|
|
10 Ways To Lower Your Auto InsuranceBy Pete Lance
Nowadays, auto insurance is really expensive. A typical insurance policy can cost a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars a year. And the insurance rates you pay are hugely dependent on the insurance company or agent, your age, your car type, your driving record, and even the area you reside in!
You should never go without auto insurance though, despite the costs. Almost all the states require you to protect yourself with a minimum amount of liability coverage. Naturally, the bare minimum is not adequate enough for the average car owner. And as you add in additional coverage for your car, you realize that you will be paying a fairly large sum annually.
So, understanding auto insurance can actually help you to decide on a suitable insurance policy that won't vacuum clean your wallet! Here, we have gathered 10 of the best tips for lowering your auto insurance, by as much as 40%!
Always compare insurance policies. There are states which regulate auto insurance rates, but the insurance premiums can vary by hundreds of dollars for the exact same coverage. It is definitely worthwhile to shop around. The first thing you can do is to check with your state insurance department. They often provide information about the coverage you need, as well as sample rates from the biggest companies. You can also ask your friends or look up the yellow pages. Checking consumer guides and asking insurance agents can pay off as well. You can easily find out the price range for your insurance policy, as well as discover the lowest prices in town.
However, you should not be shopping based on price along. The insurance company should provide good service at the best price. Excellent personal service is available as well, and they provide added conveniences, although they cost a fair bit more. Ask the company how you can lower your costs, and also check their financial ratings. The rule of thumb is always to get three price quotes from three different companies, and pick the one with the best value.
It can also be a good idea to increase your deductibles. When you file a claim, the deductible is the amount you pay before the insurance company pays for the rest of the damage. A higher deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage can lead to a much lower premium. For example, increasing your deductible from $200 to $400 can reduce your premiums by up to 25%. However, you must ensure that you have the financial resources to handle the largest deductible when the time comes.
Remove certain types of coverage from your policy. Almost all the states require liability coverage for your car, but the rest of the coverage is probably dispensable. However, you do not want to be underinsured if you're in an accident, so it isn't advisable to remove all of your additional coverage. Optional coverage includes medical payments, uninsured motorist, collision, and comprehensive coverage.
Drop collision and comprehensive coverage for older cars. If you drive an older car that's worth less than $2,000, it's probably more cost-effective to drop collision and comprehensive coverage since you'll probably pay more for the coverage than you'll collect for a claim. You can find out the worth of your car by asking auto dealers and banks.
Make sure your credit report looks good. Car insurance companies often look at your credit history as there is a correlation between the risk to the company and your credit history. If you pay your bills on time and maintain a good credit history, you can enjoy lower insurance rates.
Drive less. Insurance companies often offer low-mileage discounts to motorists who drive less than a predetermined number of miles each year. You can use public transportation more often, car-pool with friends, and take the train or a plane instead of driving to another state. And you'll save on more than your coverage as you'll need to spend less on gasoline (of which prices are incredibly high).
Maintain a clean driving record. The company will give you a price break and you can save on your insurance policy after a specified period of a clean driving record. This means that you have no accidents, no serious driving violations etc, during this period of time. The simplest and surefire way to qualify for this discount is to drive carefully and defensively all the time.
Choose a low-profile car. Insurance rates vary among difference models of vehicles. Generally, sports cars and high-performance cars tend to cost more to insure, mainly because they represent more risk of theft and the drivers are often the people who drive more recklessly. Newer cars will cost more to repair or replace than older ones, so naturally they can more to insure. Low-risk vehicles include station wagons and sedans.
Ask about safety and security discounts. The insurance companies sometimes offer discounts on your insurance if your car is equipped with the following: anti-lock brakes, air bags, automatic seat belts, car alarms, tracking systems. These reduce the injury risk to you, as well as the chances of your car being vandalized or stolen.
Finally, ask about other discounts. You may receive a discount if you buy more than one type of insurance from the same company or if you insure multiple cars under the same policy or company. You may also receive discounts for taking a defensive driving course, staying with the same company for a few years, being a driver over 50, good-student discounts, and being an AAA member. If you already have adequate health insurance, you can also eliminate paying for duplicate medical coverage, thus lowering your personal injury protection costs by a substantial amount.
|
Two New Credit Cards from American Express Put More Cash in Canadians' Wallets
Two New Credit Cards from American Express Put More Cash in Canadians' Wallets
American Airlines Group Reports August Traffic Results
FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines Group (NASDAQ: AAL) today reported August 2014 and year-to-date traffic results. American Airlines Group's total revenue passenger miles ...
Study Grades Credit Card Auto Rental Insurance Coverages
While all four major card networks provide some form of rental car insurance coverage to their customers, types and levels of coverage vary greatly by card, according to the ?2014 Credit Card Auto Rental Insurance Report? by CardHub, an online credit card search and compare tool.
Renting a car? Know whether your card adds insurance
Renting a car can put your credit card benefits into play, but only if you know what's covered and avoid the exclusions
Car & Truck Rental News
Browse the latest breaking news across the automotive rental industry covering fleet acquisition, remarketing, rental software, GPS & telematics, fleet insurance and financing, rental operations, risk management, technological innovations and shifting market conditions.
TrueCar Now Serving Targeted Manufacturer Incentives To Customers Of Insurance Affinity Partners
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- TrueCar, Inc. (TRUE), the negotiation-free car buying and selling platform, today announced that it has launched major enhancements to the auto buying programs for its insurance affinity partners, specifically the integration of exclusive incentives from automakers uniquely tailored to the needs of total-loss customers. Through the TrueCar ...
Ways to Waste Your Money - Slide Show
These dates are just manufacturers' best guess of when food is at peak quality and are not related to safety, according to Emily M. Broad Leib, director of the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic. To learn more, see Confusing Packages Lead to Wasted Food, Money. Paying Checking Account Fees Yes, it is getting harder to find a free checking account with no strings attached. Community ...
30 ways to waste your money
Almost all of us have holes in our budgets that can quickly add up to big bucks.
Two Tradewinds beach resort executives get prison time for embezzlement
At a bustling hotel like Tradewinds Islands Resorts on St. Pete Beach, you need a lot of computers to keep the business humming.
Sprint Cup qualifying order for Richmond
RELATED: Play NASCAR Fantasy Live " Sign up for RaceView today
|
|
Best Sellers from
|
