An insurance premium is the price you pay for a policy. Costs can vary based on the type of coverage you buy.
Updated Feb 7, 2024 · 1 min read Written by Georgia Rose Lead Writer Georgia Rose
Lead Writer | Finance, technology, science
Georgia Rose is a lead writer on the international team at NerdWallet. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post , The New York Times, The Independent and The Associated Press . Throughout her career, Georgia has written on a variety of subjects, including personal finance, government policy, science and technology. She enjoys researching complex topics and distilling the information for her readers. Before joining the international team, she wrote for the insurance vertical, specializing in life insurance.
Co-written by Amy Danise Amy DaniseAmy is a former editor and insurance authority at NerdWallet. She has been helping consumers understand insurance choices and terminology for almost 20 years.
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An insurance premium is the amount you pay for an insurance policy. Therefore, when you hear “insurance premium," think “insurance price.”
You typically pay premiums monthly, semiannually or annually, depending on the policy. Insurers sometimes offer a small discount for bundling your policies or paying your premium annually.
The price of your premium depends on the type of insurance you buy, such as life, renters, auto or homeowners. You may also be responsible for an insurance deductible , which is the amount you pay before the insurer starts covering the costs of a claim.
Auto insurance premiums are often based on your age, driving record, claims history and vehicle, as well as the amount of coverage you buy.
In general, you’ll pay the highest premiums for full coverage insurance, which includes liability, comprehensive and collision insurance. A full coverage car insurance policy costs $1,765 a year on average for good drivers with good credit, according to NerdWallet’s August 2024 auto insurance rates analysis. In contrast, a driver with the same background would pay $493 on average for minimum car insurance.
To find the best price, compare car insurance rates when shopping for a policy.
Insurers typically use your age and medical history when calculating life insurance premiums. Other factors, such as your credit history, the amount of coverage you buy and your employment status, can impact the price. The average cost of life insurance is $26 a month, based on a 20-year, $500,000 term life policy for a 40-year-old, according to NerdWallet’s January 2024 analysis of data provided by Quotacy.
Among the different types of life insurance , permanent policies such as whole life insurance are the most expensive, as coverage lasts your entire life. In contrast, term life insurance covers a set period of time, such as 10 or 20 years.
On average, renters insurance premiums are $12 a month, according to NerdWallet’s January 2024 renters' rates analysis. The price of your premiums is based on specific details, such as the value of your belongings, whether the building has a burglar alarm and your credit score, in most states. Shop around for renters insurance quotes before buying a policy.
The average homeowners insurance premium is $1,820 a year, NerdWallet's January 2024 rates analysis found. Homeowners insurance premiums are based on a variety of factors, such as the building’s location and value, your credit score in most states, your claims history and the amount of coverage you want to buy.
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For auto insurance: NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for 35-year-old men and women for all ZIP codes in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information. Poor credit rates from The Hanover were removed in both Connecticut and New York. In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” and “poor” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers. These are average rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider. Sample drivers had the minimum required coverage by law in each state. Some policies include additional coverage at the insurer’s discretion. We used a 2021 Toyota Camry LE for all drivers and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven.
For life insurance: NerdWallet calculated average life insurance rates based on data provided by Quotacy for a 40-year-old buying a 20-year, $500,000 term life policy.
For renter’s insurance: To find the average cost of renters insurance in the U.S., NerdWallet calculated the median rate for 30-year-old tenants from multiple insurance companies in every ZIP code across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. We also looked at median rates by city and state. Sample tenants were nonsmokers with good credit living in a two-bedroom apartment. They had a $500 deductible and the following coverage limits: $30,000 in personal property coverage. $100,000 in liability coverage. $10,000 in additional living expenses coverage. $1,000 in medical payments coverage. We made minor changes to the sample policy in cases where rates for the above coverage limits or deductibles weren’t available. These are sample rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.
For home insurance: NerdWallet averaged rates for 40-year-old homeowners from a variety of insurance companies in every ZIP code across the U.S. All rates are rounded to the nearest $5. Sample homeowners were nonsmokers with good credit living in a single-family, two-story home built in 1984. They had a $1,000 deductible and the following coverage limits: $300,000 in dwelling coverage. $30,000 in other structures coverage. $150,000 in personal property coverage. $60,000 in loss of use coverage. $300,000 in liability coverage. $1,000 in medical payments coverage. We made minor changes to the sample policy in cases where rates for the above coverage limits or deductibles weren’t available. These are sample rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.
