Your car insurance premiums depend on several factors. Use the tool below to estimate how much you might pay for car insurance, and enter your current premium to see how much similar drivers are paying for coverage.
Insurify’s car insurance calculator helps you estimate how much you might pay for car insurance. Plus, it shows how much similar drivers pay for coverage. Follow the steps below to get started.
Enter your ZIP code and desired coverage level.
If you’re currently insured, enter how much your policy costs per month.
Under “Optional Info,” enter your age, vehicle type, and additional details for a more accurate price estimate.
After filling out your information, the chart will show your current rate (in orange) compared to what drivers matching your profile are paying for insurance. Even similar drivers can pay very different prices for car insurance based on what company they’re with, how long they’ve been insured, and more. A great way to know you’re getting the best rate is to compare quotes from different companies.
How to estimate your car insurance premiums
Many factors can affect your car insurance premiums. An insurance calculator can help you estimate how much you may pay for car insurance by using basic personal information such as your location, age, and gender.
If you’re looking for a more personalized quote, using a comparison tool is the way to go. You can expect to answer questions about your driving experience, level of education, whether you own or rent a home, the type of car you have, what insurer you’re currently using, any applicable discounts (such as military or AAA membership), and your desired coverage type. The quote-comparison tool will then supply you with estimates from insurers that best fit your needs and profile.
Before you use a quote-comparison tool, it’s important to have the following information on hand to ensure a seamless process:
Personal information
Your ZIP code
The make and model of your vehicle
The mileage of your car
Your credit score
Your current insurer and the expiration date of your policy
Your coverage information and limits
History of incidents (if applicable)
What factors affect your car insurance costs?
Various factors affect how much you pay for car insurance. Some — like your driving habits — are in your control, while others aren’t. Below are some factors that influence car insurance premiums.[1]
Location
Where you live affects your car insurance costs in multiple ways. With the exception of New Hampshire, state laws have minimum requirements for the amount of insurance drivers need, but how much and what types differ among states — and even among ZIP codes.
Crime and accident rates in your area also affect your premiums, as does where you park your car. People who live in an urban area with high theft rates and park their cars on a city street overnight will likely pay more for car insurance than someone who lives in a low-crime suburb and keeps their car in their garage.
Age
Generally, teenagers pay higher car insurance premiums than any other age group. Young drivers typically have less driving experience than older drivers and are statistically more likely to get into serious accidents.[2] Car insurance rates begin to decrease after age 25 as drivers gain more experience and their accident risk declines.
Coverage level
Liability-only coverage is generally the cheapest car insurance you can buy. As you add coverages like collision, comprehensive, and personal injury protection, your car insurance premium will increase. You’ll also pay more for higher coverage limits.
Deductible
The deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket before your insurance begins to pay for a claim from a covered event. Generally, the higher your deductible, the lower your insurance premium will be. Conversely, if you choose a lower deductible, your premium will be higher.
Credit score
Many states allow car insurers to consider your credit when setting car insurance rates. Generally, credit scores can predict how many claims a person may file and how much those claims may cost an insurer, according to research by the Federal Trade Commission.[3] People with higher credit scores tend to pay less for car insurance than people with lower credit scores. California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan are the only states that ban insurers from using credit scores.
The chart below shows how rates can fluctuate depending on your credit score.
Driving history
Your driving history — including speeding tickets, accidents, and moving violations — can indicate how you’re likely to drive in the future. If you have a clean driving record, you’ll likely pay less for insurance than someone who has moving violations.
Vehicle
Your car’s make, model, and year also influence your premium. A more expensive vehicle is costlier to repair or replace, meaning your insurer takes on more financial risk. If you drive a model that has a history of mechanical issues or a poor safety record, your insurance rates may be higher. But if your car has safety features like driver assist or theft-deterrent devices, you may be able to get a car insurance discount.
Additionally, the age of your car matters, as an older car is more likely to break down than a new car.
Gender
Car insurance premiums are typically higher for men than women. Male drivers of any age are more likely to take risks while driving, such as speeding or not wearing a seat belt, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.[4]
Marital status
Car insurance premiums tend to be lower for married couples than for single people. Spouses may qualify for discounts that could be more difficult for single drivers to get, such as bundling, homeowner, or multi-car discounts.
How do car insurance companies calculate premiums?
Insurance protects you from the financial risks of an accident or other damage to your car. When you buy a policy, the insurance company essentially assumes the financial risks on your behalf.[5] This makes it critical for insurers to be able to predict how likely you are to file a claim that will cost them money.
Insurers use factors like those discussed above and their own proprietary scoring models to create a risk assessment of how likely a driver is to file a claim. Each insurer has its own formula for assessing driver risk, but they all use the same basic factors. These differences in scoring models are why it’s possible for you to get very different car insurance quotes from different companies.
How much car insurance do you need?
To determine how much car insurance you need, you should first consider your state’s minimum insurance requirements. Every state except New Hampshire requires drivers to carry at least a minimum amount of liability insurance.[6] Some states also require other types of insurance, like personal injury protection (PIP) or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
If you lease or finance your car, the leasing company or lender may require you to carry full-coverage insurance, which includes collision and comprehensive coverage.[7] Even if you own your car free and clear, it may make sense to carry full-coverage insurance or higher liability limits. For example, if you drive a luxury model that would be very expensive to repair or replace, you might want to buy full-coverage car insurance.
The vehicle you drive and your personal financial situation also influence how much insurance you should have. Depending on your situation, you may need some or all of the following types of coverage:[7]
5 ways to lower your car insurance premiums
While some factors that affect your car insurance premiums are beyond your control, you can still take steps to cut costs. Even if you feel your premiums are currently fair, it makes sense to save money whenever possible. Here are some tactics to help reduce your car insurance costs.
1. Drive safely
How well you drive is one rating factor you can control. Avoid speeding, hard braking, hard starts, erratic lane changes, tailgating, and other risky behaviors that increase your chances of a crash. Many insurers provide discounts to good drivers, and you may be able to save even more by enrolling in a telematics program that monitors and rewards your good driving habits.
2. Score with discounts
Most insurers offer multiple discounts, and it’s possible to qualify for more than one. For example, you might get discounts for being a good student and for having certain safety equipment in your car. Or you may get a discount for having more than one vehicle on your policy.
3. Bundle to save
Some insurance companies offer lower rates to drivers who have multiple policies with the same company. If you have both your auto and home or renters insurance with one company — called bundling — you may be able to pay less for both policies.
4. Raise your deductible
Choosing a higher deductible reduces the amount an insurer will have to pay out in case of a covered claim. Insurance companies reward drivers who shoulder a larger share of financial liability by offering lower car insurance premiums.
5. Comparison shop
It makes sense to compare prices any time you make a big-ticket purchase, including car insurance. Comparing quotes from multiple companies can help ensure you find the best policy for your needs at a price that fits your budget.