What’s going on? My State Farm rate just went up; my new premium is $297, while it was previously $230. The hike is due to my brother being at fault in a car accident. Here’s where it gets interesting: even though my policy is now close to $300, my sister’s rate didn’t go up at all. After talking to a State Farm agent, I found out that my increase was solely because of my brother’s accident. Keep in mind that we all have our own separate policies through different brokers, not a family plan.
What’s the catch
It sounds frustrating to see your rates increase due to your brother’s accident, especially when your sister’s policy didn’t change. Insurance companies often use a variety of factors to determine rates, and sometimes they consider claims history in a broader context, like being part of the same household or having related policies. Even though you all have individual policies, it’s possible that they are still somehow linked in terms of risk assessment.
It’s a good idea to discuss this further with your State Farm agent to clarify how rates are calculated and see if there are any options for appealing the increase or adjusting your coverage to lower costs. Every company has its own policies and methods for calculating premiums, so understanding that process might help shed some light on your situation.