A California Court Just Upheld Higher Insurance Rates For Single Drivers. Could Other States Follow?

Single drivers in California may pay more for auto insurance than married drivers following a recent court ruling.

In July, a California appeals court upheld a decision allowing insurers to continue using marital status as an optional factor when setting auto insurance rates, according to the Los Angeles Times. The court rejected a lawsuit arguing that the practice violated California’s anti-discrimination laws.

Here’s what the ruling means for California drivers, whether it could affect drivers in other states and what you can do if you're paying more for coverage.

What it means for California drivers

Given the appeals court’s ruling, married drivers in California may continue to pay lower auto insurance premiums than unmarried drivers with similar risk profiles. Depending on the insurer and policy, single, divorced and widowed drivers could pay approximately $56 to $100 more per year.

Marital status is just one of many factors insurers may use to calculate premiums. Your driving record, annual mileage, location, claims history, vehicle type, age and gender can also influence how an insurer assesses your risk and, ultimately, how much you pay for coverage.

Could this affect drivers outside California?

Insurance rating laws vary widely by state. Some states prohibit or restrict insurers from using certain personal characteristics in their rating calculations. For example, while many states allow insurers to consider a driver’s credit score when calculating their rates, Massachusetts, Michigan, Hawaii and California have banned the practice.

New York prohibits insurers from using a driver’s occupation and education as rating factors, while Michigan prohibits the use of factors like gender and education.

California’s court ruling doesn’t change insurance laws in other states, but regulators, insurers and consumer advocates may watch its impact. The decision allows California insurers to use marital status as a rating factor when it can be shown to relate to driver risk.

At this time, only Massachusetts and Hawaii have barred insurers from using marital status as a factor.

What drivers can do if they're paying more

If your car insurance costs continue to climb or suddenly spike, you may be overpaying. Regardless of your marital status or where you live, there are several ways you may be able to lower your premiums:

• Compare quotes every renewal: When your policy renews, shop around and compare quotes from other insurers. If another insurer offers you a lower premium for the same coverage, your current insurer might be willing to match that quote to retain you as a customer. Alternatively, you might find that another insurer offers you a better deal and decide to switch your insurance.
• Ask which discounts you're eligible for: Call your current insurer and ask about their available discounts. You might find you qualify for discounts that you’re not currently receiving, and adding those discounts in can help lower your premiums.
• Bundle policies if it makes financial sense: You may be able to save money by bundling policies, such as bundling your home and auto insurance policies. Just make sure that the decision makes sense for you, and that you’re not transferring a policy to an insurer that doesn’t really meet your needs, just to take advantage of a bundle offer.
• Review your deductible: You may be able to lower your auto insurance premium by increasing your deductible, but this decision comes with some risk. If you ever have to file a claim, you’ll need to pay the deductible upfront, so make sure you have enough cash set aside to do so. If you decide to choose a higher deductible, it’s a good idea to put the payment for the deductible in a high-yield savings account so it’s accessible if you need it but earns interest in the meantime.  
• Evaluate your optional coverage: Depending on your state, certain types of car insurance are optional. Collision and comprehensive are often optional as long as you own your vehicle outright, and roadside assistance and some higher policy limits are optional, too. Dropping some optional coverages can help lower your premium, but you’ll need to consider the level of risk that you’re comfortable with before you decide to drop the coverage.

Since insurers weigh rating factors differently, simply shopping around for auto insurance is one of the best ways to ensure you’re getting a good rate.

Make sure that you’re comparing policies with the same types of coverage, coverage limits and deductibles. It’s easy to renew your policy out of habit, but making a point of shopping around at least once a year may help you lower your car insurance rate while still getting the coverage you need.

Use the Bankrate tool below to gather quotes and compare today's top car insurance offers:

Related Content

• Someone Hit My Parked Car and Fled Without Leaving Their Information. Should I File a Claim With My Insurance?
• What Is the 100,000-Mile Rule in Car Insurance?
• 11 Most Common Types of Car Insurance: Which Coverage Do You Actually Need?