It’s frustrating to get your monthly auto insurance bill in the mailbox and see it increase year by year. In most cases, you may never have had an accident that was your fault or even filed a claim at all.

While inflation and current trends have an effect on car insurance rates, you may still be experiencing incredible uncertainty during peacetime.

Fighting car insurance rates can feel daunting when the variables for change seem out of your control.

Our team believes understanding what causes car rate increases will help you understand how to move forward. Listen as we explain why your car rate is increasing and what to do about it.

Reasons for a Car Rate Increase

Sadly, auto insurance companies change their rates according to factors you can’t often control.

The car rate can be a reasonable amount one day and shoot up the next simply from being the victim of an accident. Or just by going through everyday life.

It’s crucial to be aware of these factors that agents take into consideration. That way, you can choose to fight back and get a lower auto insurance rate.

Moving violations and speeding tickets

You would think that car insurance companies only increase your monthly bill if you got into an accident. But that pointless speeding ticket you got running late to work also plays a factor in the premium.

Carriers track your motor vehicle report and determine you as a greater risk the more violations you have. Thankfully, they don’t count pesky parking tickets, but you should try your best to keep a clean record.

Both at-fault and not-at-fault accidents

It makes sense that a car insurance company would raise your rate for repeated accidents. But what if the accident wasn’t your fault and the other guy didn’t slam his brakes on time?

The insurance company will still raise your rate even if you were the victim of a tragic accident. They predict with statistical data that people caught in 1 no-fault car crash are likely to get into another, making you a liability.

Age

Watch out for an increase in insurance costs if you’re a teenage driver or over the age of 60. You’re considered a higher risk, even if you’ve had proper driving instruction or been driving your entire life.

Insurance companies paint a broad brush and assume that all teenagers are reckless drivers and that senior drivers have lost the capacity to operate a vehicle.

Comprehensive claims

Submitting a comprehensive claim adds fuel to the fire, depending on where you live. Areas with higher rates of theft, vandalism, natural disasters, etc. raise your car insurance rate as a result.

You can’t control when the business next door gets robbed and your vehicle gets caught in the crossfire. Property damage and repair costs are a part of having comprehensive vehicle protection.

But the car insurance company will still ding you in rising car insurance premiums for someone else’s reckless actions in your state.

Auto claims in your area

Despite a clean driving record with no accidents and claims, you can still suffer from an expensive rate. Auto carriers can determine your area has patterns of vehicle accidents and deem the area as high risk.

Sadly, your family will pay for someone else texting while driving or someone else flying through bumper-to-bumper traffic while putting makeup on.

Moving

Similar to claims in your area, the insurance company drives up the monthly premium if you move somewhere else with a high risk of accidents and comprehensive claims.

This is different from obtaining a new policy from moving to a different state. If you’re in-state and changing addresses, be aware that your carrier knows about it. They may penalize you for it.

Insurance score changes

Correlation data show that most people with poorer credit scores have a higher chance of submitting a claim. That means you’ll take a hit based on financial data that isn’t concretely tied to insuring your car.

Many states ban companies from adjusting your rate due to credit scores. But these carriers still consider the number by creating your insurance score based on it.

Gaps in insurance coverage

Difficult life circumstances may create a lapse in insurance. However, you’ll still have to deal with the increased rate, even if the reason was legitimate.

How to Keep Auto Insurance Premiums Lower

While your car rate situation may seem bleak, we know of numerous opportunities that can lower your premium.

Instead of resigning to expensive auto policies, fight back against carriers by finding discounts or switching companies.

Improve credit score

Lowering your credit score will improve your insurance score, which adjusts the monthly payment along with it.

Apply for Carrier Discounts

Being a student driver, having zero accidents, being a homeowner, etc. are common discounts that most companies offer. They help mitigate policy increases and keep your premium down.

Shop for other insurance carriers

It may be time to look into a new carrier for your vehicle. We recommend working with an experienced broker that can compare dozens of policies at once. It’s much more efficient than researching each one of your own.

Fight Car Rate Increases with a Broker

Working with a broker is partnering with a professional who understands the auto insurance market. They keep you informed if inflation, current events, or other variables drive up your premium.

Our caring insurance team can help you find the best auto insurance policy that protects what matters most. We’ll check over 40 of the top carriers and give you a plan that’s cheaper than your current one.

Let us bundle your savings and show you how to find the best policy that balances your budget and coverage needs.

Our team can also help you obtain an insurance quote for homeowners insurance, commercial insurance, and more.

Call our insurance staff at (520)-836-3244 today for lower auto insurance prices.

