Had a similar experience myself—moved from Gulfport out to the countryside, thinking I'd finally catch a break on insurance. Nope, barely any difference at all. Turns out my "lead foot" had more to do with it than the zip code, haha. Once those tickets fell off though, it was like night and day. Location definitely matters, sure, but from what I've seen... insurers are way more focused on how much of a risk you're bringing to the table. Hang tight, it'll get better soon enough.
"Turns out my 'lead foot' had more to do with it than the zip code, haha."
Yep, that's usually the case. Tickets and claims hit your rates way harder than most people realize. Location matters, but insurers see your driving history as the bigger red flag. Curious though, did you notice any difference switching companies after your record cleared up? Sometimes shopping around after tickets drop off can save you even more...
I had a similar experience when I first started driving—got a speeding ticket within my first year, and my rates jumped quite a bit. After it finally dropped off my record, I did shop around and found a better deal elsewhere. Funny thing is, even though my zip code didn't change, the new insurer seemed to weigh location differently. Makes me wonder if some companies prioritize location more than others...have you guys noticed anything similar?
Yeah, I've noticed something similar. When I moved across town a couple years back, my rates actually dropped a bit, even though my driving record stayed exactly the same. Seems like some insurers really zero in on location, maybe crime rates or accident stats in certain neighborhoods? Still, I think your driving record probably matters more overall—tickets and accidents seem to spike rates faster than anything else. Glad you found a better deal though, always worth shopping around every few years...
"Still, I think your driving record probably matters more overall—tickets and accidents seem to spike rates faster than anything else."
Funny thing is, my brother's been ticket-free for ages, but when he moved from the suburbs into downtown Jackson, his premiums jumped like he'd suddenly become a stunt driver. Meanwhile, I've had a couple minor fender-benders (don't judge me, parking lots are tricky...) but living out in the sticks seems to keep my rates pretty steady. Makes me think insurers might secretly care more about zip codes than they'd admit.
