Why car insurance prices keep rising, and what drivers can do

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November 9, 2026 / 1:02 PM EST / CBS News

You can go years without filing a car insurance claim while maintaining a clean driving record and still open your car insurance renewal notice to find that it includes another premium increase. After all, car insurance premiums have been climbing sharply over the last few years, leaving many drivers paying significantly more for the same coverage they previously had. And while it's worth noting that insurers have always periodically adjusted their rates, the rapid increases that have occurred in recent years have made coverage costs a growing financial concern for many drivers.

The rising cost of car insurance can be even more frustrating right now, though, when you factor in that inflation has caused many other expenses to compete for a larger share of household budgets. The costs of housing, gas, utilities and groceries have been rising in tandem, and when you consider that car insurance premiums aren't based solely on how safely you drive or whether you've filed a claim, it can add to the frustration. Insurers actually consider…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/