Politics. Religion. The state of their lawn. Add auto insurance coverage quotes to the list of items you ought to never ever talk about with your neighbors if you want to stay, nicely, neighborly.


You might discover out that they’re paying a lot significantly less for auto insurance than you are, even although you reside proper subsequent door and have the identical insurance coverage business. That may well not appear fair, but it is not unusual. So what gives?


Turns out, a lot much more than place goes into an auto insurance coverage quote. Right here are some factors your neighbor may possibly be getting a better deal.


Age


The older you get, the significantly less your auto insurance coverage is going to expense. Effectively, to a point. Statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) show a drop-off in driver death rates at age 25, so reaching that age need to reduce your quote. You will get much better insurance prices (offered you have a clean record) till about age 75, when research from the Centers for Illness Manage and Prevention shows you’re more probably to get into accidents.


So if your neighbor is in between ages 25 and 75, and you are not, chances are that is partly why you’re paying much more — for now.


Gender


Sorry guys, but study shows that men are involved in accidents and engage in risky behaviors, such as speeding or drunken driving, a lot more frequently than women, according to the IIHS. Males also get automobiles that are costlier to insure, such as exotic sports automobiles, and do not buckle up as usually.


If your neighbor is a woman, and you’re a man, that could explain why she’s receiving cheaper automobile insurance coverage.


Driving record


Maybe you have 3 speeding tickets on your record. Or you have brought on 2 accidents in the past 5 years. If your neighbor’s driving record is clean, or at least cleaner than yours, that person is going to get a reduce price since he or she poses less of a risk to the insurer. Any individual who’s significantly less likely to file a claim will get far better vehicle insurance coverage quotes.


Shorter commute


If your neighbors commute to function every day on the train, and you drive 200 miles each techniques, their insurance is going to be reduce since they are not utilizing their car as a lot as you. Being on the road a lot more puts you at greater threat of an accident or a moving violation like a speeding ticket. Each of these are going to make your insurance coverage much more high-priced.


Cheaper-to-insure auto


If your neighbor’s vehicle has a greater-than-typical claims history, that most likely translates into a far better deal on car insurance, all else being equal. The rationale is fairly straightforward: Vehicle models with lots of claims tend to continue to have higher claims, so all drivers of that model will pay greater prices.


Feel you’re obtaining a raw deal compared with your neighbor? Find out how you can save on automobile insurance, then shop about for a couple of quotes. You may possibly discover a much better cost than you believed achievable.


Sarah Cooke is a staff writer covering private finance for NerdWallet. Comply with her on Twitter @sarah_wolfe and on Google+.


Image through iStock.