Commuting to Work Once Again? Update Your Car Insurance Policy

When the pandemic started, many workers began working from home and lopping off lengthy commutes from their schedules.

This also meant they were driving their cars less, adding fewer miles to their vehicles, and assuming less risk as a driver. That’s why some people saved money, because insurance policies were also amassing less risk from people who were no longer driving their cars every day.

But now that many businesses have opened up once again, people are starting to take on partial, if not daily commutes to the office. If you’re one of them, make sure you call your insurance company to update your policy.

Calculate the number of miles you’re driving per year, add that to the number of miles you drove during the commuteless, pandemic year, and that will give you your annual mileage rate.

If you’re worried that your commute is going to drastically impact the rate you pay for insurance, don’t fret. The annual mileage total is not the only factor that goes into calculating your rate.

Insurance providers also consider factors like:

• Your driving record and whether you’ve proven to be safe behind the wheel
• Age and gender. Younger drivers will pay higher rates than older ones. Women are more likely to be safer drivers (based on trends) so will pay a lower rate than men.
• Whether your car is new, more expensive, or more likely to be stolen
• The place you park your car. If it’s out on the curb, it’s more at risk than in a locked garage.

If you’ve moved or your driving record has improved over the pandemic, let your insurance agent know, so they can give you discounts on your premium.

If you have more drivers in your family, you can also bundle your insurance to get a discount (who said teen drivers were always bad?!) You can even take a defensive driving course to help improve your driving (or one of your family member’s!) and lower the premium.

Having a conversation with your insurance agent is the best way to make sure you’re getting the proper coverage you and your family need for safe driving and long term adventures down the road.

Questions about auto insurance? Contact a Sea Mountain Auto Insurance Specialist today!