There are several factors involved in determining how much you will pay for car insurance. When you apply for car insurance quotes online, you'll answer basic questions that will give the insurance company a better idea of your "risk." That is, online auto insurance companies will determine how likely it is that you will get into an accident and make an insurance claim. The more risky they determine you will be, the higher the car insurance quotes you will receive. Some of the factors included in determine your car insurance quotes are as follows:

Driving History: This is perhaps the most important factor in determining your car insurance rates. Your driving history is the best indicator as to whether you will be a classified as a high-risk driver. If you have several speeding tickets or other moving violations, your car insurance quotes will be higher than if you have a clean driving record. A DUI, OWI or OUI (driving under the influence, operating while intoxicated and operating under the influence), will dramatically increase your car insurance rates.

Type of Vehicle: An online auto insurance company will need to know what kind of vehicle you want to insure, including the make, model and year. This will help them determine how much it would cost to replace or repair the vehicle, in the case of an accident. Obviously, the older and less-valuable the vehicle, the lower the car insurance quotes to insure it.

Geographic Location: Where you live also has an affect on your car insurance rates. In fact, one of the first questions you will answer when searching for online auto insurance is "what is your zip-code?". Those living in high-traffic, metropolitan areas will pay more than those living in small towns and low-traffic areas. It is also more expensive, on average, to repair a vehicle in large metro areas.

Lifestyle: It may sound unfair, but your car insurance rates will also be affected by your age and sex. While you may be a safe driver, you will still be partially penalized for your sex and age. That's because online auto insurance companies and regular brick-and-mortar car insurance companies review statistics to determine if you are a risky driver. For example, young drivers under the age of 25 get more moving violations and are in more accidents, so they will pay higher car insurance rates. Put simply, the car insurance companies will "play the averages."

Credit History: Believe it or not, your credit history is also a factor in determining your car insurance rates. Those with good credit will pay less than drivers with a bad credit history.

Coverage Requested:  Nearly every state in the US requires some sort of liability coverage. If you choose the minimum coverage, you will pay less than someone requesting full coverage or comprehensive coverage. These two types of coverage will pay for damages, regardless of who is at fault in an accident, and will also cover acts of vandalism or Act of God and Nature.

There are basic discounts you can inquire about when searching for car insurance quotes online. These include discounts for college graduates, good students, defensive driving course completion, multi-car discount, and more. Be sure to ask the online auto insurance company if they offer any of these discounts.