Why Your Actual Rate May Be Greater Than Your Auto Insurance coverage Quote

by Alice Holbrook on March 19, 2015 | posted in Vehicle Insurance

Acquiring auto insurance coverage quotes is a excellent way to estimate your rate before you pick an insurance coverage business — but it is only an estimate. Before you commit to a policy, you may possibly uncover that your final rate is larger — or reduce — than the quote you got.

This can occur for a few distinct reasons, so don’t be surprised if your final price is various.

You got a quote from a third-celebration internet site. Many quote comparison internet sites provide prices from several carriers when you answer a few queries. These web sites can help you narrow down a list of insurers with the least expensive quotes for you, but they generally are not binding. The most accurate quotes come from insurance businesses themselves.

You used a simplified quote kind. Not all insurance company quotes are as accurate as possible, either. Some insurers offer brief versions of their quote forms that are only created to be estimates. Other people ask a minimum number of questions in order to save you time, but they demand more details to give you a final price. The far more detail you should offer when getting your quote, the closer it’ll be to your actual price.

You forgot (or misrepresented) individual info. Insurance coverage businesses do not just take your word for it. Before they give you a final price, they’ll double-verify the information you provided, like your past tickets and claims, and the vehicles registered to your household. If they locate a moving violation from a handful of years ago that slipped your thoughts, or understand that you are not at present insured, your final rate will be greater than your auto insurance quote.

Another aspect raised your prices. Where it’s legal, most insurance coverage companies use your insurance score — a metric associated to your credit score — to aid determine your premium. Insurance companies don’t ask for it throughout the auto insurance coverage quote method in fact, most folks don’t know theirs. But it could change your rate.

Auto insurance quotes shouldn’t be too far off from your final premium. It is poor business for insurance coverage companies to give you an unrealistic expectation about what you’ll spend. But don’t be surprised if your true price is not specifically what you had been quoted. Nonetheless, the best way to save on vehicle insurance coverage is to collect numerous quotes ahead of renewal time to make positive you’re acquiring the ideal deal.

Alice Holbrook is a staff writer covering insurance and investing for NerdWallet. Follow her on Google+.

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Image by way of iStock. 

Why Your Actual Rate May Be Greater Than Your Auto Insurance coverage Quote

Higher Boston’s Worst Commutes: Far more Gas, Greater Insurance and Wasted Time

Drivers in Greater Boston waste 53 hours each year in targeted traffic, according to the most recent information from the Urban Mobility Report, which is published by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. Whether they are commuting to Boston or Waltham, workers in the Boston area can anticipate long and costly trips. But who faces the costliest commutes?

A new NerdWallet study has located that Malden and Quincy are the 2 worst places for commuters in Higher Boston. To figure out how regions rank, we analyzed the 2 key costs connected with commuting: time and funds.

Financial expenses

Gas and insurance coverage expenses differ based on exactly where you commence your commute. There is a $ 1,068.04 distinction between the place with the most pricey typical vehicle insurance coverage premiums, Arlington, Massachusetts, and the place with the least high-priced premiums, Providence, Rhode Island.

On the other hand, gas costs are relatively constant in the Boston region. There is a 12-cent distinction in between the areas with the least expensive and the most high-priced gas — in Suffolk County, exactly where residents pay $ 3.62 a gallon on typical.

Time price

In addition to automobile-connected expenses, the commute itself can have a negative effect on workers’ wellness, happiness and wallets. The time workers are commuting could be spent operating, working out or becoming with pals and loved ones. Researchers have found that people who have extended commutes have larger blood pressure and larger waistlines. And your time behind the wheel can also enhance tension levels, anxiety and the likelihood of depression.

Interested in future NerdWallet studies? Click here to have updates sent straight to your inbox. 

NerdWallet found the worst suburbs for Boston-region commutes by analyzing these concerns:

1. How expensive is gas? We looked at average gas rates in every single county. This produced up 10% of our score.


2. How a lot does insurance expense? Insurance coverage is a significant expense for commuters. Annual insurance premiums differ greatly depending on exactly where you live, so we wanted to assess the economic burden it places on commuters. This was 15% of the score.


3. How long are workers’ commutes? We looked at the length of the typical worker’s 1-way commute. This is 55% of the score.


4. Are there several commuters? We looked at the percentage of workers in each and every suburb who drive alone to work, given that these commuters will often face more congestion, which can lead to more time behind the wheel. This is 20% of the score.

Key findings

• The typical commute time for Boston-location drivers is 26.56 minutes both to and from function. However, Malden workers face commute times that are about 7 minutes longer, or 33.4 minutes, each way.


• Auto insurance costs differ tremendously from place to location. Rhode Island drivers pay, on average, practically 44% more for car insurance coverage than the average in the cities we surveyed.


• Boston-region workers face vastly various commutes. Only 29.9% of workers in Cambridge drive alone to perform, but in Methuen and Leominster 84.9% make the journey alone.

