What Drives up Car Costs

Each of us gets charged differently for auto insurance. The reason is statistics: insurers — be they large company like Allstate, Progressive or the Hartford or smaller, regional insurers — plug a mountain of data about you into their computer to determine a rate that reflects the risk you pose. Here are the kinds of data they use. Check with your insurer to see which factors shape your costs.

This illustration on a double-page vertical spread was developed for AARP Bulletin. It highlights different factors affecting your car insurance bill.