Does the Color of Your Car Affect Your Insurance Rates?

There are many basic factors that influence your car insurance rates, but some may surprise you. Legends float around about the affect of car color on insurance rates. In general, these legends are false, but they have more viability than you would think.

Color and Car Insurance

First, it’s important to know that insurance companies will never calculate your car insurance premiums based on the color of your vehicle. Whatever statistics or conjecture says about car colors does not factor into the cost of your insurance.

Instead, your car insurance rates are determined by:

Vehicle size, make, model and value
Vehicle safety rating
Coverage limits
Location

Credit score
Driving record

Do Some Car Colors Get Pulled Over More?

While the myth of color affecting insurance rates is not accurate, there may be other things your car’s paint color could affect—such as the rate at which you get pulled over. Obviously, the make and model of your vehicle matters, as well. Sports cars and cars that are typically modified for speed are more likely to be pulled over than slower vehicles. Vehicles such as SUVs are less likely to be pulled over.

When it comes to car color, studies show that white vehicles are more likely to be pulled over, followed by red vehicles. There is no definitive answer to why this is the case. There are some theories that certain colors influence emotions, which affect driver actions. This is only conjecture, of course.

Color isn’t the only influence on the rate of getting pulled over or receiving citations. Statistics show that men tend to receive more citations than women, as well as participate in more aggressive driving activities. Unlike car color, though, your gender could also affect your car insurance rates. Due to these statistics, men tend to pay higher car insurance premiums.

Age and Insurance

In general, younger drivers pay higher insurance premiums. This is because newer drivers are seen as nonstandard or high-risk drivers. High-risk drivers refer to those who are more likely to file an insurance claim. Insurance agencies charge high-risk drivers more to compensate for the possibility of the driver filing a claim. This is the same reason that men tend to pay more for car insurance.

Insurance rates typically drop once the driver reaches the age of 25 and don’t raise again based on age until around 70.

Finding Cheaper Auto Insurance

Even young drivers can find affordable auto insurance. While the color of your vehicle doesn’t matter, other aspects of the vehicle and your driving habits do. One of the biggest influences on your car insurance rates is your driving record. To keep a clean driving record (no matter what color your vehicle), make sure to avoid these habits:

Eating while driving
Speeding
Using a cell phone while driving
Reckless driving habits (drying to beat yellow lights, running stop signs, etc.)

Tailgating
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Different violations cause your insurance rates to rise at various levels. A DUI, for example, could make your premiums jump by 80% or more.

Besides avoiding traffic violations, you can also save money by:

Avoiding purchasing sports cars

Insuring a vehicle with a high safety rating
Asking about discounts (Good Driver discounts, Mature Driver discounts, Good Student discounts, etc.)
Investing in an anti-theft system
Building credit
Shop around

Adjust deductible
Bundle policies

If you or someone on your policy is considered a nonstandard or high-risk driver, you should shop between insurance agencies that specialize in such coverage. Some agencies have more forgiveness than others.

Does the Color of Your Car Affect Your Insurance Rates?

No Comments