High risk drivers are likely to pay more for their auto insurance because they are more likely to cost the insurer a lot of money.

Insurers calculate your risk rating based on how likely you are to file a claim and how much that claim is likely to cost them. Your risk level is based on a variety of factors, and the higher risk you pose, the higher premiums you may pay. After all, the riskier and more expensive you are to insure, the more your insurer is likely to charge you.

If you ever get a ticket, have an at-fault accident or increase your car insurance policy’s limits, then you should not be shocked to see your car insurance premiums go up. However, there are a lot of other reasons that your auto insurer might increase your premiums. Some of them might surprise you.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the more surprising reasons that your car insurance premium might rise, and what you can do to help stabilize your rates.

1. You Are Getting Older

Age is a factor that can influence car insurance rates. One of the most obvious examples of this phenomenon is when a teen driver pays a much higher premium for their car insurance than their sibling who is in their 20s. A teen driver has very little experience behind the wheel compared to seasoned drivers. Therefore, they are much more likely to have a wreck.

However, old age is also a factor that could drive up your rates. Even though you have a lot of experience driving, you might no longer be as spry as you once were. Reflexes, eyesight and reaction time all help you drive safely. As you get older and these faculties slow down a bit, your risk of a wreck might go up. Therefore, this factor might drive your rates.

2. You Move to a Busier Area

In some communities the risks of car wrecks, vehicle theft or other losses are very high. For example, if you move from a small town to a large city, then there is a lot more traffic on the road around you. There are also higher risks of vehicle theft and other property crimes. As a result, you have a higher risk of having to file a claim on your policy. Therefore, you might have to pay more for your plan.

3. You are Single

Some studies suggest that married people are better drivers than single individuals. Therefore, some insurance companies will charge a single driver more than a married one (all else being equal).

Plus, single drivers who only need to insure one car often do not qualify for multi-car insurance policies. Comparatively speaking, families might save money through a multi-vehicle plan option as opposed to insuring all the drivers and cars in their households under separate plans. Still, not all insurers will charge you more just because you are single.

4. You are a Loyal Customer

If you have stayed with the same insurance company for numerous years, then you might pay a higher rate than someone who just joined that company. This surprises many drivers, since a lot of insurance companies reward discounts to those who have stayed loyal to them over the years.

However, some insurers offer lower rates to customers who have a history of changing companies frequently. They might do so in an effort to maintain those clients’ business and remain competitive in the market. Some consumer protection groups even have found that certain insurers will take the risk of raising a loyal customer’s rates because they know that person is likely going to remain a customer.

5. You Have a Lower Level of Education

If you have not finished college, then you might pay more for your car insurance. While it is hard to determine exactly what causes these higher rates, one reason might be financial.

Those without college degrees tend to make less money than those with more professional training. As a result, they might not have the financial reserves available to pay for the costs of accidents out of pocket. Therefore, they might be more likely to file a claim against their car insurance for a vehicle loss.

A higher reliance on car insurance claims, therefore, could drive up someone’s rates. This is particularly true because insurers often look at someone’s history of filing claims when developing quotes. If they see that you have made a lot of claims in the past, then they might guess that you have a higher risk of filing another one in the future. Therefore, you might have to pay more.

What’s important to remember, however, is that no single factor is going to be a make-or-break deal in increasing or decreasing your car insurance premiums. Instead, the combination of numerous factors will play the deciding role. The best thing to do to ensure that you get affordable rates is to talk to an independent insurance agent. They can help you compare the policy offerings of numerous carriers to find the plan that offers you the best affordability.