When trying to figure out how to buy car insurance, the options can seem overwhelming. There are many companies to choose from and even more advertisements trying to convince you that one company is better than another. Every auto insurance company has their own auto insurance rates and individual formulas for calculating those rates. Unfortunately, most companies try to keep their formulas very secretive therefore it can be difficult to compare car insurance quotes and assess what factors may make one one quote higher than another.

There are many businesses and websites dedicated to offering comparison tools and evaluations each year, but to be sure that you are getting accurate information, it is advisable to do the research yourself or to hire an independent insurance specialist whose only goal is to find you the best deal.

In order to compare car insurance rates, there are many factors to be aware of. At Gebhardt Insurance Agency, we want you to make the most informed decision to save money. Keep reading to find more information about what factors may be affecting your rate and how to compare auto insurance quotes.

Factors That Affect Your Rate

Driving Record

The number one factor that car insurance companies use to determine your rate is your individual driving record. There are many aspects that play into this factor such as a limited history, claims, at-fault accidents, and other incidents. It is rare to find a company that will not use a checkered history against you when determining rates, but different companies definitely factor this into account in different ways therefore it is worth it to shop around if your driving record is affecting your premiums in a negative way.

Accident Record

At-fault and no-fault claims affect your rates in different amounts but each will play a role in your rate. Typically, having one or more at-fault claims or violations on your record will cause your premiums to increase for at least 1-3 years. Some companies vary in this therefore it is good to assess quotes for future possibilities.

Checking how rates fluctuate with an at-fault accident on your record at one, three, and five years after the incident will give you a good indication of how an accident will affect you. It is sometimes the case that you would actually save money paying for a low-cost accident out of pocket rather than reporting a claim to your insurance because of rate increases.

Many insurance companies now offer accident forgiveness options to be added to policies that will give you a locked rate if you have under 2 no-fault claims on your record.

Incident Record

Incidents may include a DUI, DWI, reckless driving, or any ticket for something similar. Depending on the severity of the incident, your rate may be affected significantly even so much as disqualifying you from purchasing insurance from certain companies. In this case you may need to carry non standard insurance and those options will vary by company. Typically an incident of this nature on your record will affect your rate from 3-10 years therefore it is necessary to assess these options if you have an incident on your record. Sometimes switching companies may lower your rate if you are currently being penalized for an incident.

Age

It is commonly known that age plays a factor in auto insurance rates. Teen drivers notoriously have the highest rates of any age demographic, followed by senior citizen drivers. Adding a teen to your policy or aging can sometimes double your rates therefore changes in your life status should always be cause to go shopping for car insurance.

On the flip side, drivers between the ages of 25-60 may see a drop in rates with a clean driving record therefore reassessing your insurance company when you reach any age milestone could be beneficial.

Gender

Some states such as California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Montana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Michigan have passed laws banning the practice of using gender as a rate determining factor for car insurance rates.

In other states though, companies use this as a factor based on accident and incident data. For instance, sometimes, adult women drivers are charged a certain percentage higher premium than their male counterparts while the reverse is true for teen drivers. Teenage males are typically deemed more reckless drivers therefore their rates will be higher than a teen girl without violations.

Vehicle

The type of vehicle being insured plays a huge role in your insurance rates. This is because the cost to replace your vehicle in the case of an accident will be much higher with pricier cars. Typically high priced vehicles such as luxury vehicles or trucks incur higher rates than a sedan or used vehicle. This is a factor to consider when comparing auto insurance rates but also when purchasing a vehicle.

Location

Your area of residence or area where your car is driven the most will play a factor in the rate you receive from any insurance company. Typically, larger cities with a higher concentration of people and vehicle traffic will have higher insurance rates across most companies. The other side of the coin is that rates will be lower for areas that are more rural or that have higher foot than vehicle traffic.

Your home type can also play a factor in your rate regardless of city. For instance, insuring a vehicle that is typically parked in a closed garage in a neighborhood is less of a claim risk for insurance companies than a vehicle that is parked in an open lot at an apartment community with higher risk for theft or accidental damage.

Credit Score

The last but not least major factor that is considered when calculating insurance rates is your credit score. Having a good credit score will provide you with better rates because the insurance company sees a higher chance that your bill will be paid on time and in full. Likewise, having a low credit score with a history of non-payment can affect your premiums and options for coverage negatively. This is not necessarily a factor that all companies use though so if you are concerned that your credit score may affect your rates it is wise to check with a few companies for their policies.