Greater Boston’s 10 worst commutes

1. Malden

Average commute time each and every way: 33.4 minutes
Workers driving alone: 53.8%
Average automobile insurance premium: $ 1,448.13
Typical gas price tag per gallon: $ 3.59

2. Quincy

Average commute time every single way: 32.3 minutes
Workers driving alone: 60.3%
Average vehicle insurance coverage premium: $ 1,199.58
Typical gas price per gallon: $ 3.57

3. Weymouth

Typical commute time every way: 30.5 minutes
Workers driving alone: 78%
Average car insurance coverage premium: $ 1,076.63
Typical gas value per gallon: $ 3.57

4. Brockton

Typical commute time each and every way: 29.3 minutes
Workers driving alone: 77.6%
Average car insurance premium: $ 1,593.88
Typical gas value per gallon: $ 3.53

5. Plymouth

Average commute time each way: 31.4 minutes
Workers driving alone: 74.4%
Average car insurance coverage premium: $ 1,020.25
Typical gas price tag per gallon: $ 3.53

6. Everett

Typical commute time every way: 30.3 minutes
Workers driving alone: 57.2%
Typical vehicle insurance coverage premium: $ 1,448.38
Typical gas price tag per gallon: $ 3.59

7. Revere

Typical commute time each way: 30.1 minutes
Workers driving alone: 57.9%
Typical vehicle insurance coverage premium: $ 1,223.75
Average gas price tag per gallon: $ 3.62

8. Medford

Typical commute time every way: 28.6 minutes
Workers driving alone: 63.4%
Typical vehicle insurance premium: $ 1,448.13
Typical gas price per gallon: $ 3.59

9. Haverhill

Typical commute time each way: 28.4 minutes
Workers driving alone: 80.3%
Average automobile insurance premium: $ 1,027.46
Average gas price tag: $ 3.55

8. Arlington

Average commute time every single way: 29.3 minutes
Workers driving alone: 67.1%
Average automobile insurance coverage premium: $ 896.75
Typical gas price tag per gallon: $ 3.59

Worst commutes in Boston (the complete list)

Methodology

The all round score for every spot was calculated from the following data:

1. One way mean travel time to perform from the 2012 U.S. Census Bureau American Neighborhood Survey.


2. Percentage of workers commuting alone by auto from the 2012 U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey.


3. Average gas price by county in 2014 from Gas Buddy.


4. Average automobile insurance coverage rates from NerdWallet’s Car insurance Comparison Tool.

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 Boston site visitors image through Shutterstock.

Higher Boston’s Worst Commutes: Far more Gas, Greater Insurance and Wasted Time

Ranking	City	County	Typical annual auto insurance premiums	Typical commute time	% of workers commuting alone	Gas rates	Commute score
1	Malden, MA	Middlesex	$ 1,448.13	33.4	53.8	$ 3.59	21.60
2	Quincy, MA	Norfolk	$ 1,199.58	32.3	60.3	$ 3.57	28.70
3	Weymouth, MA	Norfolk	$ 1,076.63	30.5	78	$ 3.57	31.72
4	Brockton, MA	Plymouth	$ 1,593.88	29.3	77.6	$ 3.53	32.61
5	Plymouth, MA	Plymouth	$ 1,020.25	31.4	74.4	$ 3.53	32.92
6	Everett, MA	Middlesex	$ 1,448.38	30.3	57.2	$ 3.59	33.49
7	Revere, MA	Suffolk	$ 1,223.75	30.1	57.9	$ 3.62	34.36
8	Medford, MA	Middlesex	$ 1,448.13	28.6	63.4	$ 3.59	38.48
9	Haverhill, MA	Essex	$ 1,027.46	28.4	80.3	$ 3.55	41.82
10	Arlington, MA	Middlesex	$ 896.75	29.3	67.1	$ 3.59	41.94
11	Attleboro, MA	Bristol	$ 935.88	29.3	80.6	$ 3.52	41.96
12	Lynn, MA	Essex	$ 1,511.50	27.5	68.9	$ 3.55	42.90
13	Salem, MA	Essex	$ 1,204.38	28.4	67	$ 3.55	44.08
14	Framingham, MA	Middlesex	$ 1,076.63	27.1	76.6	$ 3.59	45.33
15	Taunton, MA	Bristol	$ 1,075.00	27.5	83.7	$ 3.52	46.52
16	Boston, MA	Suffolk	$ 1,237.28	28.7	38.5	$ 3.62	47.03
17	Woonsocket, RI	Providence	$ 1,498.69	24.4	82.5	$ 3.59	48.13
18	Pawtucket, RI	Providence	$ 1,781.75	23.7	78.8	$ 3.59	48.43
19	Somerville, MA	Middlesex	$ 1,174.17	28.2	42	$ 3.59	51.66
20	Leominster, MA	Worcester	$ 1,021.00	26	84.9	$ 3.53	52.14
21	Brookline, MA	Norfolk	$ 1,044.75	28.9	40	$ 3.57	52.51
22	Lowell, MA	Middlesex	$ 1,196.88	25.1	74.6	$ 3.59	52.81
23	Peabody, MA	Essex	$ 1,068.13	25.2	85	$ 3.55	53.11
24	Methuen, MA	Essex	$ 1,066.13	25.1	84.9	$ 3.55	53.59
25	Newton, MA	Middlesex	$ 973.63	26.4	63.6	$ 3.59	54.38
26	Cranston, RI	Providence	$ 1,961.25	21	84.8	$ 3.59	55.19
27	Beverly, MA	Essex	$ 937.88	25.8	75.3	$ 3.55	55.86
28	East Providence, RI	Providence	$ 1,787.38	20.4	85.9	$ 3.59	59.78
29	Nashua, NH	Hillsborough	$ 1,007.58	25.2	80.9	$ 3.50	59.92
30	Waltham, MA	Middlesex	$ 943.50	24.2	71.4	$ 3.59	61.32
31	Providence, RI	Providence	$ 1,964.79	21.6	59.8	$ 3.59	61.53
32	Barnstable, MA	Barnstable	$ 937.13	22.3	83.1	$ 3.62	62.42
33	New Bedford, MA	Bristol	$ 1,293.75	23.6	75.8	$ 3.52	62.77
34	Lawrence, MA	Essex	$ 1,341.63	23.4	64.4	$ 3.55	64.24
35	Worcester, MA	Worcester	$ 1,293.50	22.9	74.9	$ 3.53	65.00
36	Fall River, MA	Bristol	$ 1,290.88	22.5	82	$ 3.52	65.25
37	Cambridge, MA	Middlesex	$ 1,109.75	24.7	29.9	$ 3.59	71.69

