While you can easily find the right car insurance to meet your needs, keeping your premiums down is sometimes more challenging. Even though you can't control your

age

gender

, or previous

accidents

on your record, you can become more aware of the most costly premium-raising situations going forward.

The five most costly situations that cause your car insurance to go up are as follows. And if you find yourself needing to switch insurance, check out

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Getting involved in at-fault accidents

At-fault accidents represent one of the biggest factors that cause car insurance to go up. Worse yet, the more accidents there are on your record, the higher your premiums rise. Too many accidents can also cause a car insurance company to decide not to renew your policy.

Taking a defensive driving course represents a great way to reduce an insurance premium hike following an accident. Keep in mind that the laws governing such classes vary by state, with some restricting who can take advantage of such courses according to age.

DMV.org

provides a list of regulations for each state and who qualifies for a defensive driving course discount with their car insurance company.

Living in the wrong area

Your home address plays a part in determining your car insurance premiums. Drivers who live in areas that see greater instances of theft and vandalism pay more for car insurance compared to those who live in safer parts of a city or state. Also, high-traffic areas carry higher premiums since the likelihood of getting into an accident increases with the greater number of cars on the road.

The number of uninsured drivers in an area can also cause your car insurance to go up. The following chart shows the differences in car insurance premiums among the states.

Rank	State	Premium
1	Michigan	$2,738
2	Montana	$2,297
3	New Jersey	$1,905
4	Louisiana	$1,842
5	Oklahoma	$1,778
6	Washington, D.C.	$1,773
7	California	$1,752
8	Florida	$1,654
9	Maryland	$1,610
10	Rhode Island	$1,608
11	Delaware	$1,607
12	Georgia	$1,559
13	Texas	$1,510
14	West Virginia	$1,456
15	Wyoming	$1,421
16	Colorado	$1,393
17	Connecticut	$1,367
18	South Carolina	$1,353
19	Arkansas	$1,345
20	Alabama	$1,337
21	Massachusetts	$1,325
22	Pennsylvania	$1,305
23	Kentucky	$1,295
24	New Mexico	$1,277
25	Mississippi	$1,277
26	Oregon	$1,267
27	Minnesota	$1,257
28	Nevada	$1,221
29	North Dakota	$1,188
30	Nebraska	$1,188
31	Arizona	$1,188
32	South Dakota	$1,168
33	Washington	$1,168
34	Tennessee	$1,145
35	Kansas	$1,135
36	Indiana	$1,113
37	Alaska	$1,078
38	Utah	$1,061
39	Missouri	$1,056
40	New York	$1,050
41	Hawaii	$1,049
42	Illinois	$1,035
43	Virginia	$1,020
44	Iowa	$989
45	North Carolina	$987
46	Vermont	$942
47	New Hampshire	$941
48	Idaho	$935
49	Wisconsin	$912
50	Ohio	$900
51	Maine	$808
	National Average	$1,325

MORE:

How long do points stay on your record after a speeding ticket?

Adding a teen to your car insurance policy

Adding a young driver aged 16 to 24 to your policy will likely cause your car insurance to go up. You must list any licensed driver in your home who does not have their own insurance on your policy. Not doing so can result in a denied claim or cancelled policy if they have an accident while driving your vehicle. The following table shows the average car insurance quote by age across the U.S.

Age	Average Cost Per Year
16	$8,226
18	$6,456
21	$3,620
25	$2,374
30	$2,078
35	$2,028
40	$1,973
45	$1,929
50	$1,855
55	$1,845
60	$1,867
65	$1,956
70	$2,131

MORE: How long does a speeding ticket stay on your record?

Getting Better Insurance Coverage

Opting for higher coverage will drive your car insurance premiums up. Your deductible — which is the amount you must pay in the event of an accident before your car insurance kicks in — also plays a part in the final cost of your premium. The following table shows the minimum car insurance coverage requirements by state.

State	Body Injury Liability per Person / Bodily Injury Liability per Accident / Property Damage Coverage Requirements
Alabama	$25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000
Alaska	$50,000 / 100,000 / 25,000
Arizona	$15,000 / 30,000 / 10,000
Arkansas	$25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000
California	$15,000 / 30,000 / 5,000
Colorado	$25,000 / 40,000 / 10,000
Connecticut	$20,000 / 40,000 / 10,000
Delaware	$15,000 / 30,000 / 10,000
District of Columbia	$25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000
Florida	$10,000 / 20,000 / 10,000
Georgia	$25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000
Hawaii	$20,000 / 40,000 / 10,000
Idaho	$25,000 / 50,000 / 15,000
Illinois	$20,000 / 40,000 / 15,000
Indiana	$25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000
Iowa	$20,000 / 40,000 / 15,000
Kansas	$25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000
Kentucky	$25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000
Louisiana	$15,000 / 30,000 / 25,000
Maine	$15,000 / 30,000 / 10,000
Maryland	$30,000 / 60,000 / 15,000
Massachusetts	$30,000 / 60,000 / 15,000
Michigan	$20,000 / 40,000 / 10,000
Minnesota	$20,000 / 40,000 / 10,000
Mississippi	$25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000
Missouri	$25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000
Montana	$25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000
Nebraska	$25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000
Nevada	$15,000 / 30,000 / 5,000
New Hampshire	$25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000
New Jersey	$15,000 / 30,000 / 5,000
New Mexico	$25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000
New York	$25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000
North Carolina	$30,000 / 60,000 / 25,000
North Dakota	$25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000
Ohio	$12,500 / 25,000 / 7,500
Oklahoma	$25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000
Oregon	$25,000 / 50,000 / 20,000
Pennsylvania	$15,000 / 30,000 / 5,000
Rhode Island	$25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000
South Carolina	$25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000
South Dakota	$25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000
Tennessee	$25,000 / 50,000 / 15,000
Texas	$30,000 / 60,000 / 25,000
Utah	$25,000 / 65,000 / 15,000
Vermont	$25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000
Virginia	$25,000 / 50,000 / 20,000
Washington	$25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000
West Virginia	$25,000 / 50,000 / 25,000
Wisconsin	$25,000 / 50,000 / 10,000
Wyoming	$25,000 / 50,000 / 20,000

Getting Caught for Speeding and Other Traffic Violations

Getting tickets for speeding and other traffic violations can identify you as a risky driver. Minor violations can significantly raise your premiums, or at the very least cost you your good driver discount.

More harmful violations, such as a DUI, can cause your car insurance to go up by 100% or more. The following table, from

Neckerman.com

, shows how various moving violations negatively affect your car insurance premiums.

Moving Violation	Average Percent Increase
DUI/DWI	92.49%
Reckless driving	83.29%
Speeding 31 + MPH over the limit	29.26%
Speeding 16 to 30 MPH over the limit	28.06%
Careless driving	26.62%
Driving the wrong way	21.34%
Speeding 1 to 15 MPH over the limit	20.54%
Improper passing	20.30%
Following too close	18.86%
Failure to stop	18.94%
Not yielding to a pedestrian	18.78%
Failure to yield	18.71%
Not signaling	18.55%
Violating railroad rules	18.07%
Driving in the carpool lane	17.91%
Driving without a license	16.47%
Not wearing a seat belt	5.60%

Car insurance coverage requirements vary according to where you live, your driving record, your age, and other factors. Understanding what can affect your car insurance premiums allows you to make decisions to keep your rates low.

If you decide to seek more cost-effective insurance from another company, try

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