What Is A Car Insurance Premium?

If you’ve ever had to buy car insurance (or any insurance for that matter), you’ve likely come across the term premium somewhere along your journey.

Don’t let this fancy word confuse you. 

A premium is just another word insurance companies use for price. More specifically, it’s the price you pay your insurer in exchange for coverage.

Car insurance premiums are typically expressed as one-month, six-month or yearly totals. While you can pay your policy’s six-month or annual premium in one lump sum (and possibly receive an auto insurance discount), most companies allow you to pay your premium monthly.

Once you pay your first premium — or the total, if you opt to pay it entirely — you are officially covered by insurance. Just be sure to continue making on-time payments to remain insured and avoid a lapse in coverage, which could subsequently raise your premium. 

Take note: While a car insurance premium is the price you pay for your auto policy, it may not be your only cost. For example, if you get into an accident and file a claim, you may have to pay a deductible before receiving a payout. And if you don’t have enough insurance, you might end up paying out of pocket for the remaining expenses after an accident.

If you’ve ever shopped around for car insurance online or over the phone, chances are you were given a quote. A quote is simply an estimate of your policy’s premium.

Your car insurance premium will likely differ from the estimated quote you were given initially. This occurs because insurance companies do not always ask for all of the information required when generating quotes. Instead, companies will do their due diligence before determining your eligibility and final price.

Premiums in car insurance can vary dramatically from person to person — even if that person is your neighbor and drives the exact car you do. That’s because auto insurers look at many different factors when coming up with a premium, such as:

• Driver details. Age, gender, geographic location, marital status, driving record and credit score are some factors considered.

• Car details. The make and model of the car, the accumulated miles, theft rates and safety features are some factors up for consideration.

• Policy details. These factors include coverage types and limits, deductibles, claims history and previous gaps in coverage.

On top of that, auto insurers weigh each of these factors differently. So while you may have a low premium with one insurer, another may charge you more than double. That’s why it’s essential to shop around and get at least three quotes to ensure you’re getting the best price.