Are Red Cars More Expensive to Insure?
Red cars are no more expensive to insure than any other color or car. So why do people think they cost more to insure? Read this article to find out.
Written by Brenna Swanston
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
It is a myth that red cars cost more to insure.
Several factors (like your driving record, age, and car type) go into calculating your insurance rate—and car color isn't one of them.
So if you have a red car or are thinking about buying one, you can breathe easy. You can also find
cheap car insurance
. And the best part is, it doesn't have to be a hassle. No matter the color of your car,
Jerry
—the trustworthy insurance shopping super app
—can help you find the best coverage for the most affordable price. Keep reading to find out more about insuring red cars and what really goes into insurance costs.
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Do red cars cost more to insure?
Red cars do not cost more to insure. When you get a quote from an insurance provider, they're most likely not going to ask about the color of your vehicle.
There is one exception to this rule. If your vehicle has a
custom paint job
, it will affect your insurance premium—but not by much. This is because of the higher repair costs that would come with repainting the vehicle in the event of an accident.Now, if it doesn't cost more to insure a red car, why do so many people buy in to the myth?
The age-old assumption is that drivers of red cars are riskier drivers, may have more tickets and claims, and therefore, have to pay more for insurance.
Some people also think that police officers are more likely to pull over drivers with red cars since it's assumed they're riskier drivers.
These rumors are simply not true. The fact is, regardless of your vehicle’s color, you will have to pay more for insurance with claims or driver violations on your record. But your insurance company won't assume that you're going to be a risky driver based on your car color and give you higher premiums before you've even gotten a ticket.
Key Takeaway Unless you have a custom paint job, car color does not affect insurance rates.
What factors really impact insurance rates?
While factors like your driving record, address, and gender will impact your insurance rates, color doesn’t make the list. So feel free to buy that fiery red car!
Here are some factors that actually could lead to a higher insurance premium:
Driving record
A
clean driving record
means cheaper premiums. The fewer accidents and claims that you have, the cheaper your insurance. Insurance companies will look at how costly it will be to insure you as a driver. If you have more claims, car insurance companies consider you higher-risk and your auto premiums will go up.Where you live
Someone living in an urban area will pay more than someone living in a rural or suburban area.
Urban areas, in comparison to the suburbs or the country, have higher rates due to traffic congestion,
car theft rates
, and vandalism. The cost of car care, the number of insurance fraud cases, and even the weather in your area are also major factors.
Credit history (in some states)
Your credit score helps insurance companies determine if you are a risk to insure. In most states, insurance companies will use a credit-based insurance score to determine your premium and predict insurance losses.
Your payment history, length of credit, and types of credit will all have an impact on your credit-based score and, ultimately, your premium.
California
, Hawaii, Maryland
, Massachusetts, Michigan
, Oregon, and Utah have stricter rules surrounding insurance companies using credit-based data and insurance scores for premiums. Some of these states even ban the use of credit data entirely. Age and gender
Drivers under 25 generally pay more than drivers 30 and over. Statistically, young drivers are more at risk for being in an accident.
Data has also shown that men are considered higher-risk drivers than women. Premiums tend to be higher for men.
Car type
Your car model could potentially affect your premiums by hundreds of dollars. Luxury cars and SUVs are generally more expensive to insure because of high repair costs. Your car’s theft rate, safety rating, and repair costs also factor into your premium.
Your occupation and education level
People that have a higher level of education tend to get in fewer accidents, which could potentially be reflected in lower insurance premiums. Certain occupations may also qualify for car insurance discounts, like nurse discounts or teacher discounts.
Marital status
Statistically, married drivers get into fewer accidents than single drivers. So if you’ve tied the knot, you may qualify for a lower insurance premium. However, the driving record of both spouses is key to determining if the combined premium will be cheaper or not.
Key Takeaway Factors like driving record, your location, credit history, and more impact your car insurance rates.
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How to find cheap car insurance
Whether or not you have a few of the above factors stacked against you,
Jerry
can help you save on car insurance
. It’s this simple: download the Jerry app or go to getjerry.com. In less than 45 seconds, our
trustworthy insurance shopping super app
collects all of your information from your existing insurer. Choose from competitive quotes from top insurance companies and Jerry takes care of the rest—securing your new policy and canceling your old one. No long forms. No calling around. No hard work. Just savings. The average Jerry user saves over $900 a year on car insurance.
"I had never heard of this app but decided to try it. Glad I did! I put in a little information about myself and my car and then a short time later I had several quotes sent straight to the app" — Satisfied Jerry User
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