Demographics. Statistically, male drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents than female drivers, so their insurance rates tend to be higher. Likewise, younger and less experienced drivers tend to be more accident-prone, so they pay more for car insurance. Married people are less likely to be involved in accidents, and so they generally pay less for insurance. These and other demographic factors heavily influence premiums.

Vehicle. Certain cars are more likely to be involved in accidents. Insurance companies compute premiums based in part on each model’s accident history; that is, the number of accidents involving each model of car. It is very important to consider the cost of insurance when buying a new car. Certain optional safety features can also influence the cost of premiums.

Driving Record.Insurance companies charge known unsafe drivers more than safe drivers. Every ticket and every accident results in increased insurance premiums for the driver. Conversely, many insurers offer safe driver discounts, lowering premiums for drivers who stay out of accidents for a certain length of time.

Deductible. A deductible is the amount of money the customer is responsible for on a claim; the insurance company pays the rest. Most insurance policies come with a standard $500 deductible. Some drivers opt for a higher deductible in order to lower their monthly premiums. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium.

Location and Mileage. Drivers who live in particularly dangerous areas pay more for insurance than drivers who live in areas where there are fewer accidents. Likewise, drivers who drive less than a predetermined number of miles may qualify for discounts. The less time someone spends on the road, the less chance of an accident.

You can go to the MVA’s website at www.mva.maryland.gov and add your three emergency contacts in just a few minutes.   You will need your Driver’s License Number to complete this process.

1.      Go to the website:  www.mva.maryland.gov
2.      Go to “On-line Transactions” (upper left) & click on “More”
3.      Click on “Emergency Contacts” (bottom of left column)
4.      Follow prompts

Another note… Beginning January 1st, 2012, the MVA will no longer be sending out Driver’s License renewal notices.   It’s your responsibility to keep track of when it’s due for renewal.  And be careful, if you miss your renewal date for over a year, you will have to take a driver’s test again!  Driving without a “valid” Driver’s License is considered a MAJOR VIOLATION & could affect your insurance premium.

FYI…. Your Driver’s License renews on your birth date every 5 years!!!   Check your driver’s license….Is it time to renew??

Be a Good Neighbor & pass this valuable information along to family, friends & colleagues on your email list.

Finally, you will want to decide whether you want to have a captive agent or an independent agent. A captive agency only represents one particular insurance company rather than several others. An independent agency will work with many insurance companies and are called insurance brokers. This should help in finding the right insurance company. Roadway Auto Insurance is a company that meets all of these expectations. There is coverage for inexperienced and experienced drivers alike. There is also an option to replace canceled policies.

This insurance company gives high risk insurance quotes, low insurance rates and is ranked the number one customer service agency in DC and also in Maryland. Roadway Auto Insurance agency offers a discount to drivers in DC and Maryland. Maryland drivers must have Maryland Insurance Certification which is known as FR-19. Drivers must also carry a Certificate of Financial Responsibility which is known as a CFR or liability insurance. Roadway Auto Insurance can help you with these needs anytime. Roadway Auto Insurance Company has been in business since 1992 and offers exceptional customer service and rates. With that much experience it is easy to see why they are highly recommended.

1.  Your driving record. Insurers believe that motorcycle riders who have had wrecks in the past will have accidents in the future. Keep in mind that they do not necessarily care whether any particular accident was your fault or not, because they still have to pay either way. So all accidents will factor into theh premium computation.

2. The type of bike you have. Newer and flashier bikes with all the add ons and engine mods will undoubtedly add to your premium. Insurers consider older bikes safer, because the profile of the riders that usually choose older bikes is that of an older, safer rider. Newer bikes are usually chosen by younger riders, who ride to go fast and take more risks. Therefore, the insurance company uses that as an excuse to raise premiums on newer bikes.

3. Your mileage. More time on the road equals more potential time for an accident, insurers say. Therefore, if your commute to and from work is a long one, be prepared for a higher premium. Miles driven for pleasure do not necessarily count, until an accident occurs. If the insurance company checks the mileage on the bike and it is significantly larger than the amount you said you drove, the policy may allow them to forego paying for any damages, so be careful.

4. The safety of your home and work zip codes. If you live in a dangerous neighborhood, insurers will raise your premium. Also, if you work at a dangerous job, insurers will consider that as a higher risk.

5. The amount of safety precautions you take. If you buy an alarm system or a garage for your bike, your insurance premium will be lower, because these things decrease the risk of damage to the vehicle.

6. Your other vehicles. If you have a car that you use for every day driving, you can expect a break on your motorcycle insurance. Insurers will note that you have a safer vehicle for use.

Your Car

Your car is a big part of what determines how much you wind up spending on car insurance. If you’re buying a new car, then you’ll have to pay for full coverage until the car is paid off. If you drive a beat up old car that isn’t worth much, then that alone might lower the costs, but the lack of airbags or other safety features may actually raise your costs.

Keeping your costs low typically involves taking care of your car though. If your wheels are in great shape with all the safety features, than that will typically lower your rates by quite a bit.

Your History

Your driving history is one of the most important factors. Your best bet is to just be a safe driver if you want low payments. Of course, if you already have some marks against you, then it may take some time for your record to get clean. What you want to do in the meantime is cover as much as you can out of pocket. Every scrape and fender bender, if you can cover it, cover it. Even when something isn’t your fault, it goes on your record.

Your Provider

And finally, your provider. This is probably the most important factor in the end because they really can charge just about whatever they want to charge. Look for an insurer who is geared towards you. Some insurers specialize in low rates for drivers with a few marks, others are there just to give bottom-dollar prices to people who want minimal coverage and so on. Find a good agency and get the insurance plan that you need.

The factors that influence your insurance rate that you can’t change are:

1. Age – According to statistics drivers younger than 25 are the most likely to be in automobile accidents. When it comes to discounts, age plays a factor. There are five milestone ages when insurance rates will drop significantly and they occur at age 18, 19, 21, 25 and 30.

2. Gender – Women have proven to be safer drivers in general and therefore often receive discounts from insurance companies.

3. Marital Status – People who are married have lower premiums than single people with the same driving record. Combining two drivers into one policy is a considerable savings.

The following factors are things that you can control. Making a few changes can have a positive impact on the price of your insurance premium for auto insurance.

1. Location – Your address can actually affect what you pay for insurance. If you live in the country or anywhere with light traffic you will pay less for insurance. Living in busy cities or even the suburbs can negatively affect the rate you pay because of the increased chances of traffic accidents and car theft.

2. Driving Record – Any traffic violation automatically makes you a higher risk as far as most insurance companies are concerned. Luckily, as you get farther away from your last violation your premium should come down.

3. Value of the car – Cheaper cars cost less to insure.

4. Traffic Accidents – If have been involved in traffic accidents and have made an insurance claim, your premium will be higher.

5. Education – The more levels of education you have, the lower your premium will be.

6. Credit – Surprisingly, there are a lot of insurers who consider someone with a poor credit rating a high risk when it comes to determining insurance rates.

7. Owning a home – People who own their own homes will often get a discount because homeowners are thought to be more responsible.

Some other factors that insurance companies take into consideration are things like the distance your drive to your job, how many miles you drive each year, whether or not you use your car for business, whether or not you have theft protection devices, and how many cars you are insuring.