Process of Comparing

When beginning the process of comparing insurance rates it is good to start with a plan of action. Knowing these steps and what to expect will be helpful in ensuring a smooth and easy process.

Know Your Information

Now that you know there are many factors that will affect the rate you are offered from different companies, before beginning your search, you should make a list of all your personal information that could affect your rate. Have on hand your information such as age, address, and vehicle make, year, and model. Also having a description and date of any accidents or incidents will help you to ask better questions when comparing rates.

Having a general idea of your credit score ahead of time can also be helpful because working towards building your credit for a few months before switching to a new plan may help you to lock in a better rate.

Before making any comparisons or phone calls it is a great idea to write down any questions or concerns you may have that way you do not leave anything out when assessing and you will know that you were thorough in your inquiries.

Choose Coverage

Most places have a state minimum of liability coverage that every motor vehicle must carry without exception. It is wise to do your homework and research what your state requires before having conversations about the coverage you need.

Arizona state law requires that drivers carry a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability insurance and a property damage liability coverage of $15,000 minimum.

These laws do sometimes change so if you have not assessed your coverage in sometime it is wise to look over your coverage and decide if you need to make some changes.

Collect and Compare

Unfortunately, collecting rate information and comparing prices is the most tedious part of the process of shopping for insurance. If you wish to truly assess all of your own personal information this may require making many phone calls to go through the process of collecting quotes from every insurance company that is popular in your local area.

It is a good idea to seek out which companies are most popular with your friends and neighbors and start from there, you may find that rate differences are negligible or easy to choose from.

Gebhardt Insurance Group

At Gebhardt Insurance Group it is our desire to earn your trust by finding the best rate available for you and your insurance needs. We do not sell our own insurance but shop most major and local companies to compare prices for your specific needs.

If you would like to compare insurance plans but do not wish to do the legwork yourself, we would love to partner with you. Call us at (520) 836-3244 to begin the conversation of buying car insurance today.

It is a careful balance to choose the right auto insurance policy that meets your needs and fits within your budget. You must obtain the legally required minimum coverage levels, but they stop short if your family is injured in a car crash.

But you cannot have full peace of mind without protection for your vehicle, passengers, and property. They can sustain significant damage and will not receive financial compensation if you don’t buy additional coverage.

You have to decide whether to prioritize low premiums or a low deductible (the amount you pay before the coverage kicks in). And you have to choose the types of expenses and situations your policy will cover.

There are many types of coverage that you can include in your auto insurance policy. Some of these are optional coverages and some are mandatory. You can review them to get a better idea of how much car insurance you need.

Below we will go through the different types of car insurance.

Liability Coverage

While there are many optional coverages, liability insurance is required across the United States.

Liability insurance covers damage to others in car accidents where it is determined that you are at fault. There are two major types of liability insurance: property and medical.

In Arizona, there are mandatory minimum coverage levels for both of these:

• $25,000 in bodily injury liability for one person or $50,000 for multiple people
• $15,000 in property damage liability

These two numbers are the baseline of any Arizona auto insurance policy. If you utilize the minimums, you would need to pay out of pocket for any medical expenses or repair costs above those thresholds.

The state can suspend your vehicle registration and even your driver’s license without this coverage.

Collision Coverage

Regardless of who is the at-fault driver, collision insurance pays for your medical bills and to repair or replace your vehicle. Collision coverage would protect you if you crash into another vehicle or hit a stationary object.

Your insurer will provide a check for the vehicle’s value if you total it (which means that repair costs are more than the vehicle’s worth). Check with your agent or broker to see the policy details and up to what amount the plan will cover.

Leased or financed vehicles often require this type of insurance.
If you know you cannot afford to repair or replace the vehicle, you should purchase collision coverage.

Comprehensive Coverage

While collision coverage protects you in the event of a crash, comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your vehicle in other situations, including natural disasters.

Fire, theft, and severe weather events are a few of the most common situations that comprehensive auto insurance covers.

Comprehensive insurance is optional, but the company will likely require it in the policy if you leased or financed the car.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

A common type of auto insurance is uninsured or underinsured coverage. This goes into effect if someone else causes an accident with you.

They either don’t have any insurance to pay for the damage or don’t hold sufficient coverage to pay for all your expenses.

Even though driving without insurance is illegal, many drivers still do. And many other drivers only have the minimum liability coverage levels.

With that in mind, uninsured and underinsured coverage provides an extra level of protection in accidents where you are not at fault.

Medical Payments Coverage

Another common insurance type is medical payments coverage. In short, this coverage protects you, your passengers, and even family members that were driving the vehicle involved in an accident.

