Whether you own a vehicle or planning to buy one, one of the biggest things to consider is car insurance. With so many companies offering what seem like lucrative deals, it is easy to get confused. The best auto insurance companies are the ones that offer insurance quotes at the most competitive rates. Some factors affecting car insurance quotes are:

• Location
  The location of your residence and where you park the car has a direct impact on the insurance premium. Crime rates, neighborhood density, and even weather patterns of your area are considered before the premium amount is decided. A car parked in a hostile, densely populated neighborhood will have more premium when compared with one parked in moderately populated areas with fewer crimes.
• Credit score
  As it with any insurance, a good credit score assures the insurance company that the applicant has made informed expenses and does not owe any money to anyone. Simply put, you will get a reasonable car insurance quote if your credit score is above 700 and an expensive one with a credit score below 600.
• Age
  This factor greatly impacts the price of the car insurance premium. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reveals that car accident rates for teens have been more than drivers aged above 25. On the other end of the spectrum, drivers aged above 70 are more prone to accidents. Hence you may get costlier insurance rates if you are below 20 or above 60 years of age.
• Type of vehicle
  A sports car or a pickup truck will have more premium than luxury sedans or hatchbacks. Apart from this, if a particular model of the vehicle has fewer safety features than other vehicles then it may have higher car insurance rates.
• Driving record
  This is one of the most important factors that decide the car insurance rates. Every insurer checks your driving record before quoting an insurance premium. A risky driver will attract a costly premium when compared to a driver with fewer speeding tickets.