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When you shop for insurance, you expect the quotes to reflect obvious things like how you drive or where you live. An accident might send your car insurance rate up. Or living in a hurricane-prone area could make your homeowner's policy more expensive.

But insurers use a long list of factors to set the rates they charge you, including some with no obvious connection. To evaluate their risk (how likely they think you are to file a claim) they may consider things like whether you're late with your credit card payments, the breed of dog you have, or even your relationship status.

In other words, gauging risk is as much an art as a science — every insurer decides the scope of variables to include and how heavily to weigh them. For instance, homes of equal value can draw quotes as much as 47% apart, according to Insurify, an online comparison tool.

So what?

With such a wide range of home and auto insurance prices, it can really pay to shop around. And coverage is expensive enough: Drivers now pay a median of $2,079 a year, while homeowners average nearly $3,000, according to The Zebra, another insurance marketplace.

Here are just some of the factors that can potentially drive up your bill:

Your credit record

Credit scores measure how likely you are to repay your loans, but in states where it's allowed, insurers often use them to predict whether you will file claims too.

According to The Zebra, drivers with poor credit scores (below 580) pay a median of $1,805 more a year than drivers with excellent credit. Even someone with good vs. very good credit typically pays $421 more each year. In fact, in 27 states, having a poor credit score actually costs more than a DUI on your driving record, according to The Zebra.

With home insurance, the typical homeowner with a credit score below 630 can pay nearly $2,000 more — almost double what homeowners with a score of 820 pay, according to a 2025 study by the Consumer Federation of America. It's often more expensive to have a low credit score than to live in an area with high disaster risk, its research shows.

Note: Seven states — California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, and Utah — ban or restrict insurers from using credit scores to set premiums.

Your relationship status

Insurers often view married people as safer drivers who are less likely to have accidents. On average, a married driver pays $194 less per year than a single driver, according to The Zebra. Some insurance companies also give 5%-15% discounts to married couples, and if you benefit from a multi-vehicle discount, you might lose it if you get divorced, according to The General insurance agency. Divorce can also lead to a lower credit score, at least temporarily.

Your pets

Some insurers consider certain types of pets to be an extra risk. They charge homeowners more because a certain breed of dog, a dog with a history of aggressive behavior, or an exotic pet like a snake or spider are more likely to result in liability or property damage claims. A dog considered high risk could raise annual premiums by $50 to $200. Insurers could also exclude certain pets from coverage or require a liability waiver that makes the policyholder responsible for any bites or injuries.

High-tech safety features on your car

If anything, you'd think extra safety features on your car would lower your premiums because you're less likely to have an accident. But high-tech features can cut both ways. Some insurers will discount as much as 20%-30% for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) like blind spot monitors and adaptive cruise control. But insurers have to balance that with how much more the technology can cost them to repair or replace if there are claims. A AAA study found that on average, ADAS accounted for 38% of the cost of four common types of repairs.

An aging roof

Home insurance might cost more simply because your roof is older. A 20-year-old roof can increase premiums by roughly 12% to 40%, depending on the insurer, according to a Policygenius study. You may be able to counter that by taking an “actual cash value” policy, but that means if you need to repair or replace your roof, your insurance will only cover its depreciated value, not the cost of a new roof.

Trampolines and pools

Some insurers may upcharge for these because of the liability risk. If anyone at your home, even a trespasser, is injured when using them, the homeowner is more likely to be sued. But the Policygenius study showed it's actually not that common to charge more for a pool. And there are other financial factors to consider, like how much a pool may add to your property value.

One thing that won't impact your premium? The color of your car. Despite the rumors that red cars cost more, paint color isn't a factor, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Go for whichever shade you like.

Related Reading

Move Over, Mortgages: Insurance Is the New Pain Point (SoFi)

Car Insurance Costs Climb in the First Half of 2026: Insurify Projects Increases in 32 States by Year's End (Insurify)

10 Questions To Help Assess Your Changing Insurance Needs (Insurance Information Institute)

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