If you've lived in several states, you may have noticed that your car insurance rate took a hefty jump up or down after a move. This is because auto insurance companies can sometimes view states drastically differently, leading to huge discrepancies in the cost of auto insurance for the same vehicle. Here's a look at a few of the criteria that car insurance companies use that cause premiums to vary so greatly from state to state.

State car insurance requirements are one big geographical reason for the varying rates between states–different states handle insurance differently, mandating higher and lower amounts of coverage, no fault systems, or special considerations that may be unique to only a single state. These different requirements can throw insurance costs all over the place. For instance, when state car insurance requirements are higher than the national average, you can expect that insurance premiums will be higher in that state. However, no fault insurance might potentially lower premiums. Your insurance company will consider every requirement of the state before quoting or issuing insurance.

Auto-theft also varies by state and zip code, and is one of the big determinants that insurance companies use when figuring car insurance premiums. High levels of auto theft make a car a riskier investment to a car insurance company, so if the auto theft rates are high in your area, expect to pay for it in your premiums. The worst states for auto theft tend to be on the West coast, so if you drive a lot in the West, you'll see higher car insurance rates, unfortunately. However, there are things that you can do to decrease the inflated rates, such as installing anti-theft devices in your car or taking defensive driving courses (many companies also look at the likelihood of accidents from state to state, which also varies). Talk to a car insurance agent if your state's rates are high due to auto-theft, and ask about any programs they might have to help you lower your payment.

Car insurance rates certainly vary quite a bit depending upon the state in which you reside. Whether you're lucky enough to be in a low-cost state or unlucky enough to be paying high premiums due to your state's laws and driving habits, you can find out more by contacting your insurance company. If you feel you're paying too much, be sure to comparison shop online to see if you can find a better car insurance premium–it may be worth the research, especially in a state deemed "high risk" by an insurance company.