Is it true that I will pay more on my auto insurance if I drive a smaller vehicle? What other things should I know about that could cause me to pay higher rates?

Lillian

Ann Arbor, MI

Excellent question! First of all, yes it is quite possible for you to get charged higher auto insurance on a smaller vehicle. Everyday physics would tell you that in a collision between a smaller vehicle and a bigger one, the latter will always win. Passengers on a smaller car would have a higher risk of death or injuries in this case, even with a ton of safety features in place. This higher risk is what causes people to get more expensive auto insurance quotes from insurers.

Other things that can cause you to pay more on auto insurance:

1. Poor Credit Rating - Those with poor credit tend to file more claims and get into more accidents (statistically speaking). This increases the risk and therefore the rates.

2. Unsatisfactory Driving History – Getting into more accidents or collecting traffic tickets is probably the quickest way to skyrocket your rates.

3. Annual Mileage – The more you are on the road, the higher the risk of getting into a car accident.

4. Too Much Claims – Claims indicates how frequently you get into car accidents. The more you file the more you’re telling your insurer that you are a riskier driver.

I highly recommend you do as much auto insurance quote checks as you can. Use online auto insurance comparison websites to do this easily and quickly so you can get the best offers.