One of YouTube’s most popular mechanics has debunked a common myth that many drivers think will significantly affect how much they pay for car insurance.
Scotty Kilmer has been a mechanic in America for more than 55 years and regularly creates videos in which he offers advice to help drivers save on their motoring bills and care for their car.
In a recent short video, Scotty reassures viewers that insurance companies do not charge more to cover cars in certain colours, stating that there are far more important factors they consider instead.
He explained: “50 percent of Americans believe that if you have a red car, it costs more money to insure them. I’m going to tell you the truth about this.
“Well, it’s a totally made-up myth. Ask the insurance companies, and they’ll tell you – it doesn’t matter what colour your car is.”
Since car insurance prices are based on a particularly wide range of factors, some drivers believe that many companies will charge more to give cover to red models, with the colour being associated with performance brands like Ferrari or Maserati.
However, Scotty highlighted that insurance companies are not interested in the colour of a certain car as it is unlikely to have an effect on how people drive.
Nevertheless, if a driver resprays their car to be a different colour, they may find that their price increases, with many insurers considering it a modification to the vehicle.
Later in the video, Scotty shared some of the factors that car insurance companies actually consider when creating a quote, including the performance capabilities of the car and the age of the driver.
He continued: “What they care about is the size of the engine, the more horsepower generally means the more you’re going to pay. Insurance companies look at things like safety features. This car has a lot of airbags, so it’s a very safe car.
“They’ll also look at your age. If you’re an 18-year-old man, you’re going to pay a high insurance premium, regardless of whatever colour your car is!”
Drivers looking to get car insurance for the best possible price should begin searching for quotes around a month before their current policy expires.
This gives them plenty of time to see how much competitor insurers will charge, whilst also having the ability to play around with different mileages and job titles, which can also affect the premium.
Once they have found the best deal, it is generally advisable that drivers pay for the insurance policy between 26 and 23 days before their current cover expires. This is because motorists who leave renewal to the last minute are generally believed to take more risks behind the wheel.
