# Rate filing

> What a car insurance rate filing is, how insurers submit rates to state regulators, and why some states approve rates first while others review later.

Canonical page: https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/rate-filing/  
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026 by the StateCover Guide editorial team  
General information, not legal or insurance advice.

## Quick answer

A rate filing is the package of rates, rating rules and supporting information that an insurance company submits to a state insurance department for a line of coverage, such as personal auto insurance. It governs what the insurer may charge in that state.

## How it works

States oversee auto insurance rates in different ways:

- **Approval before use.** In some states, rates and policy forms must be approved before an insurer can use them. Michigan, for example, requires auto insurance rates and policies to be filed with and approved by its Department of Insurance and Financial Services before they are offered to consumers.
- **Review after use.** Other states do not approve rates in advance. The Texas Department of Insurance says it does not approve rates beforehand, but if it finds an insurer's rates too high, it can order refunds to the people who were overcharged.

Either way, rates have to meet a legal standard. Texas law, for instance, requires rates that are fair, reasonable and adequate for the risks covered.

## What it means for you

A rate filing sets prices for groups of drivers, not for you personally. A statewide increase can raise your renewal price even with a clean record. Within the filed rates, your own premium still depends on your rating factors, coverage choices and discounts. If you think a rate is wrong, you can ask the insurer to explain it or contact your state insurance department.

## Related terms

- [Rating factors](https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/rating-factors/)
- [State insurance department](https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/state-insurance-department/)
- [Underwriting](https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/underwriting/)
- [Premium](https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/premium/)
- Guide: [Car insurance quotes at renewal](https://statecover-guide.com/saving/shopping-at-renewal/)

## Sources

- [Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, Auto Insurance Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.michigan.gov/autoinsurance/frequently-asked-questions) — prior approval of auto insurance rates and policies
- [Texas Department of Insurance, Auto insurance guide](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb020.html) — rates not approved in advance, refunds for excessive rates, rate standard