Your Home column: Factors that affect your car insurance premium

The amount you'll pay for car insurance is impacted by a number of very different factors — from the type of coverage you have to your driving record to where you park your car. While not all companies use the same parameters, here's a list of what commonly determines the bottom line on your auto policy.

Your driving record – The better your record, the lower your premium. You may also pay more if you're a new driver without an insurance track record.How much you use your car – The more miles you drive, the more chance for accidents so you'll pay more if you drive your car for work, or use it to commute long distances.Location, location, location – Due to higher rates of vandalism, theft and accidents, urban drivers pay a higher auto insurance price than those in small towns or rural areas.

Other factors that affect premium price that can vary from one area or state to another are: age, gender, type of car, cost and frequency of litigation; medical care and car repair costs; prevalence of auto insurance fraud; and weather trends.

Insurers not only look at how safe a particular vehicle is to drive and how well it protects occupants, but also how much potential damage it can inflict on another car. If a specific vehicle model has a higher chance of inflicting damage when in an accident, an insurer may charge more for liability insurance.

Your credit – Similar to your credit score, your credit-based insurance score is a statistical tool that predicts the likelihood of your filing a claim and the likely cost of that claim.The type and amount of auto insurance coverage – The limits on your basic auto insurance, the amount of your deductible, and the types and amounts of policy options (such as collision) that are prudent for you to have all affect how much you'll pay for coverage.

If you are interested in a second look at your coverage, please reach out to Nik at DPA Insurance Services 402-682-1691 for a free assessment of your coverage and a new quote.