Since no one I talk to can ever give me a straight answer that doesn’t contradict what someone else tells me about insurance, I’d like to know if anyone here can give me some of the criteria insurance companies use to quote your premium. I know full well that age, type of car, colour, and year of car matter. That stuff is pretty obvious. However, there are some little things that I’ve never gotten a straight answer for in terms of how it changes the quote (some may seem obvious, but a lot of times I’ve been told otherwise):
two door vs four door (e.g. 2.5RS 2dr, 2.5RS 4dr)
two seat vs four seat (e.g. 300ZX vs 300ZX 2+2)
which colours are more expensive (I’ve been told red and black)
when you get your first “break” age-wise (I’ve been told 19, 21, and/or 25)
security system
I realize many things differ between insurance companies… but I can’t even get straight answers for some really basic things, so I’d like it if some of you guys can help me clear a few thing for factors that affect your insurance.
When I told my insurance company I had an alarm installed, they took off a mere $9 a month off…but it probably varies from company to company. They seem to like FACTORY alarm systems…
A lot of factors change from one company to the next. Some things are weighed differently for each one kind of thing.
Thanks. The thing about alarm systems is that… I’ve been told stock alarm systems that have GPS are apparently the “only ones that can reduce your premium”. I didn’t quite believe that 'cos I’ve been doing some online quotes lately and some of them have a box for you to check off that just says “security system installed?”.
Also, how do they check? Do they just kind of take your word for it?
Dude, online quotes are crap…you really need to talk to a broker or at least call companies and get contacts. A lot of the fields in online quotes that i’ve played with don’t even change the quote. Once I added violations to my information as a test, and it actually reduced the quote…a lot. So, uh, yeah. Besides, no online quote could beat the quote of the company I had spoken to on the phone.
My company took my word for me having added my alarm.
Yeah I realize that. But the fact that the option was there made me assume that companies did consider just plain ol’ aftermarket security systems. I mean, I know online quotes are usually wrong but there has to be some credibility to putting that box for me to check there =P
All in all though… I keep on getting mixed stories regarding insurance. I guess the best bet is to actually call up but I find that I can’t even get some general information down (such as two door vs four door). I mean, I would imagine two door vs four door would be a factor that’s fairly equal from company to company.
