Car insurance quotes issued by insurance companies are usually based on risk assessment. When a company begins to evaluate how much to charge you for auto insurance, what they are actually evaluating is the probability of having to pay on an insurance claim. Your driving record provides insurers with a handy yardstick they can use to assess the risk of insuring you.
Auto Insurers Will Do Research
An insurer will typically look back 3 to 5 years in your driving history during the evaluation. Don’t worry, they are not going to judge you by mistakes you made when you were 16 year old. But companies do want to get a picture of what kind of driver you are, and may look not only at your current license and state of residence but at any licenses you have held in other sates.
What The Auto Insurance Company Researches
An insurer typically looks at the number and severity of any accidents in which you’ve been involved. Often, the company will also look at the accident-free interval between claims as well. 
This will tell the company if you are an overall safe driver who had a couple of unavoidable fender benders, or a reckless driver who is frequently involved in (and the cause of) accidents. If two years or more have elapsed between accidents, you may still qualify for a lower car insurance quote.
Know Your Driving Record
Insurance companies examine your driving record not only for accidents but for moving violations (like speeding tickets) as well. Having several tickets for red lights, for example, will not weigh favorably with an insurance company. Many insurance companies use a point system to evaluate drivers. As the points add up, so do your premiums. A clean driving history is your best way of getting optimal car insurance quotes.
What are the benefits of having a clean license?
There are several ways that insurance companies can reward safe drivers. One is through lower deductibles. Another is through what is called “accident forgiveness” (several insurance companies, in return for a small fee, will not count a first or rare accident against you). Some insurance companies also offer special discounts to drivers with clean records. Such incentives and rewards may include free items (e.g., hotel accommodations) or further discounts off your premium.
Still have questions?
CarInsuranceQuote.com can provide more information and enable you to shop for the best auto insurance quotes.
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