How can you decrease your insurance rates?

Asked by: Prof. Nayeli Mueller  |  Last update: January 16, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (29 votes)

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.

How can people reduce the cost of their insurance?

Increase your deductible

Depending on your insurance provider, paying a higher deductible (the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in, in the event of an incident) is typically a quick and easy way you can decrease your auto insurance payments.

Can you ask your insurance company to lower your rate?

Unlike some expenses, you can't negotiate car insurance rates. Each car insurance company determines its rates using algorithms and proprietary tools. Here's how it works: the company arrives at a base rate, which it uses to determine its price policies and how it will weigh rating factors.

What two things could reduce your insurance premium?

These factors may include things such as your age and your driving record. While it may be tempting to reduce or eliminate coverages to help lower your car insurance premium, it's important to know that there are other factors that may also affect the price you pay.

Can insurance rates go down?

Car insurance rates can change based on factors like claims, driving history, adding new drivers to your policy, and even your credit score. But they can also change based on a variety of reasons that are largely out of your control.

How to Lower Insurance Costs

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How do I get my car insurance down?

Listed below are other things you can do to lower your insurance costs.
  1. Shop around. ...
  2. Before you buy a car, compare insurance costs. ...
  3. Ask for higher deductibles. ...
  4. Reduce coverage on older cars. ...
  5. Buy your homeowners and auto coverage from the same insurer. ...
  6. Maintain a good credit record. ...
  7. Take advantage of low mileage discounts.

At what age does car insurance get cheaper?

States Where Age Does Not Affect Rates

In the following states, insurance companies cannot take age into account when calculating insurance premiums: California.

How do I lower my insurance?

If you're wondering how to get a lower car insurance rate, use these methods for lowering your premium:
  1. Qualify for insurance discounts. ...
  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.

Does credit score affect car insurance?

How credit-based insurance scores work. Most U.S. insurance companies use credit-based insurance scores along with your driving history, claims history and many other factors to establish eligibility for payment plans and to help determine insurance rates. Again, except in California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts.

Why is my car insurance so high Progressive?

If your car insurance goes up for seemingly no reason when you renew your policy, it's likely due to an increase in risk that's outside of your control. This could include reasons like increased claims in your area (due to more extreme weather damage, more accidents, etc.) and higher car repair and replacement costs.

Is a paid-off car cheaper to insure?

These things could all make your insurance cheaper. You've paid off your car. Simply paying off your car won't lower your premiums, but getting rid of some of the required coverage might.

Can you negotiate with Progressive?

You can negotiate with Progressive Insurance Company by sending the company a demand letter after an accident. The demand letter should provide information about the accident and all the damages caused by the incident. You can include evidence in the demand letter to support your claim.

What affects my insurance rates?

Auto insurance premiums reach their low point in a driver's mid-50s before rising for older drivers aged 70-plus.
  • Driving and claims history. This rating factor is straightforward. ...
  • Credit score. ...
  • Location. ...
  • Other personal demographics. ...
  • Coverage levels and deductibles. ...
  • Vehicle type. ...
  • Annual mileage. ...
  • Ownership status.

What actions can be taken to lower these insurance premiums?

12 Ways to Lower Your Auto-Insurance Premiums
  • Pay your bills differently. ...
  • Raise your deductible. ...
  • Bundle up. ...
  • Get good grades. ...
  • Sign up for data tracking. ...
  • Shop around. ...
  • Drop certain types of coverage on older cars. ...
  • Take a driver-safety program.

At what point should you drop full coverage on your car?

Your vehicle holds a low value: As with collision, consider dropping comprehensive coverage if your vehicle's market value is lower than a few thousand dollars. Figure in your deductible as well and the potential insurance payout may not be worth the price of the coverage.

Can you negotiate insurance rates?

Although you can't negotiate your car insurance rate, you're not contractually obligated to stay with your insurance company. If you find a cheaper rate elsewhere, you can switch insurance providers. Depending on when you cancel and the fine print of your car insurance policy, you could incur fees.

Does State Farm run your credit?

Most major car insurance companies like GEICO, Progressive and State Farm factor in your credit score when giving you a quote. Some smaller, regional insurers skip credit checks, though their coverage options (and available online information) can be limited.

What is a good credit score?

For a score with a range of 300 to 850, a credit score of 670 to 739 is considered good. Credit scores of 740 and above are very good while 800 and higher are excellent.

What bills improve your credit score?

As with cell phone bills, cable and internet bills can help your score if you opt in to a service like Experian Boost that gives you credit for utility and other kinds of payments. Just be mindful that not all of your credit reports will be affected.

Who typically 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.

How do you negotiate with Geico?

How to Negotiate Your GEICO Claim
  1. Make the First Offer. This piece of advice tends to contradict the belief that the party who makes the first offer frequently loses. ...
  2. Make an Aggressive but Not Outrageous First Offer. ...
  3. Know Your Bottom Number. ...
  4. Try to Mimic or Mirror the Claims Adjuster's Behavior. ...
  5. Give a Settlement Range.

How much does car insurance go down after 1 year no claims?

In many cases, your insurance will go down by 5-20% in the first year of no claim, depending on your insurer. After the first year, this discount increases each year, usually by 5%, if you don't make a claim. But it only increases up to a maximum discount, usually 50-60%, and a number of years — usually 5-6 years.

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.

How long do accidents stay on your record?

In the state of California, most vehicle accidents will stay on your record for around 3 years. However, more serious traffic violations will follow you for longer. For example, a DUI conviction will stay on your record for 10 years.

Why is Progressive so expensive?

Progressive is so expensive because car insurance is expensive in general, due to rising costs for insurers. The price of a Progressive policy may also reflect the cost of staffing, marketing campaigns, and maintaining sales centers.