Insurance is risk protection. To use the example of a car, the risks including crashes, being stolen, and having a tree fall on it. You pay some money each month (your premium) and in return if one of the risks happens the company pays you. You are betting against yourself and the insurance company is taking the other side of that bet. Your rates going up is a sign that there is greater risk associated with you now. It could be additional cars, younger drivers with access to the car, or a history of accidents. Any of these things creates an additional likelihood of a risk happening, and the higher premium is a reflection of that greater risk.