Bad driving habits may get you into accidents and other scrapes that lead to increased car insurance premiums, but did you know that good habits could improve your insurance score and get you discounts on your policy?

What Do We Mean by “Driving Habits”?

Driving habits don’t necessarily mean bad driving habits; they also include those good driving habits you have. In general, insurance companies will use patterns in your driving history to establish how at risk you are for having an auto accident or ticket.

Here are some examples of driving habits that can cause an increase in your car insurance premium:

• Driving often at night
• Driving excessively or having a long commute to work
• History of accidents
• History of traffic tickets or citations
• Inexperienced driving
• Major convictions
• Using vehicle for business

These factors have been shown to increase accidents and citations, thereby giving auto insurance carriers good reason to increase premiums.

Good habits include:

• Using running lights
• Keeping to safe, familiar routes
• Not using digital or cellular devices while driving
• Following the speed limits
• Not engaging in conflict with other drivers
• Using defensive driving tactics
• Making sure everyone is buckled
• Maintaining your vehicle
• Installing anti-theft devices and locking doors
• Planning ahead for bad road conditions

Will a Speeding Ticket Increase My Insurance?

While the rules vary between insurance carriers, here are the factors they look at when it comes to speed citations:

• Your driving record
• How much time has passed since a violation
• How far over the speed limit you were driving

How Will My Carrier Know About My Driving Habits?

• If you don’t disclose honest information when acquiring your policy and your insurance carrier discovers it later, claims could be denied and your coverage could even be terminated. 

• If you’ve received a citation or conviction, your insurance provider might not know about it immediately, but it will find out when your policy comes up for renewal. 

• If you file an insurance claim, the assigned insurance adjuster will perform a full investigation and review of the vehicle, including how many miles are on the car (which could indicate excessive driving). The adjuster also will learn how and when the accident took place (at night, during business hours, at a high speed, etc.), and those details will be reported to your insurance company, possibly resulting in a review of your application information.  

• If you apply for usage-based auto insurance using a mobile app or plug-in device, your insurance carrier will see how long and far you drive, at what times, and certain actions taken by the vehicle (such as hard braking and fast acceleration). 

How Can I Show My Insurer I Have Good Habits?

If you are a good driver and would like to reap some insurance rate benefits, you can ask your agent if signing up for telematics would be beneficial. Many insurance companies offer these tracking devices, and if you are a calm, law-abiding driver, you could see substantial discounts. You can also make sure your clean driving record, long periods of no claims, and auto safety features (such as running lights and anti-theft devices) are reflected in your policy premium calculation.

For help finding the best car insurance coverage for you, request a quote here.