Why am I paying so much for full coverage insurance?

Asked by: Thalia Mohr DVM  |  Last update: September 29, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (31 votes)

Auto insurance premiums are determined by factors you can control — such as where you live, the type of car you drive and how much coverage you buy — and those you can't, such as your age or inflation. Poor credit can significantly raise your rates in many states, as can accidents or DUI violations.

Why is my full coverage insurance so high?

Well, it could be a number of things. Location, insurance score, accident surcharge, vehicle theft rates, coverage levels, deductibles, and on and on. There's no simple answer. Shopping around is okay but do it with caution. The longer you are with the same company, the better the rates with the next one.

Is $200 a month for car insurance bad?

Is $200 a lot for car insurance? Paying $200 per month is a little higher than average for car insurance. Nine states have average rates for full coverage that are higher than $200 per month, and no state has average rates that high for minimum coverage.

Why am I paying so much for health insurance?

Administrative Overhead: Health insurers often have substantial administrative overhead, including marketing, underwriting, and claims processing. These costs are passed on to consumers in the form of higher premiums, which can contribute to overall healthcare expenditure.

How can I lower my full coverage car insurance?

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 Much Car Insurance Do I Actually Need?

31 related questions found

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.

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 monthly premium so high?

Five factors can affect a plan's monthly premium: location, age, tobacco use, plan category, and whether the plan covers dependents.

Will insurance rates go down in 2025?

Will Everyone's Insurance Rates Go Up in 2025? All California drivers will likely see an increase in their rates now that new minimum levels have gone into effect. Drivers who already have an existing policy will be grandfathered into the old rates and limits until their next renewal.

Why do I pay so much for insurance?

Your driving record – The better your record, the lower your premium. If you've had accidents or serious traffic violations, it's likely you'll pay more than if you have a clean driving record. You may also pay more if you're a new driver without an insurance track record.

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.

What is the most expensive car insurance company?

Allstate

Allstate is one of the pricier major insurers in America, averaging as the most expensive out of the ten largest insurance providers. At $168 per month, covering a vehicle through Allstate costs $41 more than choosing another large auto insurance company. Esurance is an owned subsidiary of Allstate.

At what point is full coverage not worth it?

If Your Car Has Retained Much of Its Value

If the cost of car repairs exceeds the value of your car, insurance companies will consider it totaled. Instead of paying for repairs, you'll just receive a check. If your car is only worth a few thousand dollars, a full coverage premium might not be worth it.

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.

Why has my car insurance suddenly doubled?

Driving record

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.

At what age insurance goes down?

Both male and female drivers see the biggest drop in average annual car insurance premiums between the ages of 18 and 19. This is because younger drivers are seen by most auto insurance companies as riskier to insure due to their overall inexperience behind the wheel.

How do I lower my car insurance with Geico?

Factors that influence reduced car insurance premiums include maintaining a clean driving record, bundling policies, adopting safe driving habits, having low annual mileage, installing anti-theft devices or safety features in your car, having a good credit score, and choosing the right type of vehicle.

Is it normal for insurance to go up every year?

If the price you pay for car insurance goes up every year, or even every six months, you're not alone. Even when you haven't made any claims or logged any traffic violations, there's a good likelihood that you are seeing at least a slight increase each year.

Why did my insurance go up 100 a month?

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 it better to pay premium monthly or yearly?

Paying your insurance premiums annually is almost always the least expensive option. Many companies give you a discount for paying in full because it costs more for the insurance company if a policyholder pays their premiums monthly since that requires manual processing each month to keep the policy active.

Why is the Affordable Care Act not affordable?

In some cases companies intentionally underpriced plans to attract enrollees, and that strategy didn't work out as well as they wanted. Such actuarial errors put some companies in the position where they needed to either leave the market, or raise premiums. "They made a mistake,” said Gaynor.

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.

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.