At Grange Insurance Association, we’ve been in business for 130 years, which means we’ve got the knowledge and experience to answer your frequently asked questions about Auto insurance coverage.

What Factors Influence the Rate People Pay for Their Car Insurance?

The cost of your Auto insurance can depend on several factors, including personal factors like your driving record, your credit score, what you drive, how much you drive, and where you live. That means that someone with no speeding tickets who doesn’t drive much and lives in a suburb with low crime rates, for example, can pay less than someone with an unsafe driving record who commutes for work and lives in a high-crime area. Your car insurance premium also depends on your policy limits, your deductible, and the type of coverage on your policy (i.e. comprehensive coverage, collision coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, etc.).

How to Lower Car Insurance?

While you can lower your car insurance premium by lowering your policy limits and coverage types, this can be incredibly costly in the event of an accident. Instead, try bundling your Home and Auto insurance for savings, raising your deductible, asking about discounts, or choosing a vehicle that costs less to insure. Teslas, luxury cars, sports cars, and cars with specialty parts, for example, tend to be more expensive to insure than more affordable vehicles with high safety rates.

Which Gender Pays More for Car Insurance?

Because men are statistically more likely to get into car accidents with major injuries, they tend to pay slightly more for Auto insurance over the course of their lifetime. That said, the difference is small, and some states, including California, cannot consider gender in their car insurance rates.

Is Car Insurance Tax Deductible?

Personal vehicles are generally not eligible as a tax deduction, except under special circumstances. If you use your personal vehicle for business or own your own business, for example, you may be able to deduct your car insurance when using the actual expense method during filing. We recommend speaking to a tax professional if you think you may be eligible for a deduction.

Does Car Insurance Cover Theft?

Comprehensive Auto insurance coverage generally covers theft and vandalism, while Homeowners or Renters insurance may cover valuable items that were in the vehicle at the time of the theft. This helpful blog offers additional information about car theft and Auto insurance.

Can Someone Else Drive My Car?

Generally speaking, car insurance follows the car, rather than driver. That said, family members who live in the home and regularly drive the vehicle must be disclosed to your insurance company and added to the policy. Some Auto insurance policies are also considered “listed driver” policies, which means only those listed on the policy would be covered in the event of a car accident.

Do You Have to Add Teenager to Car Insurance?

If you have a teen driver in your household who is using your vehicle, it is your responsibility to add them to your Auto insurance. If your teen driver has their own vehicle, you can either add them to your existing car insurance policy or they can obtain their own.