How to use the Autopac Insurance
- Enter the base premium for your vehicle's rate group.
- Select the use category: pleasure, commuting or business.
- Enter your driver safety rating level for the discount.
- Adjust the deductible and optional extension coverage.
How the calculation works
Premium = base rate for the rate group × use factor × territory factor × (1 − safety discount), then adjusted for the deductible chosen and any extension coverage. Rate group is assigned by make, model and year based on claims history and repair cost, so two cars of similar value can sit several groups apart if one is expensive to repair. Use category matters because annual mileage and exposure differ: business use carries the highest factor, pleasure-only the lowest.
The driver safety rating is the biggest personal lever. Each claim-free year moves you up a level and increases the discount, while an at-fault claim moves you down several levels at once, so the cost of a small at-fault claim spans years of higher premiums, not just the current one. Raising the deductible lowers the premium but transfers first-loss risk to you, and the saving is only worth taking if you could comfortably absorb the higher amount. Extension coverage above the basic limit is normally inexpensive relative to the liability protection gained.
Premium = base rate × use factor × territory factor × (1 − safety discount) ± deductible adjustmentSource: Public auto insurance rating structure: vehicle rate groups, use classification and driver safety rating discounts.
Worked example
Base rate 1,180, commuting use factor 1.15, safety rating discount 25%, deductible credit 90.
- Base × use = 1,180 × 1.15 = 1,357.
- Safety discount = 1,357 × 0.75 = 1,018.
- Less deductible credit = 928.
- Plus 60 extension coverage = 988.
About 988 a year, where the safety discount alone saves 339.
Frequently asked questions
What determines my vehicle's rate group?+
Make, model and year, weighted by claims frequency and repair cost.
How much does an at-fault claim cost me?+
It drops your safety rating several levels, raising premiums for multiple years.
Is a higher deductible worth it?+
Only if you could absorb the larger first loss without difficulty.
Does use category really matter?+
Yes. Business use carries the highest factor and pleasure-only the lowest.
Last reviewed August 31, 2026. We review this page whenever the underlying formula, tax year, published rate or standard changes.