Why is my car insurance so high?
Average car insurance rates increased 12 percent from 2024 to 2025.
Mariah Posey is a former insurance editor and writer for Bankrate.com, who specialized in auto and home insurance. She developed and edited insurance content that covered a breadth of relevant industry knowledge, prioritizing accuracy and Bankrate's mission to guide shoppers in their insurance search and demystify the industry. By keeping everyday consumers at the forefront of her mind throughout all stages of content development, she streamlined the insurance journey and equipped consumers with the insights they needed to make confident coverage decisions.
Mariah joined the Bankrate insurance editorial team in January 2021, bringing along her background in communications and journalism. With experience in reporting and copyediting, she married her skills of conducting industry research, analyzing data and developing content that matched reader intent into her role as an editor. In her time, she used her expertise of the evolving auto and home insurance markets and state insurance regulations to inform timely explainers and in-depth guides to coverage and carriers. Mariah is dedicated to clarifying common misconceptions about insurance found online to better inform readers.
Mariah is originally from New Jersey and earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Elon University. When not optimizing pages, she can be found grabbing a slice (or whole pie) from the best local pizzeria, diving into new music and finding a new series to shamelessly binge.
Mariah’s written work for Bankrate has been featured in Bloomberg, The Boston Globe and Car and Driver.
Mariah Posey wants you to know
The most “convenient" option won’t always be the best for your situation. When it was time for Mariah to renew her renters insurance policy, she considered switching her coverage to the same company as her auto insurance for a bundle discount and ease of management. However, even with a discount added and the same levels of coverage, bundling would have caused her gross premium to be significantly higher than maintaining the existing separate policies. It pays to shop around, but be mindful of what’s most important to you. You may weigh price, convenience and coverage differently with each company.
Insurance is a more palatable expense when you realize you're getting more financial coverage than you'd ever spend in premiums.
— Mariah Posey
Average car insurance rates increased 12 percent from 2024 to 2025.
Depreciation can reduce your car’s value by between 10 and 15 percent each year.
An HO-1 does not offer much coverage and is not available in most states.
Has inflation left you underinsured? Bankrate investigates.
When you get a new car, you have a grace period to update your insurance.
Surplus lines policies are usually a last resort option for high-risk homes.
Rsing temps and road rage are a costly combo. discover the mental and financial impact on drivers and their car insurance rates.
Bankrate’s research found five standout renters insurance companies in New Jersey.