The coverage applies regardless of who the officer determines to be at-fault in the incident.

You can cover medical expenses resulting from an accident with these reimbursable funds. They also cover copays and deductibles of other insurance policies, such as health insurance.

Other Insurance Types

Most insurance companies offer the five coverage types listed above, but those are not the only protections. Below are a few other coverages you may want to consider for your auto insurance policy.

Rental Reimbursement

If you must obtain a rental car or pay for public transportation after filing an insurance claim, rental reimbursement coverage pays for those expenses. This coverage applies while a mechanic repairs your car after an insurance case.

This is helpful for people or families with only one vehicle.

Gap Insurance

Vehicles depreciate over time, and much of that decrease happens the moment you drive one off the car lot.

Auto insurance companies only pay for the vehicle’s actual cash value if a car is totaled, which means it’s possible for a cash payment to be less than what you owe on the car’s lease.

Gap insurance makes up the difference between the balance of your loan and the car is actually worth.

Emergency Roadside Assistance

With emergency roadside assistance, you can receive reimbursement when you call for help if you get a flat tire, run out of gas, or need a tow. This offers peace of mind in the event that you find yourself in any of these situations, which often involve other expenses.

Choosing the Right Auto Insurance Coverage

Every auto insurance policy is different. There are various fixed factors that determine a policy’s price, including the vehicle’s value and the age, gender, and driving record of the vehicle owner.

It’s crucial to understand the different types of auto insurance coverage so you can protect the people and property you care about. While Arizona requires minimum coverage at a low cost, you can still find additional coverage for cheap.

Our team understands every insurance policy is different, and we help you find the plan that works for your needs and budget. As independent insurance specialists, we compare with dozens of insurance carriers and find policies so you don’t have to do the work.

Get a free quote for personalized auto insurance today.

Car ownership and driving on the road are huge responsibilities. Holding the safety of your vehicle, passengers, and others, it’s natural to want full coverage. However, you may be on a budget or have a difficult time switching to cheap car insurance.

The United States has legal requirements for each state with auto insurance, so getting more is a personal choice. Arizona has its own minimum liability and personal injury coverage, but it will not protect everything in a crash.

We recommend having more than the state standard so you don’t have to fear if you get in an accident. Roadside assistance, collision insurance, and other additions to your policy can bring peace during a stressful car crash.

It’s essential to know the types of insurance available to you, the insurance you are required to carry, and other options you may wish to carry. Then, you can decide how much car insurance you need and work with a broker to get it.

Types of Car Insurance

There are several different types of auto insurances on the market. But they all fall under these four main categories: liability, collision, comprehensive, and uninsured/underinsured motorist.

These insurance types are essential to understand because each operates differently and covers different scenarios.

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance covers damages you cause on the road to other drivers and their property. This includes medical bills in the case of bodily injury and repair work for vehicle damage. However, it does not cover damage to you or your vehicle.

Our team suggests carrying more than just the minimum liability coverage. It’s the wisest choice so you don’t end up paying out of pocket if you cause an accident.

Collision Insurance

You’ll want to carry collision insurance for the car insurance company to repair or replace your car in an at-fault accident. Most drivers pay for some amount of collision coverage, even though states don’t require it.

In most cases, leasing companies and lienholders ask you to purchase it on a vehicle you don’t own.

Comprehensive Insurance

Comprehensive insurance pays for vehicle damages that a collision with another car or object didn’t cause. These include hail damage, vandalism, theft, flood, or fire. After you agree on a deductible, the insurance company will pay for repairs.

You may decide not to carry any comprehensive coverage but the policy won’t cover your vehicle in the case of bad weather or break-ins.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist

Most states require uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage in situations where the at-fault driver doesn’t have any insurance or enough insurance. It differs from collision and comprehensive coverage to give added protection when your car suffers from someone else’s negligence.

While the opposing driver may not have enough coverage to repair damage to your vehicle or cover your medical bills, an uninsured and underinsured policy will.

Car Insurance Required By Law in Arizona

Because each state has different requirements, it is wise to keep informed of your state’s laws. As a driver in Arizona, it is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the state-required minimums.

The state only requires drivers to carry liability insurance with the following minimum coverage amounts:

• $25,000 for bodily injury per person
• $50,000 for bodily injury per accident
• $15,000 for property damage per accident

These mandatory coverages are pretty low and may only cover part of your vehicle damage in an accident. If you’re found at fault, you’ll have to pay the total amount your car suffered. That means the cost will go straight out of your bank account if it’s higher than the minimum liability insurance.

