Commuting distance influences auto insurance quotes, with insurers imposing tiered surcharges based on the one-way distance driven to work or school. The tiers range from an extra few dollars for distances of 4-9 miles to up to $10 for distances over 20 miles, which can accumulate to significant annual costs. To reduce insurance rates, individuals can consider public transportation, limited commuting, carpooling, or relocating closer to their destinations.

1. What Commuting Really Costs You

2. When you get a car insurance quote, the auto insurance agent
may ask you about your commute. The answer that they are
looking for is the distance that you drive to work or to school,
one-way not round-trip.

3. Insurers use surcharge pricing tiers based on how
far your commute is, and no surprise, the exact
distance charge is dependent on the insurance
company as well. The tier system is as follows:

4. Tier 1 If you drive between four to nine miles to your
destination, you’ll likely see a few extra dollars added into
your monthly California auto insurance rate.

5. Tier 2 Your monthly car insurance quote
would increase up to five dollars extra of
additional fees for ten to fifteen miles of
commuting.

6. Tier 3 This third tier is for those who drive fifteen to
twenty miles daily. This could add up to eight dollars
of additional commuting charges to your California
auto insurance premium.

7. Tier 4 Lastly, if you are driving twenty miles or more, the
highest surcharge you would get for commuting is an extra
ten dollars a month.

8. The charges don’t sound all that much, but it does add up in a year and
over a length of time. You could be saving over a hundred dollars
annually if you’re able to find a job or school that is close to home, or at
least shorten the commute by moving closer. Of course, the exact fee
would depend on your California auto insurance company.

9. When you get a car insurance quote, the auto
insurance company is looking at the distance you drive;
it doesn’t matter how long it takes you to drive that
distance. To the company, the longer you are on the
road, the more chances you have of getting into a car
accident.

10. If you are looking for ways to avoid the higher
end of additional commuting fees, here are a
few suggestions:
• Use public transportation
• Commute 3 times or less per week
• Carpool
• Find a closer living situation

11. Ask your agent what your options are for lowering
your rates and what factors are increasing your auto
insurance premium. Also, make sure you answer
those occasional surveys they send out… your
premium could go up or down depending on what
you answer.

12. Do you plan on commuting less? Feel free to share
your thoughts in the comment section below