Does insurance go up if you drive a lot?

Asked by: Vinnie Willms  |  Last update: August 21, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (21 votes)

Insurers often ask how many miles you drive. The more miles you drive, the higher your rate could be. In most states, Progressive only asks how many miles you drive for your work commute. Explore Progressive Answers' auto editorial guidelines to find out why you can trust the car insurance information you find here.

What makes your insurance go up the most?

Incidents such as accidents (even if you weren't at fault), speeding violations, reckless driving, and driving while intoxicated can increase premiums. If you've filed a claim in the past few years, this might also result in an increase to your premium.

Can drive easy make your insurance go up?

Comments Section Drive Easy, like any other driving monitoring with insurance companies, is an ongoing thing. The amount of the discount can change (up or down) based on your score over a given period. But keep in mind that, if you get a particularly bad score during a given period, it could actually raise your rate!

Does high mileage make your insurance go up?

The amount drivers pay for their insurance is determined by the miles they put on their cars. The greater their mileage, the more expensive their insurance policy will be. On the other hand, the lower mileage means a lower monthly payment.

Why did my car insurance go up $100?

Reasons that might make car insurance rates go up

Common among them are speeding tickets, DUIs, credit and moving violations. But beyond that, insurers also consider specific risks like the rates of accidents, vandalism and theft in your area, which result in higher claim rates.

How much does your insurance go up after an accident

16 related questions found

Why did my car insurance go up $500?

More severe and frequent car accidents

Vehicles head east on a Los Angeles freeway during the evening rush hour commute on April 12, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. That has led to an increase in claims that is well above historical averages because of their severity, according to LexisNexis Risk Solutions data.

Who normally has the cheapest car insurance?

Geico, Nationwide and Travelers are among the least expensive for car insurance. Americans are paying a lot for car insurance these days: Average annual rates for a full coverage policy are up to $2,638 per year, while minimum coverage averages $767 per year.

Does the amount I drive affect my insurance?

Usage-based insurance, low-mileage insurance and pay-per-mile insurance cater to drivers who don't put a lot of miles on their vehicles each year, as the average number of miles you drive per year can impact your car insurance rate. What you use those miles for — pleasure or commute driving — can also affect your rate.

How high mileage is too high?

What is considered high mileage on a car? Often, 100,000 miles is considered a cut-off point for used cars because older vehicles often start requiring more expensive and frequent maintenance when mileage exceeds 100,000.

What mileage is the cheapest for insurance?

In general, you'll see the most savings if you drive less than 5,000 miles annually. According to Insure.com, someone who drives 10,000 miles annually will pay 4% less than someone who drives 12,000 miles. Driving 7,500 miles annually could reduce your premiums 10% compared with driving 10,000 miles.

Can insurance companies see how fast you drive?

Driver monitoring—what insurers call telematics, or usage-based insurance (UBI)—typically utilizes a smartphone app, a device that plugs into your car's computer diagnostic port, or an electronic tag mounted inside your car to keep tabs on how you drive, measuring things like speed, braking, cell phone use (to observe ...

Does owning your car lower insurance?

Is car insurance cheaper if you own your car? Car insurance premiums don't automatically go down when you pay off your car, but you can probably lower your premium by dropping coverage that's no longer required. Banks and financing companies who loan you money for your car are called lienholders.

How fast does car insurance go down?

Male and female drivers see the largest drop in car insurance between ages 18 and 19. Car insurance rates drop three to five years after a violation hits your claims record. Switching insurers is usually the fastest way to make your insurance rates go down.

How do you lower your car insurance bill?

7 ways to lower your car insurance premium
  1. Qualify for insurance discounts. Getting more discounts that lower your car insurance premium might be easier than you think. ...
  2. Increase your deductible. ...
  3. Reduce your coverage. ...
  4. Compare rates. ...
  5. Try usage-based insurance. ...
  6. Take a defensive driving course. ...
  7. Get a car that's cheaper to insure.

Which gender pays more for car insurance?

On average, young men pay much more for car insurance than young women. This is because car insurance providers find men to be riskier drivers than women, especially when they are younger. When they are older, women start to pay slightly higher rates.

Why did my insurance go up by 50%?

Car accidents and traffic violations are common explanations for an insurance rate increase, but other reasons why your car insurance rate can go up include changing your address, adding a new vehicle or driver, increases to claims in your ZIP code, and increases to car repair/replacement cost.

What mileage is bad for a used car?

While many modern cars are designed to last at least 150,000 to 200,000 miles, vehicles that are approaching or exceeding these numbers may start requiring costly repairs.

Is 70,000 miles a lot for a 5 year old car?

So, a car that is five years old would have about 75,000 miles to be considered “average.” Anything significantly more, and a car is considered to be “high mileage.” Anything significantly less, and it's a “low mileage” car.

How long will a car with 200k miles last?

In general, most modern cars can cross 200,000 miles without any major issues, provided the vehicle is being well-maintained. Considering that an average person drives 10,000-20,000 miles per year, this will account for roughly 15 years of service. Here are some factors to consider when assessing used car mileage.

What is considered high mileage for insurance?

If you drive a lot, insurance companies will charge you higher premiums because they're taking on more risk. Generally, anything over the U.S. average annual mileage (roughly 14,000 miles) is considered high and will result in a rate hike.

Does your driving score affect your insurance?

How does your driving profile impact car insurance rates? Who you are as a driver has a major impact on what you pay for car insurance. Your age, your credit score, and your driving record (which all impact your insurance score), are all taken into consideration by insurance companies when they price quotes.

Is insurance cheaper if you don't drive much?

While several factors influence your car insurance cost, you may pay a lower premium if you drive less. That's because insurers may consider you a lower risk of filing a car insurance claim if you spend less time on the road. Many insurers incentivize low-mileage drivers by offering discounts on their premiums.

At what age is car insurance cheapest?

Experienced drivers are less likely to have accident claims, which means they cost less to insure. At Progressive, the average premium per driver tends to decrease significantly from 19-34 and then stabilize or decrease slightly from 34-75. At age 75, the average premium begins trending upward.

Who is cheaper, Geico or Progressive?

GEICO is cheaper and has better ratings than Progressive. Your experience with GEICO and Progressive will vary based on individual rating factors.

What car has the highest insurance cost?

1. Maserati Quattroporte. The Maserati Quattroporte is a luxury sedan that typically costs over $2,500 per six-month policy period to insure, making this car the most expensive vehicle to purchase auto insurance for in 2021.