Insurance prices head higher with increased driving

With the University of Nebraska's season opener and the Nebraska State Fair landing on Labor Day weekend, you can be sure the highways will be busy and the Nebraska State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies will be out in force.

There are plenty of reasons to take special care to drive safely, but the latest involves reducing pain in the wallet.

Relatively low gasoline prices and an improving economy mean we're driving more, but that means we're getting in more accidents.

More accidents mean insurance companies are raising rates to cover claims.

But the number of accidents is increasing more than the increased driving would indicate, according to experts.

The Insurance Information Institute cites higher speed limits and more things to distract drivers as possible factors. The number of collision claims per 100 cars has been on the rise since 2013.

Plus, the average cost for repairing those cars has been going up, 3 percent to $3,299 per claim for the most recent figures.

It's not just car repairs that are costly, of course.

Last month, the National Safety Council estimated the motor-vehicle deaths, injuries and property damage this year at $152 billion through June, a 24 percent increase from the same period in 2014. That includes wage and productivity losses, medical expenses, administrative expenses, employer costs and property damage.

It's not always everyone else's bad driving that causes your rates to go up, however.

It won't help if you have accidents, speeding violations on your record, but if your only shortcoming is a bad credit score, you can expect to pay up to $1,000 more a year than a driver with a DWI, according to Consumer Reports.

The magazine found that Texas drivers with poor credit pay on average of $3,426 ia year for car insurance, compared to drivers with excellent credit and a DWI, who would pay approximately $2,435.

So don't be surprised if you see a jump in your car insurance when it's time to renew, and don't be afraid to shop around before you send in the check.

Some other ways to save on car insurance:

* Consider insurance when you buy a vehicle. A different model with similar features might be cheaper to insure because it's less likely to be stolen, cheaper to repair or has fewer accidents.

* See if you can combine coverage with other policies such as homeowners insurance or other drivers; don't assume such changes will be cheaper, however.

* Shopping with at least three carriers is a good idea, as is calling insurers directly and asking family and friends about their experiences. Check with your state department of insurance. A Nebraska brochure is available here: http://1.usa.gov/1PQ76PL

* Ask your insurance company if you can get a lower rate because you drive less.

* Increase your deductible. If you can afford to assume more of the risk, you can get a cheaper premium, but you might need to set aside money in your budget to cover potential losses.

* Ask about other discounts such as for kids with good grades, drivers training, older drivers, alumni or business groups, professional associations, group insurance or other discounts.

* Reduce insurance coverage on older cars. If your annual comprehensive/collision insurance premiums are more than 10 percent of the current value of your car, consider dropping such coverage.

When you think you're done shopping, make sure you've actually obtained the lowest final cost, and not just the biggest discount on a price that was already higher.