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Over the last several years, the amount of money consumers have had to pay for their auto insurance coverage every month has gone up appreciably, leaving many Americans wondering what they can do to keep their premiums as low as possible. One of the most important aspects of this might simply be educating themselves about what actually leads to their rates rising in the first place. Consequently, the more that proactive insurance agents can do to help them discover and understand these conditions, the better off both sides of the issue might end up being.

There are, of course, many things that can impact a person's auto insurance premium, but one of the biggest in the vast majority of states is something as simple as a credit score, according to a report from Property Casualty 360. Unfortunately for those with lower ratings, the issue will also lead them to pay more for coverage, though it should be noted that a number of states outlaw this practice.

What else counts?
The location where a driver will be parking their vehicle or vehicles also plays a major role in determining their costs, the report said. Insurers comb mountains of data to find out risk factors for every ZIP code that could help to drive up the risk of a claim. They also take into account the kind of vehicle a person drives. If it's more expensive to repair after an accident, or more likely to get stolen based on the kind of car it is, those people might end up paying a premium for it, without realizing that this is the cause. Finally, it's also important to note that driving history obviously still plays a major role as well.

Insurance agents who try to do as much as possible to reach out to consumers to help them deal with their concerns about the various aspects of their coverage will likely be those who foster the best relationships with their clients. The fact is that the ability to provide high-quality customer service these days is often valued more highly than even the occasional attempt to provide lower-cost coverage with a new discount. For this reason, it's often a good idea for agents to get out in front of any issues that might arise as premiums tick upward over time.

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