Los Angeles’ Worst Commutes: Far more Gas, Greater Insurance and Wasted Time

Los Angeles is often ranked as the worst American city for drivers. Drivers there commit an average of 90 hours a year in visitors delays. But which suburban drivers have the worst commutes?

A new NerdWallet study has located that Palmdale and West Covina are the 2 worst suburbs for Los Angeles commutes. To determine the rankings, we analyzed the 2 key expenses related with commuting: time and money.

Financial Costs

Gas and insurance are 2 charges that differ depending on your commute. Insurance charges differ drastically among Los Angeles’ suburbs. There is a $ 516.05 difference amongst the L.A. suburb with the most costly typical car insurance premiums and the suburb with the least. Gas rates are fairly equivalent across L.A.’s suburbs—there is only a 4-cent per gallon difference amongst the most pricey and the least pricey suburb. However, because Los Angeles-region drivers commit so considerably time driving, even the smallest cost discrepancies can add up to huge economic expenses.

Time Cost

In addition to vehicle-connected fees, the commute itself can negatively influence workers’ wellness, happiness and pocketbooks. The time workers commit commuting could be spent functioning or enjoying pals and family. Driving also requires away from time workers could invest exercising. Researchers have found that individuals who have lengthy commutes have larger blood stress and bigger waistlines. Long commutes also enhance tension levels, anxiety and the likelihood of depression.

Interested in future NerdWallet research? Click here to have updates sent straight to your inbox. 

NerdWallet determined the worst suburbs for Los Angelea-region commuters by analyzing the following variables:

1. How costly is gas? (10%) We looked at average gas rates in every county.


2. How costly is insurance coverage? (15%) Insurance coverage is a huge expense for commuters. Annual insurance coverage premiums differ significantly from spot to place, so we wanted to accurately assess the financial burden it placed on commuters.


3. How extended are workers’ commutes? (55%) We looked at the length of the typical worker’s one-way commute.


4. Are there numerous commuters? (20%) We looked at the percentage of workers in each suburb who drive alone to function. A suburb with a large percentage of commuters driving alone will typically face increased congestion, which can lead to even longer commutes.

Key Findings:

• The typical commute time for suburban Los Angeles workers is 28.44 minutes every way. On typical, 76.54% of workers drive alone to perform.


• The typical car insurance premium for drivers in the Los Angeles location is $ 1,088.44. Gas averages $ 3.96 a gallon.


• On average, workers in Palmdale face a commute that is practically twice as lengthy as workers in Indio. It requires Palmdale drivers 40.4 minutes to drive to work each and every way, whereas it requires Indio drivers only 21.8 minutes each way.

The Worst Los Angeles Suburbs for Commuters

1. Palmdale

Palmdale ranked as the worst suburb for commuters on our list. The city’s residents face the longest typical commute times of any Los Angeles suburb. According to the census, drivers typically invest 40.4 minutes commuting to perform. That is about 12 minutes a lot more than the average Los Angeles commuter, who travels 28.44 minutes every way to function.

Drivers in Palmdale also face relatively higher gas and insurance coverage costs. The typical annual insurance coverage premium in Palmdale is $ 1,168.56, which is about $ 80 a lot more than the Los Angeles-area typical. Los Angeles County, exactly where Palmdale is situated, is also the most pricey county for gas in the region.

2. West Covina

West Covina workers face shorter average commute times than workers in Palmdale, 32.9 minutes. Nonetheless, there are far more workers who drive alone to work in West Covina than the state average. Of those workers, 79.1% drive alone, about 2 percentage points far more than the state average.

Fees are reasonably low for West Covina drivers. The average West Covina driver pays $ 1,089.39 for insurance every single year, which is on par with the state average.

3. Chino Hills

The typical Chino Hills worker spends 36.4 minutes each way commuting, which is 6 minutes longer than the Los Angeles-region average. Like West Covina, 79.1% of its drivers also drive to operate alone.

Chino Hills, which lies in San Bernardino County, has some of the highest gas rates in the region, an average of $ 3.95 per gallon.

4. Montebello

Compared to the other Los Angeles suburbs that made the prime 10, Montebello workers have fairly short commutes, 32.8 minutes every way. Even so, Montebello workers still have a commute that is about 4 minutes longer than the Los Angeles-location average. In reality, Montebello performed worse than the Los Angeles average in all regions measured. Montebello had a greater percentage of workers commuting alone, far more expensive insurance coverage and a lot more high-priced gas than the region average.

