Editor
Evan Kowalski
Evan Kowalski is the editor of Why Is My Car Insurance So High. He spent seven years in personal auto pricing, preparing and supporting rate filings and territory reviews, and has a clear view of how a premium is actually assembled.
He started this site in 2022 as the increases of that period began, because the most common question people asked him—why did it go up?—had precise answers that were nowhere written in plain language. He writes the rating-factor and market guides and reviews every page annually.
Evan lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Covering auto insurance since 2015
- Focus areas: auto insurance pricing, rate filings, rating territories, loss trends
- Education: Carnegie Mellon University (B.S., Statistics)
Guides
Guide
The 12 Reasons Car Insurance Rates Are High
Every factor that sets a car insurance premium—record, age, location, vehicle, credit, coverage, market trends—ranked by how much each one typically moves the price.
Guide
How Age and Driving Experience Affect Car Insurance
Why drivers under 25 pay the most, why rates rise again after 70, how years licensed are rated separately from age, and when the big drops happen.
Guide
How Your Vehicle Affects Car Insurance
Why some cars cost twice as much to insure as others: loss history, repair cost, horsepower, size, theft rates and safety equipment.
Guide
How Your Driving Record Affects Car Insurance
What tickets, at-fault accidents, claims and a DUI do to a premium, how long each stays in rating, and how insurers look back.
Guide
How to Lower Car Insurance That Is Too High
A prioritised list of actions that lower a high premium—comparing, coverage changes, deductibles, telematics, discounts, vehicle and mileage—with realistic savings.
Entries
Entry
Adding a Teen Driver to Car Insurance: Rates, Rules, and Savings
Learn how adding a teen driver affects car insurance rates, why premiums surge for inexperienced operators, and four actionable steps to lower your costs.
Entry
When to Drop Collision and Comprehensive Coverage on an Older Car
Discover when it makes financial sense to drop collision and comprehensive coverage, how the 10x rule works, and how to evaluate your vehicle's cash value.
Entry
How Long Does an Accident Stay on Your Car Insurance Record?
Learn how long an at-fault accident affects your car insurance rates, how insurer surcharges work, and how to lower your premium while waiting for it to clear.