Insurance points are used to assess the eligibility for auto insurance coverage and for calculation of rates. These points are assigned by your individual insurance company and each has their own type of "point" system. The system will vary but many insurance carriers use the system based on the guidelines set up by the Insurance Services Office (ISO).

Either using the ISO system or their own created system; insurance companies assign a value (point) to various vehicle incidents, such as an accident, DUI or moving violation. The point value will go up depending on the severity of the infraction. As you accumulate more "insurance points" as a driver the likelihood that your insurance premium rates will increase goes up.

Insurance points, and other variables that are used by insurance companies to decide on your premium rates, vary by each different insurance company. They each have their own rules and guidelines concerning how insurance points play into the whole equation.

States have insurance law and regulations that govern premium surcharges due to accidents or convictions. So if insurance points will follow you or carry over if you move to another state will depend upon state insurance laws as well as your insurance company's guidelines and rating system.

If the new state allows for insurance points and your insurance carrier does business in your new state then it may be possible for the points to carry over. If instead you must get insurance through a new insurance provider they will look at your driving record from your current state and previous state and using their own rating system may come up with a different insurance points total.

If you plan on moving you may want to take the opportunity to comparison shop for the best auto insurance rates.