5. Moreno Valley

Moreno Valley drivers face long commutes and need to share the road with many workers who are driving alone. The typical Moreno Valley worker spends 34.7 minutes every way driving to operate. Apart from extended commutes, Moreno Valley drivers often face congestion—about 80% of workers there drive to work alone.

6. Lancaster

Compared to the rest of the Los Angeles location, Lancaster workers have shorter commutes. Nonetheless, the suburb has a considerably larger percentage of commuters who drive to work alone.

Gas and insurance prices are slightly higher than other places in the Los Angeles metro area. Lancaster drivers can expect to pay $ 1,109.75 each and every year for automobile insurance and $ 3.98 a gallon for gas.

7. Murrieta

Workers in Murrieta typical 35.2 minutes each and every way for their commutes. The percentage of workers who drive alone to function — 78.8% —  is on par with the area’s typical.

Murrieta drivers face less expensive gas costs than the rest of the L.A. metro area. The suburb is in Riverside County, exactly where drivers spend an average of $ 3.94 a gallon for gas.

7 Hesperia

Hesperia drivers face some of the longest commutes. It takes the average driver 37.8 minutes to commute to work, which is about 10 minutes longer than the Los Angeles-area typical.

In terms of vehicle-associated expenses, Hesperia residents also spend more for auto insurance than other suburbs. They spend $ 1,126.46, which is about $ 40 a lot more than the region typical.

9. Santa Clarita

The typical Santa Clarita worker spends 32.2 minutes each day commuting to work, which is about 4 minutes longer than the typical commute in Los Angeles. They also face higher gas prices. The average cost for a gallon of gas in Santa Clarita is $ 3.98.

When it comes to auto insurance coverage, Santa Clarita drivers pay much less than other L.A. suburbs, an typical of $ 1,038.71 every year.

8. Corona

Corona is 1 of 3 Riverside County suburbs to make the list. Its drivers face commutes that are about 6 minutes longer than the Los Angeles-location average their average commute time is 34.5 minutes every single way. The percentage of workers who drive alone to work is equivalent to the L.A. average: 77.1%.

The Full List

Methodology
The all round score for each and every city was calculated from the following measures:

1. Imply travel time to perform from the 2012 U.S. Census Bureau American Neighborhood Survey.


2. Percentage of workers commuting alone by car from the 2012 U.S. Census Bureau American Neighborhood Survey.


3. Typical gas price tag by county from Gas Buddy.


4. Typical vehicle insurance rates primarily based on for a 2012 Toyota Camry from NerdWallet’s Car insurance Comparison Tool.

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Los Angeles photo by means of Shutterstock.