Arizona has penalties for not carrying at least the minimum amount of coverage. If you are found to be driving without the required coverage, you’ll gain fines and a suspended license. Your consequences increase over time and will not stop until you obtain a policy.

Additional Coverages

There are many additional types of insurance coverage that cover different situations. The following coverages are not required in any state or by most insurance companies but are options you may choose to carry for your own benefit.

Umbrella Insurance

This supplemental insurance is intended to operate as additional liability coverage. You may wish to carry umbrella insurance if your minimum insurance is low or if your chances of incurring liability damages are high.

Having this type of coverage is most important in a lawsuit after a car crash or if you have an expensive vehicle to protect.

Gap Insurance

Gap insurance is necessary to carry if you bought a new vehicle with a financing option recently. The acronym stands for “guaranteed asset protection.”

The amount you still owe on the car loan may be more than what the car is worth if you total it. In that scenario, gap insurance would pay for the difference and put it into your pocket.

Similar to collision insurance, your lienholder may require that you carry this protection as a requirement in your lending agreement.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

This type of insurance is available in Arizona and covers medical bills regardless of who is at fault in an accident. Your carrier delivers the reimbursement after you’ve paid for the damages.

It is a good idea to carry some amount of PIP if you don’t have health insurance or your health insurance coverage is lousy.

Rental Reimbursement

If you are in a car accident, you may still need to drive when mechanics are repairing the vehicle. Rental reimbursement insurance covers the cost of a rental car while you don’t have your vehicle.

You may opt out of this coverage, but it’s smart to carry this protection if you don’t have access to another car. The additional monthly cost of rental reimbursement is not very significant and is a substantial help in an incident.

Need Assistance Finding Coverage?

Knowing how much car insurance coverage to carry can seem overwhelming. Of course, you need to carry the state-required minimums, but how do you decide which additional coverages you should carry for your benefit?

Having all this information and these options may make it difficult to choose, but you do not have to figure it out on your own.

Our professional team of experts is available to walk you through your options and help you make the best choices for your specific lifestyle and circumstances. We can compare with over 40 carriers to give you the amount of car insurance you need at a cheap rate.

If you need to review your current coverage or would like to price match for a new car policy, give us a call today.

Because Arizona is typically hot and dry, many residents, especially those new to the state, forget about Arizona’s monsoon season. This rainy season runs from June through September and can be very dangerous for those who are unprepared. Therefore, our team at Gebhardt Insurance Group has put together important monsoon driving tips to keep you safe.

Stay off the Road

Our number one safety tip is that if you know a storm is headed your way that can affect road conditions, stay home if possible. Waiting out a storm may be inconvenient but can very likely save your life. Of course, we know that emergencies and surprise weather events occur, which is why we recommend being prepared. Learning how to drive safely is crucial during monsoon season.

Prepare Your Vehicle

Before every monsoon season, you should complete a monsoon preparation checklist for your home and your vehicle. Driving on a wet road can cause you to hydroplane or lose control of your vehicle. Therefore, it is wise to ensure that your car is in the best shape to handle driving in the rain. The following should be checked as the monsoon season approaches:

• Check your tires for thick tread
• Replace worn or broken wiper blades
• Repair broken lights
• Conduct regular checks on brakes and brake pads

Drive Safely

Assuring that your vehicle is road-ready is only half of the battle; you also need to be prepared for driving in adverse weather conditions. In addition to defensive driving, safety measures should double when driving in the rain, such as:

• Maintain extra distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you. 
• Drive slowly and avoid slamming on the brake pedal. 
• Avoid flooded areas.
• If a road is closed due to flooding, do not drive around road barriers.

Pull Aside, Stay Alive

If you are on the road and get caught in very heavy rainfall or flash flood conditions, the best course of action is to pull off to the side of the road. It only takes a couple of inches of water to lift your vehicle’s tires off the road, so make sure to crank the parking break in a safe location.

“Insuring” Your Safety

Staying up to date with the Arizona Department of Transportation’s safety advisories is the best way to safely drive in heavy rain and other weather events such as dust storms, extreme heat, and snow. These will help you with being prepared ahead of time and learn driving in monsoons so you can have confidence during monsoon season.

At Gebhardt Insurance Group, we care first and foremost about your safety and want to make sure that you are prepared for all that Arizona weather has in store. We are available to answer all of your questions about insuring your property during monsoon season and are able to set you up with the proper insurance plan for you.

Call us today at (520) 836-3244 to ensure that you are insured.