Car insurance is confusing. Whether you’re an older, experience driver or a young one, there are a lot of factors that affect car insurance and sorting through thousands of insurance agencies and policies can be overwhelming. 
What Car Insurance Do I Need?
Each state has different laws regarding car insurance, but most states have a minimum requirement of liability insurance Liability insurance covers other drivers and passengers in case you cause an accident.
Bodily injury liability helps with the medical expenses of the other driver and their passengers if you cause an accident. Property damage compensates for damage to others’ property while you’re operating the insured vehicle. Liability insurance can also help you with legal expenses, should a victim of an at-fault accident decide to sue.
Liability insurance doesn’t cover everything, however. You want enough coverage to protect yourself, your passengers and your vehicle in case of an accident. Most full coverage policies have liability insurance as well as:
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Comprehensive Coverage: Provides compensation for damages done to your vehicle through incidents not involving collision. This includes damage by fire, wind, hail, theft and vandalism.
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Collision Coverage: Provides compensation if your vehicle is damaged due to a collision with another vehicle or object.
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Personal Injury Protection: Provides compensation for your and your passengers’ medical bills after an accident.
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Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: This coverage steps in if you have an accident involving a driver who isn’t carrying insurance.
Why Is My Car Insurance So Expensive?
Car insurance premiums are heavily influenced by age. Younger drivers are considered at higher risk of filing a claim, thus agencies charge more to cover their risk. Car insurance generally drops once you turn 25, but other influences also affect your rate:
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Value of the vehicle
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Credit score
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Driving record
These factors are all considered risks. Insurance companies don’t want you to file an insurance claim, since that means they have to pay compensation. Younger drivers tend to have more accidents than mature drivers, while males drive more aggressively—and often—than women.
How Much Should I Pay for Car Insurance?
Make sure to shop around for insurance. Some insurance agencies specialize in nonstandard and high-risk drivers while others avoid insuring such drivers.
How Do I File a Car Insurance Claim?
If you have a car insurance policy and need to file a claim, call your agent 48-72 hours after the accident. Once you file a claim, the agency will investigate it.