Auto insurance companies like to keep your business. When your rates goes up, for apparently no reason, customers start looking around to switch carriers. If they raise your rates it's usually for one of the reasons below.
If your company was granted a rate increase since your last renewal
You are at fault in an accident
If you have a collision loss over a certain amount
If you're over twenty five and get two or more tickets
If you are under twenty five and get a ticket
If your insurance company checks your driving record after you receive points
The carrier adds a policy fee at a later date
If you add people to your policy (esp. juveniles)
If you move into a higher risk area
You become 50 or older
A surcharge as a result of violations, suspensions or accidents by another driver on your policy
Increasing your coverage limits
Lowering your deductibles
Increased company losses, accident rates and/or repair costs for your defined area
If a company finds negative information while investigating your application
Adding another vehicle to the policy
Replacing an older vehicle with a newer or more expensive one
Changing the usage of the vehicle from pleasure to work or commercial
Increasing the number of miles per year you drive
Let me also add, I am all for the little guy getting price breaks on his insurance. Have you checked to see how much financial writers make lately?
You may "forget" accidents, tickets, convictions, etc. on your driving record, but if it's been less than 3 years, the incidents will still show up on your driving record.
The company just has to interface with the DMV reports electronically and you will be rejected or required to pay more.
You could get a "rate up" WHEN (not if) they pull your driving record. Every company will pull your driving record especially when they first insure you. Just be honest and avoid the headache of an increased rate or decline. This is not life insurance where the company has two years to discover any misstatement. Or health insurance where now the companies can pull a MIB but still depend heavily on what you tell them.
With auto insurance, your driving record and credit will be reviewed in about 2 minutes, I can sadly assure you. If there are honest mistakes on those reports fix them!
I recommend
Comparison Market, they offer online binding, a dependable interface and many top rated carriers.