Los Angeles’ Worst Commutes: Far more Gas, Greater Insurance and Wasted Time

Rank	City	County	Typical commute time	Percentage of workers who drive alone to operate	Annual insurance coverage premium	Gas value	Composite points
1	Palmdale	Los Angeles	40.4	74.1	1168.56	3.98	15.15
2	West Covina	Los Angeles	32.9	79.1	1089.39	3.98	34.68
3	Chino Hills	San Bernardino	36.4	79.1	1017.92	3.95	33.90
4	Montebello	Los Angeles	32.8	76.3	1148.42	3.98	36.03
5	Moreno Valley	Riverside	34.7	79.9	1076.63	3.94	38.93
6	Lancaster	Los Angeles	30.4	81.2	1109.75	3.98	39.40
7	Murrieta	Riverside	35.2	78.8	993.75	3.94	40.95
8	Hesperia	San Bernardino	37.8	64.6	1126.46	3.95	40.97
9	Santa Clarita	Los Angeles	32.2	75.3	1038.71	3.98	41.98
10	Corona	Riverside	34.5	77.1	1033.4	3.94	43.55
11	Whittier	Los Angeles	29.1	80.5	1109.86	3.98	43.93
12	Chino	San Bernardino	31.7	81	1109.96	3.95	43.25
13	Baldwin Park	Los Angeles	31.1	72.1	1168.33	3.98	44.63
14	Fontana	San Bernardino	32.4	78	1105.92	3.95	44.26
15	Yorba Linda	Orange	30.6	82.4	1013.04	3.96	45.43
16	Pico Rivera	Los Angeles	28.9	78.5	1144.83	3.98	45.49
17	Bellflower	Los Angeles	27.9	80.4	1159.83	3.98	46.13
18	South Gate	Los Angeles	29.1	74	1255.33	3.98	46.14
19	Downey	Los Angeles	27.4	80.7	1195.28	3.98	46.28
20	Alhambra	Los Angeles	28.8	76.8	1119.75	3.98	48.19
21	Carson	Los Angeles	27.2	77.3	1251	3.98	48.62
22	Rialto	San Bernardino	31.2	77.7	1096.33	3.95	48.39
23	Temecula	Riverside	33	77	991.94	3.94	49.29
24	Monterey Park	Los Angeles	28.3	75.8	1153.46	3.98	49.68
25	Los Angeles	Los Angeles	29.2	67	1357.99	3.98	49.79
26	Hawthorne	Los Angeles	27.6	76.5	1196.33	3.98	49.81
27	Inglewood	Los Angeles	28.7	72.5	1207.28	3.98	50.20
28	Norwalk	Los Angeles	27.6	77.3	1152.25	3.98	50.30
29	Glendale	Los Angeles	26	75.3	1379.71	3.98	50.40
30	Simi Valley	Ventura	29.4	80.4	991.17	3.97	49.09
31	Redondo Beach	Los Angeles	27.3	81.3	1035.33	3.98	50.63
32	El Monte	Los Angeles	29.4	70.6	1163.46	3.98	51.29
33	Pomona	Los Angeles	29.3	73.1	1086.06	3.98	51.36
34	Lakewood	Los Angeles	26.8	81.6	1045.31	3.98	51.52
35	Rancho Cucamonga	San Bernardino	29.6	80	1067.15	3.95	51.69
36	Victorville	San Bernardino	34.6	63	1100.67	3.95	52.76
37	Lynwood	Los Angeles	27.5	72	1215.75	3.98	54.00
38	Torrance	Los Angeles	25.8	81.9	1036.6	3.98	54.43
39	Burbank	Los Angeles	25	78.4	1229.43	3.98	54.66
40	Extended Beach	Los Angeles	28.3	72.2	1094.45	3.98	54.96
41	Upland	San Bernardino	28.9	81.1	1010.96	3.95	54.30
42	Buena Park	Orange	28.6	75.2	1095.71	3.96	56.07
43	Compton	Los Angeles	27.4	70	1215.08	3.98	56.30
44	Hemet	Riverside	30.3	77.3	1008.06	3.94	56.51
45	San Clemente	Orange	30	74.6	931.21	3.96	57.30
46	Garden Grove	Orange	26.5	76.7	1212.3	3.96	57.40
47	Westminster	Orange	26.2	80.7	1071.08	3.96	58.44
48	Huntington Beach	Orange	26.5	82	993.46	3.96	58.52
49	Fullerton	Orange	27.6	77.3	1019.15	3.96	59.17
50	Santa Monica	Los Angeles	25.7	71	1259.4	3.98	59.04
51	Ontario	San Bernardino	28.5	76.4	1070.5	3.95	58.41
52	Riverside	Riverside	28.4	76.8	1096.2	3.94	60.06
53	Mission Viejo	Orange	26.3	82	948.63	3.96	60.41
54	Pasadena	Los Angeles	26.1	70.9	1149.4	3.98	61.16
55	Lake Forest	Orange	25.7	83	923.08	3.96	61.94
56	Anaheim	Orange	26.7	75.6	1063.29	3.96	62.23
57	Orange	Orange	25.2	78.4	1026.13	3.96	64.98
58	San Bernardino	San Bernardino	26.9	74.4	1081.88	3.95	64.79
59	Thousand Oaks	Ventura	24.9	77.2	1001.63	3.97	65.26
60	Newport Beach	Orange	23.4	81.6	1014.94	3.96	67.46
61	Apple Valley	San Bernardino	29	65	1022.38	3.95	69.62
62	Tustin	Orange	23.6	77.8	978.54	3.96	71.68
63	Irvine	Orange	23.1	77.8	1007.54	3.96	72.32
64	Camarillo	Ventura	22.2	83.2	863.67	3.97	71.32
65	Santa Ana	Orange	24.7	69.8	1064.93	3.96	73.84
66	San Buenaventura (Ventura)	Ventura	22.3	77.6	1009.56	3.97	72.33
67	Redlands	San Bernardino	22.8	80	1017.75	3.95	73.23
68	Costa Mesa	Orange	22	75	1008.83	3.96	78.31
69	Oxnard	Ventura	23.1	71.7	973.46	3.97	76.85
70	Indio	Riverside	21.8	76.9	1015.21	3.94	81.83

Atlanta’s Worst Commutes: More Gas, Greater Insurance and Wasted Time

Atlanta drivers face some of the worst traffic in the country. Experts say they waste 51 hours each year as a result of congestion. But which suburban workers face costliest commutes?

A new NerdWallet study has found Loganville and Snellville are the 2 worst suburbs for commuters bound for Atlanta. To determine the rankings, we analyzed the 2 major costs associated with commuting: time and money. 

Financial Costs

Gas and insurance are 2 costs that vary depending on your commute. Obviously, the more you drive, the more you spend on gas. However, gas prices fluctuate a surprising amount among Atlanta’s suburbs, with a difference of 13 cents the highest and lowest averages. Similarly, insurance costs rise if you have a long commute. One factor that insurance companies use to determine premiums is the number of miles you drive.

Time Wasted

In addition to car-related costs, the commute itself can negatively impact workers’ health, happiness and pocketbooks. The time workers spend commuting could be spent working or enjoying friends and family. Driving also takes away from time workers could spend exercising. Researchers have found that people who have long commutes have higher blood pressure and larger waistlines. Long commutes also increase stress levels, anxiety and the likelihood of depression.

Interested in future NerdWallet studies? Click here to have updates sent directly to your inbox. 

NerdWallet determined the worst suburbs for Atlanta-area commuters by analyzing the following factors:

1. How expensive is gas? (15%) We looked at average gas prices in each county.


2. How expensive is insurance? (15%) In order to accurately compare insurance costs, we calculated each suburb’s average car insurance price based on its distance from downtown Atlanta.


