your credit record. So who gets the best vehicle insurance rates? Probably a middle-aged female driver who only uses her mid-priced car loaded with a lot of safety features, to go to and from a desk bound job.

Besides the driver, vehicle insurance rates are also affected by how safe a particular area is. Places with a lot of traffic and auto-related crime tend to convince a car insurance company that they might lose a lot in claims. So you could be at a disadvantage in terms of vehicle insurance rates if you live downtown and only park your car on the street.