If you’re interested in finding out more about auto insurance rates for your vehicle, you may be surprised to learn that your ZIP code can be a factor that affects your rate. While there are various other components involved in insurance rates, some insurance providers take into account where a person is located geographically. Here, we look at how to compare auto insurance rates by ZIP code, discuss factors that impact insurance rates, and explore a few examples of insurance rates by ZIP code.
How Do I Compare Auto Insurance Rates by ZIP Code?
You can compare auto rates by ZIP code by using a tool such as an online calculator. These tools can provide you with up-to-date information regarding policy rates in specific geographical locations. Many insurance policies factor in ZIP code when determining the rate of a policy, so checking these rates can be helpful if you plan to get a new auto insurance plan.
Your ZIP code is often taken into account for various reasons. Some of these include:
- Weather claims: If the insurance company has received severe or a large number of weather claims in your ZIP code, your premium may be higher, due to potential damage caused by inclement weather.
- Car accidents: If you live in an area with a high volume of car accidents, this will likely affect your rate. Insurance companies consider this to account for the potential that you, too, will be involved in a car accident.
- Car theft: Some ZIP codes have high rates of car theft. A stolen car can be a hefty cost for an insurance company, so your insurance rate may be higher if you live in an area with more car theft claims.
- Cost of car repairs: If you live in an area where car repair costs are higher than average, you may pay a higher premium to account for this.
- Medical care: Because many insurance policies include coverage for medical care, insurance companies often take into account the average cost of medical expenses in a particular ZIP code when determining a rate.
- Rural vs. urban locations: In many cases, your car insurance may be lower if you live in a rural area as opposed to an urban area.
- Road conditions: Road conditions in your ZIP code also affect your insurance. If you live in an area with better road conditions, you’ll likely have a lower insurance rate.
Other Factors That Impact Insurance Rates
In addition to ZIP code, there are various other factors that can influence your auto insurance rate. Some of the most prominent factors include:
Driving Record
Your past driving record has a major influence on your auto insurance rates. Your driving record includes at-fault accidents, DUI convictions, and moving traffic violations. Having more of these on your driving record can increase your insurance premium.
The Coverage You Choose
The type of coverage you opt for also impacts your overall insurance policy rate. For example, purchasing a plan with full coverage can be more costly than purchasing one with only your state’s minimum requirements. However, it’s important to not let cost completely drive your decision—you should choose the coverage you truly need. Examples of coverage types include uninsured motorist insurance, liability insurance, medical expense coverage, and comprehensive coverage.
Deductible
The deductible you select will also impact what your auto insurance rate is. A deductible is how much money you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance company begins paying for costs. Most deductible amounts range from $250 to $2,500.
Car Insurance History
The less car insurance history you have, the more likely your rate is to be higher. For example, if you’re a new driver, you likely don’t have a history of any coverage. This means that the insurance company has no information to assess your risk level when deciding to cover you. Additionally, if you have a coverage gap, or a time period in which you had no insurance, you may also pay a higher premium rate.
Type of Car
The type of car you drive also affects your auto insurance premium. For example, if you have a sports car, you may pay a higher premium than if you have a sedan. In most cases, insurance companies will compare similar models to your vehicle and assess their claim rates and repair costs.
Driving Experience
How much driving experience you have is another component considered when determining your insurance rate. Inexperienced drivers often have higher auto rates because they’re at a higher risk for an accident. For example, a teenager may have an increased premium until they gain sufficient experience on the road.
Types of Car Insurance
There are a few primary types of car insurance you can choose to include in your insurance premium. The insurance options you select can affect your rate. These types include:
- Liability coverage: This helps cover injuries and property damages to others that you may have caused as a result of an accident.
- Collision insurance: This type of insurance can cover your vehicle following a collision involving another car should it need repairs or replacement.
- Comprehensive insurance: Comprehensive coverage may help pay for damage to your vehicle due to other reasons outside of accidents, such as vandalism or inclement weather.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage: This type of insurance provides coverage for your injuries and damages if you’re in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver.
- Personal injury protection insurance: Also known as PIP, personal injury protection insurance covers certain medical costs and lost income due to injuries incurred in an accident.
- Medical payments coverage: This type of coverage helps you pay for medical expenses associated with injuries sustained in a crash.
Example Car Insurance Rates by ZIP Code
The following are a few examples of car insurance rates by ZIP code:
- 20129: $1,304
- 10514: $2,167
- 64147: $1,651
- 41843: $2,631
- 19435: $1,660
- 59217: $1,996
- 11226: $6,763
- 79936: $1,843
As you can see, various factors influence your auto insurance rate, with one of them being your ZIP code. Using an online calculator or checking with your insurance agent can help you better understand the impact your ZIP code has on your car insurance premium.
At FIXD, our mission is to make car ownership as simple, easy, and affordable as possible. Our research team utilizes the latest automotive data and insights to create tools and resources that help drivers get peace of mind and save money over the life of their car.