3. How long are workers’ commutes? (50%) We looked at the length of the average worker’s one-way commute.


4. Are there many commuters? (20%) We looked at the percentage of workers in each suburb who drive alone to work. A suburb with a large percentage of commuters driving alone will often face increased congestion, which can lead to even longer commutes.

Key Findings:

• The average Atlanta-area worker spends 28.74 minutes commuting each way. Loganville workers spend, on average, 36.2 minutes commuting to work each way.


• On average, Atlanta-area commuters pay $ 3.43 for a gallon of gas and $ 1,375.46 for car insurance each year.


• 5 of the suburbs that made our top-10 list were in Gwinnett County. Their rankings were driven by the county’s high gas prices and long commutes. 

The 10 Worst Atlanta-area Commutes:

1. Loganville

Loganville ranked as the worst suburb for commuters on our list. Located 36 miles east of Atlanta, Loganville drivers commuting to The Big Peach can take either Georgia Highway 20 and Interstate 20 or U.S. 78. The average Loganville driver commutes 36.2 minutes to work each day.

Drivers in Loganville also face high gas and insurance costs. The area’s gas and insurance costs, $ 3.47 and $ 1,415.08, respectively, are higher than the other Atlanta suburbs.

2. Snellville 

Snellville is about 8 miles closer to Atlanta than Loganville, but it is still the second-worst suburb for commuters on our list. The average Snellville worker spends 32.3 minutes each way commuting to work. Snellville also has a high percentage of workers who drive alone to work — 81.7%, which is higher than the Atlanta-area average of 77.6%. 

3. Lawrenceville 

It takes drivers about 36 minutes to get from Lawrenceville to Atlanta without traffic, but with traffic, the commute often takes more than an hour. The percentage of workers who drive alone for their commutes is slightly less than the Atlanta-area average, 75.8%. However, their commutes are longer than average, 32.8 minutes.  This average includes drivers who do not commute to Atlanta.

Lawrenceville drivers face relatively high gas and insurance prices. The price for a gallon of gas in Gwinnett County, where Lawrenceville is located, is $ 3.50. For Lawrenceville drivers commuting to Atlanta, car insurance will cost them about $ 35 more each year for insurance than other suburban commuters, $ 1,409.46.

4. Riverdale 

Riverdale is the closest city to Atlanta to make the top 10; it is just 12.9 miles away. On average, Riverdale workers spend 29.1 minutes each way on their commutes. The percentage of workers who drive alone to work in Riverdale is similar to the state average; 77.7% of Riverdale workers drive to work alone.

Clayton County residents, where Riverdale is located, pay the most for gas in the Atlanta area. They pay $ 3.52 per gallon, which is almost 10 cents more per gallon than average. In addition to high gas costs, Riverdale residents face high car insurance rates. A Riverdale driver commuting to Atlanta can expect to pay about $ 1,500 for car insurance annually.

5. Suwanee 

Suwanee is located in Gwinnett County, and according to the Census, only 57.9% of workers in Gwinnett County live and work in the same area—the rest leave the county. The average worker in Suwannee spends 31.8 minutes commuting each way in traffic.

6. Woodstock 

Woodstock is the only place in Cherokee County to make the list. According to the Census, only 41.6% of Cherokee County workers live and work in the same area. Woodstock workers in particular can expect to spend 33.7 minutes commuting to work each way on average.

7. Villa Rica 

Villa Rica is about 30 miles west of Atlanta. The average Villa Rica worker spends 34 minutes each way commuting, which is 18% more than the Atlanta area average of 28.74 minutes.

Drivers in Villa Rica face reasonable gas and insurance costs. Villa Rica is in both Carroll and Douglas counties, and the average gas price of the 2 counties is $ 3.43, which is the same as the state average. Insurance for drivers commuting to Atlanta is also similar to the state average — just $ 1,397.67 each year.

8. Sugar Hill

Sugar Hill is the place farthest from Atlanta to make the list. The suburb is nearly 40 miles northeast of Atlanta, and without traffic, it takes about 40 minutes to get to the city. However, with traffic, the trip can be well over an hour.

Sugar Hill drivers pay slightly more for car insurance than the Atlanta-area average, $ 1,388.42 each year, and significantly more for gas at $ 3.50 per gallon. That’s compared to an average of $ 1,375.46 each year and $ 3.43 per gallon, respectively.

9. Douglasville 

The average commute for Douglasville workers is 30.9 minutes, which is about 2 minutes longer than the Atlanta-area average. Douglasville sits about 20 miles west of Atlanta, and commuters must take I-20 for their commute. Of all Douglasville workers, 83.4% drive to work alone.  

10. Fayetteville 

Fayetteville is about 20 miles directly south of Atlanta. On average, it takes Fayetteville workers 33.1 minutes to get to work, and 84.1% of workers drive alone to work.

Gas and insurance costs in Fayetteville are on par with other Atlanta suburbs. A gallon of gas in Fayetteville costs $ 3.43, which is the same as the area’s average. Average car insurance for Fayetteville workers who commute to Atlanta is less than the area’s average — $ 1,294.63 compared to $ 1,375.46 for a 2012 Toyota Camry. 

