Car Insurance Premium Calculator

Quickly calculate your car insurance premium based on vehicle details and coverage options.

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Category: Insurance Calculators
Difficulty: Easy
Times Used: 361
Last Updated: Feb 2026
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Car Insurance: What Actually Determines Your Rate

Average premium: $1,700/year ($142/month) for full coverage. But rates vary wildly. 25-year-old male with DUI in Michigan: $8,000/year. 45-year-old female, clean record in Maine: $800/year. Five factors dominate: age (under 25 = expensive), location (urban = 2x rural), driving record (1 ticket = +20%, DUI = +80%), vehicle (sports car = more), and credit score (poor credit = +50-100%).

Three coverage levels: Liability only (state minimum, $50-80/month), Standard full coverage (liability + comprehensive + collision, $120-150/month), Premium full coverage (high limits + extras, $180-250/month). Most people overpay by not shopping around—same coverage varies 40-60% between insurers.

Coverage Types Explained

Required Coverage

  • Bodily Injury Liability: Pays if you hurt someone ($25K-100K per person)
  • Property Damage Liability: Pays for others' property damage ($25K-100K)
  • Cost: $30-60/month (minimum limits)

Optional (Recommended)

  • Comprehensive: Theft, vandalism, weather, animals (+$10-25/mo)
  • Collision: Damage from crashes (+$40-80/mo)
  • Uninsured Motorist: Hit by driver with no insurance (+$5-15/mo)
  • Medical Payments: Your medical bills (+$5-10/mo)

Average Cost by Age & Profile

Driver Profile Liability Only Full Coverage
16-19, Clean Record $300-400/mo $400-600/mo
20-24, Clean Record $150-250/mo $200-350/mo
25-34, Clean Record $80-120/mo $120-180/mo
35-55, Clean Record $60-90/mo $100-150/mo
55+, Clean Record $70-100/mo $110-160/mo
Any Age, 1 At-Fault Accident +20-40% increase
Any Age, DUI +80-150% increase

Factors That Affect Your Rate

Increases Rates

  • Under 25: 2-3x higher than 35-year-old
  • Male (under 25): 10-20% higher than females
  • Urban area: 50-100% higher than rural
  • Poor credit: +50-100% surcharge
  • Sports car: +25-50% vs sedan
  • Low deductible: $250 vs $1,000 = +30%
  • Claims history: Each claim = +20-40%

Decreases Rates

  • Good credit: -20-30% discount
  • Bundle home + auto: -15-25% total
  • Good student: 3.0+ GPA = -10-15%
  • Low mileage: <7,500 mi/year = -10-15%
  • Safety features: Airbags, ABS = -5-10%
  • Defensive driving: Course = -5-10%
  • Pay in full: Annual payment = -5-10%

State Minimum vs Recommended Coverage

State Minimum (Not Recommended)

Typical limits: 25/50/25

  • $25K per person injured
  • $50K per accident total
  • $25K property damage

Cost: $50-80/month

Risk: One serious accident exceeds limits. You pay the rest.

Recommended Coverage

Better limits: 100/300/100

  • $100K per person injured
  • $300K per accident total
  • $100K property damage

Cost: $120-180/month (full coverage)

Protection: Covers most accidents without personal liability.

Ways to Lower Your Premium

Immediate Savings

  • Shop around: Get 5 quotes, save $300-800/year
  • Raise deductible: $500→$1,000 saves 15-25%
  • Bundle policies: Auto + home = -20%
  • Pay annually: Save 5-10% vs monthly
  • Remove unnecessary coverage: Old car? Drop collision.

Long-Term Strategies

  • Improve credit: Can save 20-40%
  • Maintain clean record: 3 years no claims = discounts
  • Take defensive driving: 5-10% discount
  • Lower mileage: Work from home? Get low-mile discount
  • Usage-based insurance: Good driving saves 10-30%

When to Drop Coverage

Consider Dropping Collision/Comprehensive If:

  • Car value under $3,000-4,000
  • Annual premium exceeds 10% of car's value
  • You have emergency fund to replace car
  • Example: $2,000 car, $800/year collision = not worth it

NEVER Drop:

  • Liability coverage (legally required + protects assets)
  • Uninsured motorist (1 in 8 drivers has no insurance)
  • Don't go bare minimum—one accident can cost $100K+

Frequently Asked Questions

National average: $142/month full coverage

Varies widely: $60-90 (rural, 45-year-old) to $400+ (teen in city)

Varies by profile. Geico, Progressive, State Farm often cheapest

Must compare 5+ quotes—price varies 40-60% between companies

Minimum: 100/300/100 liability

Plus: Uninsured motorist, collision/comprehensive if car worth $3K+

  • Under 25 years old
  • Poor credit score
  • Urban location
  • Accidents/tickets on record
  • Sports car or expensive vehicle

$500-1,000 for most people

Higher deductible ($1,000) saves 15-25% but you pay more per claim

Yes, massively. Poor credit = +50-100%

Improving 600→700 score can save $500-1,000/year

3-5 years depending on insurer

At-fault accident: +20-40%. DUI: +80-150% for 5+ years

No if car worth under $3-4K

Drop collision/comprehensive. Keep liability (always required).

Yes. Non-owner car insurance ($20-40/month)

Covers you when driving borrowed/rental cars. Required for SR-22.

Every 6-12 months or after major life changes

Rates change constantly. Shopping around saves $300-800/year average