Auto insurance is vital for all drivers. It can be rather difficult to find the right car insurance plan when there are so many insurance companies to pick from. The following ideas should help you narrow down your options so you can get the perfect insurance coverage for your unique situation.
10 Ways to Save Money on Car Insurance
When considering what options you want to include with your auto insurance, be sure to see if towing insurance is something that you really need. Oftentimes towing is already included in certain types of accidents. If you belong to certain auto assistance agencies, they may already provide this coverage to you. Most often, it is not financially beneficial to include this extra.
1. Make Use of Multi-Car Discounts
Sit down with your car insurance agent to prove that you are correctly covered before personalizing your car. You can lose a lot of money if you have invested in expensive add-ons and upgrades in a car that ends up stolen.
Saving money on auto insurance does not have to be a difficult thing, especially if you are loyal to the same company. Most policies are only for a term of around a year, so make sure you re-up with the same company. If you show loyalty to the insurer, you will be rewarded with lower monthly premium payments.
2. Drive Carefully
Drivers who do not file insurance claims are entitled to big discounts. Make sure you broach this no-claims topic after you have been with the same insurance carrier for a few years. Drivers with five years of filing no claims can be rewarded with up to 75% off of their premium payments. Now that’s some big-time savings.
If you have a good credit score, there is a good chance that your automobile insurance premium will be cheaper. Insurance companies are beginning to use your credit report as a part for calculating your insurance premium. If you maintain a good credit report, you will not have to worry about the increase in price.
3. Look around for lower auto insurance rates.
If you are looking for a way to reduce the premium of your auto insurance, take a certified defensive-driving course. In some states, taking this course can decrease the amount of your premiums because insurance companies feel you are less of a risk if you touch up on your driving skills.
Take a close look at your auto policy and take off any “extras” that you won’t use. For example, you might have emergency roadside assistance included in your plan. If you don’t think you are going to use this, drop it in order to decrease the amount you are spending on your insurance. Your agent can help you figure out what else might apply.
4. Take Public Transportation
If you recently got married, providing that you and your spouse have the same carrier, you may want to consider combining your spouse’s policy with yours or vice versa. Doing so can net you significant savings because you will be lumping two individual policies into one multi-vehicle policy, on which many carriers offer a discount.
When people buy a new car insurance policy, they often forget to check if it has a clause to payout in the event of an accident caused by an uninsured driver. This can really increase the price you pay, so think twice. This will protect your interests in case you are hit by someone without insurance.
5. Vehicle Downsizing
If you want to save even more money, check into getting all your insurance needs through the same company. Most insurance companies will offer a discount on their insurance if you have more than one policy with them, such as your homeowner’s insurance or renters’ insurance. This can reduce your rates.
Know just how much your car is worth when you are applying for car insurance policies. You want to make sure you have the right kind of coverage for your vehicle. For example, if you have a new car and you did not make a 20% down payment, you want to get GAP car insurance. This will ensure that you won’t owe the bank any money, if you have an accident in the first few years of owning the vehicle.
6. Boost Your Deductibles
It might be a good idea for you to buy a used car if you are a new driver or someone that does not drive particularly well. Insurance companies view used cars as much less of a liability so the majority of the time they will charge you premiums that are much less than those that they charge new car owners.
If you’re having trouble finding the right auto insurance provider for your needs, it may be helpful to get an agent, or broker, to help you decide. An advantage of an insurance agent is that they aren’t on the payroll of an insurance company, and thus won’t lie or mislead you into getting an insurance plan that isn’t the best for your needs!
7. Improve Your Credit Score
A great tip for keeping auto insurance policy costs low is to limit the specialized, custom, and high-performance options and equipment installed on your vehicle. By doing this, you will appear to be at a lower claim risk, and will therefore be able to secure far more competitive rate quotes.
If your car is more than 10 years old, you might want to consider dropping the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance. You may be paying more for that portion then your older car is worth. Instead, save the extra money and use it when the time comes to buy a new automobile.
8. When calculating car insurance rates, consider the location.
A simple way to lower your auto insurance premiums is to ask if there is a discount for security features. There may be discounts for features such as steering wheel locks, auto tracking devices and auto alarms. These features lower the risk of loss for the insurance company and they may be happy to compensate you for it.
Do not drive if you do not have auto insurance. Having auto insurance can protect your finances, should you be in a car accident. The tips you’ve read in this article will help you find the auto insurance you need.
Do not try to cover up the fact that your injury or loss was self-inflicted. If you lie and say that your bag was stolen out of your hand, when it was actually stolen because you left it on the table while you were dancing, will prevent your insurance company from covering your loss and you could face insurance fraud charges.
9. Receive Discounts for Anti-Theft Device Installation
With any type of insurance, when you pay a higher deductible, it will reduce your premiums. You should have a higher deductible so that you don’t file any frivolous claims that could raise your premiums. If you have a high deductible, you are going to be less likely to file a frivolous claim.
Having a cell phone, especially a high-tech modern cell phone, is more and more common. So is the risk of having that cell phone robbed, lost or broken. Purchasing the insurance for your cell phone up front, is advised to halt the risk of headaches later, if anything happens to your cell phone.
10. Consult with Your Agent
Don’t just go with the first car insurance quote you hear. Of course, every insurance company is going to present its deal as if it were the best. It is important that you make an aggressive comparison to decide which one is the best for you and your situation. Compare policy benefits limits, ranges of coverage, premium quotes, and deductibles to determine which car insurance policy will suit you best.
If you get into a car accident make sure to call your auto insurance company right away. Hesitating can sometimes make insurance companies flag your account because they suspect that there is fraud involved. Do not waste any time and be sure to call them as soon as you get the first chance.