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Atlanta’s Worst Commutes

Methodology
The overall score for each city was calculated from the following measures:

1. Mean travel time to work from the 2012 U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey

2. Percentage of workers commuting alone by car from the 2012 U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey

3. Average gas price by county from Gas Buddy

4. Average car insurance rates based on each suburb’s distance from Atlanta for a 2012 Toyota Camry from NerdWallet’s Car insurance Comparison Tool.

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Traffic photo via Shutterstock.

Atlanta’s Worst Commutes: More Gas, Greater Insurance and Wasted Time

Rank	Places	County	Distance to Atlanta (miles)	Gas Prices	Annual insurance premium	Mean commute time	Percent commuting alone	Composite points
1	Loganville	Walton and Gwinnett	36	$ 3.47	$ 1,415.08	36.2	83.10	12.51
2	Snellville	Gwinnett	32.4	$ 3.50	$ 1,396.83	32.3	81.70	23.01
3	Lawrenceville	Gwinnett	31.9	$ 3.50	$ 1,409.46	32.8	75.80	25.30
4	Riverdale	Clayton	12.9	$ 3.52	$ 1,525.29	29.1	77.70	26.61
5	Suwanee	Gwinnett	33.4	$ 3.50	$ 1,389.58	31.8	78.20	27.54
6	Woodstock	Cherokee	30.4	$ 3.44	$ 1,349.08	33.7	81.50	27.95
7	Villa Rica	Carroll and Douglas	32.9	$ 3.43	$ 1,397.67	34	78.20	28.02
8	Sugar Hill	Gwinnett	38.5	$ 3.50	$ 1,388.42	30.6	81.10	29.00
9	Douglasville	Douglas	22	$ 3.47	$ 1,385.17	30.9	83.40	29.75
10	Fayetteville	Fayette	22.2	$ 3.43	$ 1,294.63	33.1	84.10	31.76
11	Acworth	Cobb	32.6	$ 3.40	$ 1,352.67	33.4	81.50	32.94
12	Powder Springs	Cobb	21.9	$ 3.40	$ 1,331.50	33.8	81.40	32.95
13	Union City	Fulton	17.4	$ 3.41	$ 1,530.42	31.4	74.60	33.58
14	Duluth	Gwinnett	27.4	$ 3.50	$ 1,403.46	27.8	82.40	35.59
15	Mcdonough	Henry	29.9	$ 3.38	$ 1,407.75	32.7	79.60	35.67
16	Fairburn	Fulton	20.2	$ 3.41	$ 1,506.83	29.5	79.70	36.67
17	Mountain Park	Fulton and Cherokee	27.3	$ 3.42	$ 1,396.83	29.8	82.70	38.31
18	Candler-McAfee	Dekalb	7.5	$ 3.38	$ 1,524.08	32.4	70.00	37.63
19	Stockbridge	Henry	21.7	$ 3.38	$ 1,377.67	30.6	82.80	41.14
20	Kennesaw	Cobb	27	$ 3.40	$ 1,329.25	30.9	82.30	41.07
21	Lilburn	Gwinnett	23.8	$ 3.50	$ 1,396.83	25.9	79.40	43.91
22	Johns Creek	Fulton	27.4	$ 3.41	$ 1,346.98	30.2	77.60	44.71
23	Forest Park	Clayton	11.8	$ 3.52	$ 1,505.75	28.3	58.00	44.97
24	Mableton	Cobb	14.4	$ 3.40	$ 1,328.25	30.3	79.10	45.34
25	Belvedere Park	Dekalb	7.6	$ 3.38	$ 1,421.38	31.2	71.30	45.72
26	Milton	Fulton	31.5	$ 3.41	$ 1,270.00	29.6	82.30	47.06
27	Buford	Gwinnett and Hall	38.5	$ 3.46	$ 1,382.79	27.2	75.40	48.08
28	Conyers	Rockdale	24.3	$ 3.42	$ 1,420.50	28.8	70.90	48.97
29	Canton	Cherokee	40.1	$ 3.44	$ 1,317.96	28.4	76.50	49.27
30	Monroe	Walton	45.7	$ 3.44	$ 1,405.21	26.1	78.70	49.82
31	Covington	Newton	35.1	$ 3.43	$ 1,359.92	25.8	84.40	49.90
32	Tucker	Dekalb	19.6	$ 3.38	$ 1,438.00	28	77.30	49.87
33	Peachtree City	Fayette	31.3	$ 3.43	$ 1,249.83	28.6	79.40	51.19
34	East Point	Fulton	7.1	$ 3.41	$ 1,492.92	28.3	64.80	52.29
35	Winder	Barrow	49.9	$ 3.42	$ 1,395.33	26.8	72.70	54.94
36	Griffin	Spalding	45.1	$ 3.43	$ 1,332.17	26.5	76.80	55.04
37	Newnan	Coweta	37.8	$ 3.41	$ 1,254.50	27.9	79.40	55.17
38	Smyrna	Cobb	15.9	$ 3.40	$ 1,326.13	26.1	82.70	55.31
39	Roswell	Fulton	22.3	$ 3.41	$ 1,274.92	26.5	79.40	58.27
40	Alpharetta	Fulton	26.4	$ 3.41	$ 1,287.19	25.3	80.60	60.30
41	Marietta	Cobb	19.9	$ 3.40	$ 1,325.27	27.5	70.50	60.40
42	Cartersville	Bartow	43.7	$ 3.43	$ 1,334.71	21.1	83.80	65.77
43	Sandy Springs	Fulton	16.5	$ 3.41	$ 1,294.77	24.2	74.00	68.19
44	North Decatur	Dekalb	6.8	$ 3.38	$ 1,318.67	24.7	73.60	68.93
45	Dunwoody	Dekalb	16.5	$ 3.38	$ 1,309.21	24.1	76.00	69.42
46	Decatur	Dekalb	6.2	$ 3.38	$ 1,430.25	23.8	68.60	69.45
47	Carrollton	Carroll	47.6	$ 3.39	$ 1,403.67	19.5	83.00	71.77
48	Gainesville	Hall	54.4	$ 3.42	$ 1,287.21	22	67.20	79.26

