Factors that Affect Car Insurance Rates

Here are some of the factors that determine how much you pay for car insurance.

• Whether or not you get collision and comprehensive coverage For older, less valuable cars it usually isn't worth it to get this.

• Driving record This is obvious. The more claims, tickets and DUIs you have, the higher your insurance premium will be. Sometimes it is possible to take a traffic school class to get a traffic ticket removed. Also, it is possible to fight a ticket in court; sometimes the penalty is reduced or completely removed if the police officer doesn't show up.

• Your deductible Higher deductibles = lower premiums

• Your maximum liability insurance coverage You may be able to pay less for the minimum liability coverage, but it may be wise to get more than the minimum.

• Model of car insured The fancier the car, the more you'll pay. Expensive sport cars are often expensive to fix in an accident and thus, cost more to insure. Additionally, flashy, red cars are more likely to receive speeding tickets than mom's boring station wagon. The safety score of your car determined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency also helps to calculate insurance rates.

• Insured location The location of your car is an important factor when deciding insurance rates. For example, Detroit drivers paid nearly 6 times the national average in 2005. See our list of the most and least expensive cities.

• Credit score A good credit score means lower payments. Make sure your credit score is accurate. It's possible to get a free credit report online.

• Type of driving Whether you use your car for business, pleasure, or commuting can affect insurance rates. Your parking location (street or garage) also matters.

• How much you drive Obviously, it is cheaper to insure your car if you drive fewer miles

• Driving record This is obvious. The more claims, tickets and DUIs you have, the higher your insurance premium will be. Sometimes it is possible to take a traffic school class to get a traffic ticket removed. Also, it is possible to fight a ticket in court; sometimes the penalty is reduced or completely removed if the police officer doesn't show up.

• Age Young drivers under 25 usually pay much more than drivers over 25.

• Gender Males between 16 and 25 typically pay more than females. Why? In general, men drive more, take more risks and do more stupid things behind the wheel. In turn, this causes higher insurance rates. However, older men pay less than older women if they have a good driving record.

• Students Often, good students are given a discount on car insurance. This is a way for those under 25 to pay lower premiums.

• Car Features Safety features and theft prevention devices lower car insurance premiums. These features lower the chances of injury and theft, and thus reduce insurance payments. Examples include side airbags, car alarms, tracking devices, anti-lock breaks and basically anything that makes your car safer and more difficult to steal.