Beware These 5 Factors That Can Unexpectedly Increase Your Car Insurance Premium

Inflation may be starting to cool, but one area we're not seeing much change yet is auto insurance. Average premium costs are up 16.3% from a year ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and some drivers have seen their costs rise even more.

You probably know that safe driving is crucial to keeping costs as low as possible. Even a single accident can send your rates skyrocketing. But that's not the only thing that could cost you more. There are five other factors that can raise your car insurance rates, and some of them might surprise you.

1. Moving

When you move, you're required to notify your auto insurer because where you live and, presumably, park your vehicle has a significant effect on your risk of a claim.

If you move from an area with a relatively low risk of natural disasters to one that experiences frequent flooding or hurricanes, you'll pay more. Or if you move from a rural area to a city with a high risk of auto theft, this can also raise your rates.

In times like these, it's best to get some quotes from several car insurance companies to see which can offer you the best rate. If you're not sure where to begin, start by comparing the car insurance companies that offer the cheapest average car insurance rates.

2. Adding a new driver to the policy

When you add a new driver to the policy, the insurance company takes that driver's record into account when setting the premiums. If that driver has an accident history or is a teen without a lot of experience behind the wheel, this could raise your premiums significantly.

This is true even if the new driver doesn't actually use your vehicle at all. The insurance company assumes that any person named on your policy could drive your vehicle at some point, and that's enough to cause the bump in premiums.

3. Buying a new vehicle

This might seem expected. After all, if you purchase a newer, more expensive vehicle, it probably won't surprise you to know that it will probably be more expensive to insure. But that's not the only reason you could pay more to insure your new car.

Some car makes and models are popular targets for auto theft. If you choose one of these, you could pay more for your insurance than you expected, even if the car's not new.

4. Reduced credit score

Credit scores might seem totally distinct from auto insurance, but insurers argue that it's a predictor of risk. They claim that if someone takes unnecessary financial risks, as evidenced by a low credit score, they're more likely to do the same behind the wheel.

Eight states -- California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah -- have prohibited insurers from using credit score data in calculating their rates. But if you don't live in one of these places, you could pay more for your car insurance if your credit score takes a hit.

If you're struggling with poor credit, check out some of our best secured credit cards to help you establish a strong credit history.

5. Driving more miles

Insurance companies usually ask you to estimate how much you drive when determining your premium. The idea here is that the more time you spend on the road, the more likely you are to have an accident. So if you find yourself driving more than you did in the past, this could increase your car insurance rate.

It's difficult to argue with insurers' logic here. A higher risk of accidents makes having top-notch car insurance all the more important. Check out our list of the best car insurance companies to see which offer the best all-around protection.

Keep in mind that the best insurer for you may not always be the cheapest company. But sometimes, it's worth paying a little extra for quality claims handling and better protection.