2015 Ford F-350 Super Duty Power Stroke Diesel V-eight First Drive: Boosted For Greater Grunt

Very first Drive Review

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Big bang.

Ten percent more energy than final year and a solid whump of added torque from the Energy Stroke diesel imply that it’s Ford’s turn to leapfrog its truck-producing competitors to claim “best-in-class” honors for 2015. Even though the blue-oval team is making a lot more important pickup truck news with its aluminum-intensive F-150, in this case we’re talking heavy-duty or, in Ford parlance, “super-duty” light trucks, the F-250, F-350, and F-450.

We climbed into a pair of the revised 2015 F-350 models for brief drives. Each were 4-by-4s wearing the King Ranch badges that denote luxurious trimmings, both in crew-cab/quick-bed spec. 1 was a dual-rear-wheel version wearing that edition’s normal 17-inch wheels shod with Bridgestone tires the other truck had a single wheel on either finish of the rear axle and the optional 20-inch chrome wheels and Michelin light-truck tires. Each have been equipped with the Energy Stroke diesel V-8 and TorqShift 6-speed automatic transmission. Prominent badges reminded us that the rigs would happily burn B20 biodiesel if provided the likelihood.

With only short exposure, our very first impressions were that this year’s far more powerful engine appears remarkably quiet—not as clattery or ever-present as the Cummins diesel-powered HD Ram we drove earlier this year—and that the duallie was, surprisingly, simpler to maneuver and rode better than the single-wheel version. A Ford engineer who was riding shotgun told us the single-wheel model was equipped with an uprated towing package and that its huge wheels and distinct rear-axle and spring setup affected the ride and steering feel.

On the Heavier Side of Light Duty

Each and every truck’s bed was burdened with more than 1000 pounds of weights so it wasn’t actually possible to do a seat-of-the-pants estimation of acceleration, but offered the curb weights, power ratings, and previous encounter, we anticipate these rigs can get to merging velocity with lots of area to spare on a highway ramp. Unladen, zero-to-60-mph times need to be about 8. seconds. Though they’re called one particular-ton trucks, that’s not significantly of a load by contemporary requirements. Ford says that these Power Stroke F-350s, based on gear and trim, can be rated to tow up to 26,700 pounds (or as small as 12,500). The gross combined weight rating can range up to 35,000 pounds. Thoughts you, these are meant for farm and function-website use, though the distinctions in between private-use and industrial cars are blurring. Advertising nomenclature notwithstanding, these pickups are really classed with their half-ton stablemates as light-duty trucks rather than with true medium- or heavy-truck segments exactly where commercial-grade haulers fit.

Ford is not assisting to maintain this distinction, nonetheless, boasting that this second-generation Energy Stroke diesel is essentially an engine so powerful that it’s all but identical to the one employed in the medium-duty F-450. (Ram made equivalent claims on behalf of its Cummins-built 6 last year).

More Squeeze Tends to make Much more Juice

The Power Stroke now uses a bigger turbocharger and redesigned fuel-injector nozzles to make bigger bangs in each and every of the 6.7-liter engine’s 8 cylinders, adding up to a rating of 440 horsepower (up from 400) and 860 lb-ft (versus 800 last year). That neatly tops the figures Ram employed to claim the title as the hardest puncher with its Cummins diesels final year (385 and 850)—and by an even wider margin more than the torque rating GM claims for the Duramax diesels in the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra HD models.

Also with a firm eye on its cross-town rivals, Ford placed a push button on the dash to actuate the exhaust brake. Like these at Ram and GM, the exhaust brake generates back pressure via the turbo to develop drag. Ford claims that in addition to the straightforward one particular-touch actuation, this year’s version also works more successfully.

Dearborn also boasts that it upgraded the interior trim on the King Ranch models for 2015. It looks a bit far better but to our eye didn’t match the quality of components in the Ram and Chevy trucks we’ve sampled not too long ago. The leather, now wearing the King Ranch’s “snake” brand a lot more prominently, looked great but there was significantly less of it and occasionally it was utilized in odd areas, even though inexpensive-searching plastic bits (notably pockets on the console and the inner door panel) felt flimsy. On the a single hand, F-350s in King Ranch trim can run $ 55,000 to $ 70,000 or so and chintzy trim might be off-putting. Nevertheless, buyers in this segment are constantly asking for more capability, Ford claims, so maybe they’ll be prepared to overlook such aspects in favor of boasting the greatest power numbers.

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2015 Ford F-350 Super Duty Power Stroke Diesel V-eight First Drive: Boosted For Greater Grunt