We're always hearing about car insurance companies offering cheaper policies to safe drivers, but what exactly is a 'safe driver?' Whilst the methods for assessing driver risk may vary from company to company, there are some factors that most insurers agree define this exact term.
Accident History
The first and most obvious way to determine whether or not someone is a safe driver is based on how many accidents they have had. If you have been driving for 15 years and have never had to claim for an accident that was your fault, you are going to be considered a low risk. However, if you have only been driving a few years and have made a number of claims already, it's safe to say that your premiums will be higher rather than lower.
Credit Rating
Believe it or not, many car insurance companies will incorporate your credit rating when making a decision as to whether or not you are a safe driver. The reasoning behind this is because it's thought that maintaining financial stability shows that not only are you reliable, but also that you can afford the cost of regular maintenance which means you're less likely to cause an accident because of mechanical failure.
Mileage
How often you drive your car has a massive impact on the total amount you pay for your insurance. If you are on the road all day, every day, your chances of having an accident massively increase. However, if you drive very little then the likelihood of being involved in a crash is minimal and you are therefore more likely to be classed as a safe driver.
Insurance
We all know it's tempting to take out the lowest priced policy possible in a bid to save money - especially if your driving history is fairly uneventful. However, when obtaining quotes from car insurance companies, this can actually come back to haunt you. It is assumed that safe drivers will make sure that they are always fully covered should an accident occur. When a new company looks over your past insurance coverage, if they can see that you were responsible about carrying adequate cover, they are more likely to class you as a safe driver.
Location
Another surprising factor that contributes to whether or not you are classed as a safe driver is where you live. Every postcode in the UK is risk assessed based on their crime and claim statistics which means that this can have quite a substantial effect on your insurance premium - even if you are a very safe driver in every other respect.
Your Car
Do you drive a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport that can reach speeds of up to 267 mph or a nice little Volvo V40 that recorded the highest ever score in the Euro NCAP crash safety test last year? It's unlikely that you drive either but the point is that trying to insure a super fast sports car is going to be much more costly than insuring a practical vehicle full of safety features that can minimise your chances of having an accident.
Different makes and models of cars have different safety ratings, and therefore the vehicle you drive can have a massive impact on whether or not you will be classed as a safe driver.
Whilst there are undeniably external factors - mainly other road users - that can affect whether or not you will benefit from being classed as a safe driver by car insurance companies the above points can all help to dramatically improve the likelihood of this happening.
Chaucer Direct is one of the most significant auto insurance companies in the UK, Chaucer aims to provide safe drivers with the lowest insurance prices and the best service in the business.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Monique_A_Holtman
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