What does car insurance actually cost in the US ?

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BeeJay
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What does car insurance actually cost in the US ?

Post by BeeJay »

For some reason, yet to be understood, I actually registered what one of those annoying side-bar adds says and in this case it was advertising car insurance with a headline of "save $500". If they're offering savings of $500, how much does it actually cost to insure your car over there as the saving is more than my total bill for two cars to be insured here in NZ - admitedly one of the cars is a 23 year old junker?

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JoustGod
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Post by JoustGod »

The costs can vary widely here in the US according to location of the insured car. Generally, urban areas will be a bit more than rural. However, there are variations within urban areas as insurance companies have split everything according to postal zip codes and accident rates within those zones. They come up with a formula with that info and there you have it...your rates. Then, obviously, age of driver, type of vehicle and so forth have an effect. Probably not telling you anything you don't know!

For me, my 1994 Camaro runs me about $1200 per year here in the Las Vegas area. My wife's 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe runs just slightly above that.

under $500 for two cars per year, huh? Nice.
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Post by mahlemiut »

I don't know if BeeJay took it into account or not, but $NZ500 = ~$US275
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BeeJay
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Post by BeeJay »

Barry - you're right, I forgot to convert it to US$ which makes it even cheaper. I do have to own up to having a 70% no claims bonus currently otherwise it would be closer to the US$500 mark for the insurance on the two cars.

Still a lot cheaper it would seem than our friends in the US, not unsurprisingly given you can't really take someone to court for a ton of cash as the result of an accident here in NZ, with our ACC rules, like seems to happen so frequently in the US. I know which way I prefer it to be.... :)

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PS: Nice to hear from you John.
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Post by LN2 »

it varies wildly from state to state as well.

Insurance in New Jersey will cost you more than your car payments in most cases.

My insurance in MD near Baltimore drains me about $1900/year.
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Post by gameboy9 »

I was just hearing about somebody in Middle River (I think it's the other side of where LN2 lives) paying about $1500US/year.

I'm paying about $940US/year, I believe, on the other side of the mason-dixon.
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Post by JoustGod »

Keep in mind also there are tons of variables such as extent of coverage, deductible levels and so on. It's a real mixed bag to accurately compare. However, I think we all get the idea that it amounts to a scam what insurance companies charge in this country. On top of that (in case you weren't aware, BeeJay), it is the law to carry insurance. While it's a good idea anyway for the benefit of all. I think that quite a nice customer base for insurance companies in that people MUST conduct business with them. Gee, not too many other companies have forced business like that, huh? Except if you are dealing with the Mafia or something similar...
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Post by welby1 »

coverage costs mainly vary from driving records and amount of coverage purchased. I've got 4 insured vehicles currently, with 2 having comprehensive/collision/liability and 2 with liability only with limits of $500,000(single incident max)/$1,000,000(life of policy max) for a total cost of about $900 annually. Minimum coverage amounts in Illinois are 20k/40k liability. My cost for minimum coverage would be less than someone else might pay, and in some cases, more than another. The better your location and driving record and credit rating, the lower your premiums.
I know someone who pays almost $8,000.00/ year...very bad driver with a prior fatal accident record.
Last edited by welby1 on Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:20 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Post by welby1 »

oddly enough, the only state I know that doesn't have a mandatory insurance law is New Hampshire; where seatbelts are also optional after 18th birthday...insane for a mountainous state.
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Post by The_Pro »

welby1 wrote:oddly enough, the only state I know that doesn't have a mandatory insurance law is New Hampshire; where seatbelts are also optional after 18th birthday...insane for a mountainous state.
Add that to my reasons to move to New Hampshire, after Funspot of course. :)
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Post by TRB_MetroidTeam »

JoustGod wrote:For me, my 1994 Camaro runs me about $1200 per year here in the Las Vegas area. My wife's 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe runs just slightly above that.
Just to compare, an 1998 Renault Megane RXE (yes... my car 8) ) cost about USD 410,00 / year, very cheap for cars of this style here. Oh yeah... I paid a bit lower price because it was contracted on my own working/comapany lol :) Ops... not my OWN company... but in the Federal banking where I work :)

But, for sure, a lot of internal and external factors are related to the price of car insurance...
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