Alaska has a special set of conditions to worry about which could affect how much you may pay in insurance premiums. Avalanches, flinging pebbles from other cars, and the icy road conditions are among the few–not to mention tourists who are driving slow to enjoy the scenery! There is also something else to watch for called “frost heaves”–layers of permafrost just under the road that could damage your vehicle and raise your rates should one of these damage your vehicle. Even though Alaska is a very beautiful state to drive in, it is also a very dangerous state to drive in. This makes it one of the highest and strictest states for auto insurance.

State law requires that you only carry liability insurance on your vehicle. The minimums for this are $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident in bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. And you are required to carry proof of insurance whenever you are on the roadways. You do have the option of adding more to the minimums, but if you have a cheaper used car, and you total it, there’s not much to replace. However, you might want to add more to the minimum liability because of uninsured or underinsured motorists who may be involved in an accident with you.

Why so high? Since communities are spread out more than in the lower 48, there more distance in which an accident could happen, as well as other conditions already mentioned.

If premiums are set so high, can you actually save money on your auto insurance premiums? Short answer? Yes. Long answer? There are always going to be ways to save money on auto insurance…but Alaska has certain discounts specific to the state that will help you save money here.

While you may not be able to control your age or your sex, there are things you can do to qualify for certain discounts. Being a good student will help…a clean driving record specific to Alaska for 3 years…completing a course in Alaska driving safety…and you have never had an Alaska speeding ticket or DUI are all ways to save money on your premiums. Your credit history also affects how much you pay in premiums, but Alaska state laws limit how much of a bias companies can use against you.

Some of the different companies that sell insurance in Alaska include: State Farm, All State, Geico and Progressive.