When deciding on an auto insurance company, your first impulse may be to simply look for the least expensive policy. But the insurance quote you receive will be based on many factors. You want to know all the ways to reduce cost while keeping adequate coverage. On the other hand, some choices that raise your cost may be wise ones in the long run.
The Internet is a great place to research auto insurance. All the major companies have websites. They give you quick and thorough information, even a quote on the coverage you have selected. Just put in the required information: make and model of your car, mileage per year, business or personal use, and so on. You will be asked for your location, your age, and possibly some other personal information. But you should never give your Social Security Number or other private information. The Internet is too riddled with scams and fake websites to entrust it with this.
In general, the Internet is very helpful in quickly researching what is available in auto insurance, but you are wise to contact a company by phone, or visit their local office, to complete the deal.
Here is one of the ways to save. Most insurers will give you a 10% reduction in premium if you bundle your auto and homeowner’s insurance together.
Another common deduction is if you drive less than 7,500 miles per year. This low mileage means you are exposed to risk less, and therefore expose the insurer to less risk. Be sure to claim this one if you can.
Theft prevention devices will almost always lower your premium. Again, these devices lower the insurer’s risk.
A great reduction available in most states is a 10% lowering of your rate after you take a safe driving course. These courses are widely available. One organization for seniors offers them at low or no cost. The 10% reduction lasts for three years, then you have to take the test again to renew it.
Almost any financial transaction is affected by your credit score. Auto insurance is no exception. It is all about risk. If you have a terrific record of paying your bills on time, the insurer sees little risk that you will pay your premiums on time.
A high deductible will lower your premium. But stop and think before you do this. It may mean a lot of out of pocket cost for you if you do eventually have an accident and need to file a claim.
These are some ways you may be able to reduce your auto insurance costs. You should take all the legitimate deductions you can, but without sacrificing the coverage you need.
Arizona auto insurance rates may seem pretty high compared to the rest of the country, but don’t think you can’t save some money. Here are a few tips to help you.
Bodily Injury Liability: $15,000 per person and $30,000 for more than one person per accident.
Property Damage Liability: $10,000 per accident.
Auto insurance rates for these coverages, however, can vary quite a bit from one company to the next. This is true whether you live in Phoenix, Mesa, Tucson or other parts of the state. Knowing this is knowing one of the secrets to savings: Compare quotes from different companies and you could save hundreds. The Insurance Information Institute recommends that you get at least three quotes from different companies.
One of the easiest ways to do this is online. You can request quotes individually from different company or agency Web sites. Or, use the convenience of an insurance comparison site. These sites don’t represent a single company. Instead, you fill out one online form and can receive several quotes back. Depending on the site, you may get these quotes from the company or from independent agents. Independent agents have the advantage of being able to do further shopping on your behalf for the lowest rates.
If you request quotes individually, just be sure to provide the same information for each quote so your comparisons are accurate. It helps to have your current auto policy handy, or at least jot down some information about your vehicles, the drivers and your desired coverages and deductibles.
Speaking of deductibles, here is another tip: The lower your deductible, the more you’ll pay on your premium. You can save quite a bit by increasing your deductibles if you feel confident that you can come up with the extra money in the event of a claim.
Another way to save is to take advantage of discounts. Many insurance companies will give you a discount if you insure your home and autos with them. This is a multi-policy discount. You may also earn discounts for driving fewer miles annually, taking a defensive driving course, earning good grades as a student, or being a senior. Make sure to ask about available discounts.
Here are some great tips that could save you money on auto insurance.
One way to save money on car insurance is to raise your deductible. A higher deductible will result in a lower premium. Just remember that you will need to pay the deductible in the event of the accident. So don’t raise it so high, that you can’t afford to pay it if you were ever to get in an accident.
Did you know that taking a course in Driver’s Safety could save you money on your policy? Many companies offer discounts to customers who complete an approved driving course. See if your insurance company could offer you a discount for this.
You may not be in the market for a new car right now, but when you are thinking of a purchasing a new vehicle, choose wisely. Don’t just look at the sticker price on the vehicle when shopping. Certain cars are more costly to insure than others, so you could end up paying a lot more in car insurance than you expected if you buy that nice sports car instead of the four door sedan. Cars that are more likely to be stolen or that have parts that cost more to replace will be more expensive to insure. Keep that in mind when you decide to purchase a new car.
You may be wondering how driving less will save you money on car insurance. Well, many companies offer discounts to people who meet certain low mileage requirements. Start carpooling to work or school. Not only could it save you money on car insurance, but it will also save you money on gas!
This is one of the most commonly asked questions that everyone wants answered. How can I lower my insurance premiums? Insurance companies have many factors for calculating insurance, and they all weigh these factors differently. These factors include type of car, driving history, and age of driver. They don’t let it known how heavily each factor is weighed, and some of these factors you cannot control. There are certain things that you can do that can help you lower your auto insurance rates.
The first thing that every driver can do to reduce their rate is to take a certified driver’s training course. This course usually consists of classroom sessions followed by in car sessions. The classroom session is usually a total of 40 hours, and the in car session being 12 hours. In order to pass the course, you must pass both the in-class exam and the road exam. Upon completion of the course you will be given a certificate that you will have to provide for the insurance companies. Driver’s training will lower your rates by about $300, so it basically pays for itself at the end of one year. This is especially important for young drivers who already have to deal with sky-high insurance rates.
If you have collision or comprehensive coverage, then you also have a deductible. A deductible is a fee you must pay when you make a claim before insurance will cover your damages. It is present to help try and prevent fraudulent claims. When you set up your policy you can select your deductible amount and common amounts include $250, $500, and $1000. When you raise your deductible, this reduces your chances of filing a claim, thus reducing your insurance rates. It is not a huge factor, but it can reduce your rates by a couple hundred dollars.
If increasing your deductible did not lower your insurance premium enough, you may want to consider dropping collision coverage altogether. This can be a good way to save money if you have an older car, as when you file a claim the insurance company goes by the ‘blue book’ value of the car. If your car is older, and you already have a large deductible, there might not be much left when you try to settle with the insurance company.
By installing anti-theft devices, you will lower the probability that your car will be stolen. The lower the probability for theft, the lower your auto insurance rates will be. However, this does not seem to decrease your insurance rate by a large amount, it only has a small amount.
If you have an insurance company that also offers home insurance, then you may want to think about combining your policies with the same company. If you insure you house and car with the same policy you will get a discount. The amount of this discount depends on the company however, but it can end up being a couple hundred dollars. Also the more cars you insure with a company the better your rates will be. So if you have a family, with multiple cars, ask about the multiple automobile discounts.
This does not apply to everyone and not every company offers it, but most big national companies will offer a discount for students. If you are in high school, or college, then you would be eligible for this discount, and it can end up being several hundred dollars. Some companies require that you maintain a minimal GPA, and require confirmation of this GPA via official transcripts. For students this is a great deal, as it helps lower the already sky high rates for young people.
Take note of each of these tips when looking for auto insurance or look online for some quotes employing these new tips. You can get a free online insurance quote at Auto Insurance Knowledge under the free quote section. This quote will compare all companies in your area and bring you back the best prices. See how the prices change when you alter the deductible or drop collision.