10 Ways to Lower Your Auto Insurance


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.

Pete Lance is the founder of http://www.USGasTracker.org, a premier company which helps the consumer save money on gasoline. Thousands of gas stations across the nation are tracked daily to guarantee the lowest prices on gasoline anywhere in the United States.


MORE RESOURCES:

NEWS.com.au

Complaints about health insurance premiums up 114pc
NEWS.com.au, Australia - 1 hour ago
The Private Health Insurance Ombudsman's latest quarterly bulletin shows there were 62 complaints about premium increases in the first three months of 2008, ...
Will Swan Budget see health insurance customers fly? Money AU
Private health cover: sliced and diced? ABC Online
Medicare shift will see 500000 ditch private cover The Age
ABC Online - The Age
all 270 news articles


WHDH-TV

Contractors, insurance firms gouging taxpayers, panel says
The Associated Press - 10 hours ago
Insurance companies alone have collected nearly $600 million in excessive profits over the past five years, says a Democratic staff report from the House ...
Pentagon workers' comp plan blasted CNN
US House committee investigates potential insurance fraud in Iraq JURIST
Panel says contractors, insurance firms gouging taxpayers The Associated Press
all 181 news articles


School emloyee insurance bill sent to Pawlenty
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - 1 hour ago
Tim Pawlenty a bill that would create a statewide health insurance pool for public school employees. Whether Pawlenty will veto it, as he did last year, ...
Bill requires insurance companies to talk about flood coverage Winona Daily News
all 12 news articles


China Earthquake $20 Billion Damages Expose an Insurance Abyss
Bloomberg - 3 hours ago
By Josephine Lau May 16 (Bloomberg) -- The most powerful earthquake in China since 1950 shows the nation's insurance industry is decades behind those of the ...
Insurers not jolted by quake China Daily
Chinese shares tumble 2.58% in the morning trade Economic Times
all 4 news articles


NJ senators push mandated insurance for kids
Newsday, NY - 9 hours ago
By TOM HESTER Jr. | AP Writer TRENTON, NJ - All New Jersey children would have to have health insurance and all taxpayers would have to annually prove they ...
State committee to consider bill for expanded health insurance The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
Vitale FamilyCare Expansion Bill Approved In Committee PolitickerNJ
PREVIEW - Senate Health Committee To Consider Expanded Familycare ... PolitickerNJ
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
all 14 news articles


Insurance limit hurts Beechwood victims
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 14 hours ago
THE collapsed building company Beechwood Homes has been pronounced insolvent by its insurer, paving the way for insurance claims by consumers trapped in ...
'False hope' offered to Beechwood collapse victims ABC Online
Beechwood Homes under administration The Age
NSW home builder collapses SmartCompany.com.au
ABC Online - Sydney Morning Herald
all 26 news articles


Business Wire (press release)

New York says cancelling bond insurance legal
Reuters - 5 hours ago
by Lisa Lambert WASHINGTON (Reuters) - US municipal bond issuers may cancel their bond insurance without risk of breaking the law under certain conditions, ...
Bond insurer MBIA reports $2.4 billion loss Baltimore Sun
MBIA, Ambac Losses Elevate Aaa Concern, Moody's Says (Update3) Bloomberg
MBIA Rises, Impairment Loss Declines 123Jump.com
FT Alphaville - Euroweek.com
all 257 news articles


Crain's Chicago Business

Florida insurance commissioner still reviewing Allstate deal
Tallahassee Democrat, FL - 9 hours ago
By Paul Flemming • Florida Capital Bureau • May 15, 2008 Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty and his legal team today continue to review a proposed deal ...
Allstate insurance ban is upheld Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Florida court reaffirms Allstate suspension Reuters
Florida court reaffirms Allstate suspension Forbes
Palm Beach Post - Bizjournals.com
all 125 news articles


Clients cheer as insurance gets the Net edge
Economic Times, India - 8 hours ago
MUMBAI: The benefits of de-tariffing in non-life insurance is finally trickling down to individuals. Insurance brokers have started providing aggregations ...


NH man sentenced to community service for insurance fraud
Boston Globe, United States - 5 hours ago
... taking workers' compensation payments when he was able to work, has to write an apology to his insurance carrier and do 200 hours of community service. ...

insurance - Google News

site map
Anzsana.org © 2005 - Partners

snus | wine | minolta printers | snus | afbestillingsrejse