Glossary term
Rating factor
Rating factor: Any characteristic used to set a premium: record, age, years licensed, territory, vehicle, credit-based score, mileage, coverage.
Where this term matters
Guides and entries on this site that use the term.
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 Credit Affects Car Insurance Rates
What a credit-based insurance score is, how much it moves premiums, which states restrict its use, and how to improve it.
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.
Entry
How to Get Car Insurance After a Coverage Lapse: Practical Steps and Costs
Understand what happens after a car insurance lapse, how insurers price coverage gaps, and practical steps to secure an affordable policy again.