What Is An Average Car Insurance Payment Amount?

As you investigate your car insurance payment, you may be considering switching auto insurance companies, or maybe even cutting back on coverage. You may be wondering what the current average car insurance payment amount is. A lot of people are trying to do whatever they can to squeeze every last penny out of their budget. It isn't odd to speculate if you're getting skimped on what you're paying for coverage. Unfortunately, the truth is that there isn't any "average" payment amount. Your auto insurance rates are calculated different by various companies, and they take a variety of factors into account. Not all insurance companies base their decisions on the same things, but here are some of the most common factors:

• Age - Drivers that are younger than 25, or older than 60 may have an extra hike added to their premium because drivers that fall into these age groups statistically are more likely to be involved in an accident.
• Gender - Unfortunately for males, despite the instance where you may feel you're a great driver, females will generally pay less for the same coverage. That's because men are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident than women.
• Personal driving record - The past can hurt. Any blemishes on your driving record will show up when the insurance company requests your information from the department of motor vehicles in your state. Depending on what kind of check is run, this can include out of state tickets as well, especially for more serious driving offenses. Fortunately, this won't haunt you forever. Many states enforce regulations that don't allow insurance companies to penalize drivers for tickets after a certain period of time--usually 3 years.
• Insurance claim history - Insurance companies have a special information sharing agreement that will likely show them if you've filed a claim in the past with any other company. Depending on the age and seriousness of the accident, and whether you were found to be at fault will affect your rates.
• The car you drive - Most people know that the model of car you drive can affect the amount you pay for insurance. Sports and performance cars are charged an extra premium because it's more likely they will be driven aggressively. This premium usually applies to any car with 2 doors, although it depends on the company. Any car that is considered to be a "performance vehicle" will fall into this category.
• Drivers education - Some companies will give you an extra discount if you attend defensive driving classes. Insurance companies prefer educated, careful drivers; a drivers education course shows that you value your driving ability and that you are cultivating good and safe driving habits. Taking a defensive driving course every 5 years or so will help keep your skills sharp and your premium as low as possible.
• Where you live - Many car insurance companies will consider the neighborhood you live in when calculating your premium as well, usually using your ZIP code. Areas that have higher rates of car theft get charged an extra premium.

With so many factors involved, there really isn't an "average" payment for auto insurance, because no two cases are alike. If you want to make sure you're getting the best rate, the only way to do that is to shop around. Try comparing a few different rates online, or dropping by your local insurance agent and asking them if they can help you save on coverage.