Car insurance. No one wants to pay for it, but you’re so glad that you have it when you need it. The good thing is, you can watch your rates go down by doing the obvious. Like not crashing into things or stacking up speeding tickets.

But there are other things you can do to hurt your rates beyond traffic violations and filing claims. Unfortunately, your driving, shopping, and organizational behavior can’t save you from everything. 

Moving can raise your insurance rates

Your rates take dozens of factors into consideration, including where you live. Don’t be surprised to learn that your recent move from a small town or rural America to a bustling city added to your annual premium.

According to The Zebra, cities like Detroit, Miami, New York, and New Orleans can have average annual premiums north of $4,000. That’s twice as much as cities like Indianapolis and Nashville. Any location with higher-than-average instances of theft, accidents, or vandalism will lead to higher rates.  

Low credit score

Depending on your state of residence, your credit score could have more of a negative impact on your rates than you might think. Providers use your credit score to assess financial risk. So, if your credit is bad, your provider is likely to charge you more to make sure that they’re covered should you stop paying soon after beginning a policy. 

Putting your teenager on your insurance policy

Learning to drive is a big deal for a teenager. But a teenage boy is the most expensive demographic to insure. As such, including your teen on your policy will significantly raise your rates.

Fortunately, some providers are better for adding a teen. American Family has the cheapest average monthly rates for teen drivers, followed by Travelers and USAA, per The Zebra. 

Picking the wrong car

Your car says a lot about you. And while we all want that picture-perfect dream machine, your choice of ride will impact your insurance rates. For instance, the IIHS found a disproportionate number of claims for the popular midsize Dodge Charger. As such, you can expect a Charger, especially a Charger SRT Hellcat, to be more expensive to insure than segment rivals. 

Allowing your coverage to lapse

Keeping up with your insurance is important. Not just to ensure that you’re covered in the event of a disaster, but to make sure that your rates stay low. Allowing your coverage to lapse can easily result in higher premiums when you reactivate your policy. The best bet is to set your coverage on an auto-renewal system. 

Failing to shop around

Just because your parents or siblings use one provider doesn’t mean you have to do so. Shop around to find the best possible coverage for you and your specific criteria.

Being a male under 25

There are some things you just can’t control. Simply being a male under the age of 25 will make your rates higher than other demographics. What you can do, however, is avoid getting a poor driving record while under the age of 25. You can then get lower coverage rates as you get older. 

Getting a DUI

A DUI (or a DWI) will cost you big time in court fees and fines. No surprise there. But getting a DUI on your record can also drive your insurance premiums through the roof. According to Bankrate, a DUI can nearly double your rates, sending the average full-coverage policy from $2,670 to $5,185 per year.