There are many things that affect your auto insurance rates, and some are more obvious than others.  For instance, if you need to insure a very expensive brand new Lexus, obviously you’re going to pay more than if you want to insure your ten-year-old used hunk of junk.  It’s surprising however the number of things that impact your auto insurance rates that many people are not aware of, or don’t really understand just how much it impacts their rates.  Your driving record is certainly one of them.

There are a few valid reasons as to why your driving record would affect your auto insurance rates.  Someone with a penchant for speeding, running red lights or stop signs, or just very aggressive driving overall is more likely to get into an accident.  If you speed you’re less likely to be able to stop when someone pulls out in front of you or when you suddenly notice that traffic has come to a stop in front of you, resulting in a crash.  If you run red light you can get hit and of course you risk hitting someone else; the same with stop signs.  Your auto insurance carrier knows and considers all these things.  Providing insurance is all about assessing risk; they risk having to pay more in insurance claims when they provide insurance for a more aggressive or less careful driver, and they need to pass this risk on to you by way of increased rates in order to make up for the increased payments they make for your auto insurance.

While citations like tickets or accidents can increase your rates, of course major violations such as Driving Under the Influence or Driving While Intoxicated (DUI/DWI) also greatly impact your auto insurance rates.  An insurance company knows that if you’re likely to get behind the wheel after drinking or using drugs, and are so impaired that you get the attention of the police, then of course you’re more likely to cause an accident while in this condition.   Some people argue vehemently that they have the “right” to drive their car no matter what they’ve been doing, but consider it from the point of view of your auto insurance carrier.  Driving your car out on the roads is not a private matter that affects only you; if you get drunk and throw a rock through your television screen that’s a private matter, but getting drunk and pointing your car at other drivers is not.  Your auto insurance carrier would be responsible for claims that you make when injured and claims that other drivers or property owners make as well.

Of course the easy answer to all of this is to drive more carefully and more defensively.  When you’re out drinking, call a cab or rent a limo for the night.  Slow down on the roads and pay attention to signs and signals.  This is best not just for your reduced auto insurance rates but for the overall safety of everyone on the road, including you.