Thursday, September 9, 2010
Saving money wherever you can is important to us all. Car Insurance should be no different. Do not assume that your insurance agent knows everything about you and your car. At HometownQuotes we go out of our way to find all the possible car insurance discounts that are available to each customer.
Drivers should take advantage of all discounts that many providers offer, that can significantly reduce the cost of car insurance. Understanding discounts and how they can affect car insurance premiums can help smart shoppers make better decisions about their coverage and possibly save themselves some money in the process.
Read below to identify possible discounts that could help you save money on car insurance this year. Other than discounts, there may be some other ways for you to save on your insurance premiums. We will go over several discounts that can help with your current situation.
First, there are discounts for Car Safety features. Certain states will give you discounts for anti-lock breaks. Make sure you know if it is two or four wheel anti-lock break vehicle. Automatic seatbelts and airbags are frequently discounted on your insurance premiums. In most states, a defensive driver class discount may apply. If the principal driver usually 55 years old or older has completed an approved defensive driving class a discount could apply. Keep in mind that most states will only approve this class if it is voluntary meaning that it was not the result of a violation or infraction.
Some insurers will give you a discount for having multiple cars. In some cases, this will only apply if you have two or more drivers. If you have a clean driving record, meaning you do not have any tickets, accidents or suspensions in the last three years (some companies require five years) then you could be eligible for a safe driver's discount.
Many insurance companies will reward you with staying with the same insurance company for many years without any accidents reported. They will offer you a renewal discount. It makes sense, you have carried insurance with a company for several years, and have not had an accident, your insurance company likes you and wants to reward and keep your business. Some companies honor you with a discount if you had prior limits on your previous policy. They discount you because they understand you are a better risk.
Conversely, if you do decided to change insurers a proof of prior insurance discount may apply. Most insurers request at least 6 months of consecutive insurance from the previous insurer. If you are a full-time student who meets certain grade requirements and are unmarried and usually under 25 years of age (some states the age is 21) you could be eligible for a good student discount. If you own a home, including condominium, town home, or mobile home, which is used as a principal residence, a discount could apply. Military personnel either currently active or retired from any branch of the US military a discount could apply. If your vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft device, a discount could apply.
You could lower the cost of your car insurance in other ways as well.
For people who own older cars, it may not be necessary or cost-effective to protect them with collision and comprehensive coverage. By comparing the book value of your vehicle and the premium that the insurer has offered, you may find that it cost as much for the insurance as it does for the vehicle. If the car is worth less than $2,000, you will probably spend more insuring it than it is worth. The whole idea of driving an older car is to save money, so why not get what is coming to you.
In addition, keep in mind that the type of vehicle you buy could greatly affect your premium. A flashy red sports car is usually going to cost more to insure than a mid sized sedan. This is also true of vehicles that are on the list of most stolen. There are many ways that policyholders can save on their insurance. Knowing more about auto policies and premiums can help consumers take advantage of less obvious discounts while ensuring that they have the appropriate protection for their vehicles. The last way to save is to assume more risk. If you chose higher deductible on your Personal Injury Protection or Comprehensive and collision coverage will lower your premium as well. The deductible is the amount of money you have to pay before your insurance company begins paying the rest.
Understanding how discounts affect your car insurance rates is important to save you money.
Chances are you are paying too much on car insurance. How can I say that? Simple. Most people can't be bothered to research short-term insurance companies. There is no reason in today's technological age for anyone to pay too much for insurance. The Internet is a fantastic tool that's available to most people and it makes researching our choices as easy as one, two, three!
So why don't we? If we all realize that the Internet can force insurance companies to be more competitive, they will do just that. They will have to offer more comprehensive packages and at lower rates. Please keep in mind the following list when assessing your car insurance policy that may save you quite a lot of money at the end of the day.
There are five main ways to lower your insurance premiums. They are:
1. Keep your driver's record clean.
2. Research all the discounts you qualify for, and claim them!
3. Don't drive 'high risk' vehicles and make sure you equip your car with safety devices that will lower your monthly premium.
4. Adjust your coverage to carry more risk i.e. Take a higher excesses.
5. Shop around for a good, low cost insurance provider.
There are a number of discounts you may qualify for, and I'll go over them briefly...
Safety devices and assuming more risk
Fit your vehicle with a tracking device (if you can afford it), an alarm, gear lock and as many different safety devices as you possibly can. This will more than likely lower your monthly premium considerably. Also, most insurance companies have deals worked out with vehicle tracking companies that will offer you a lower monthly subscription.
Also, consider a higher excess. You are not planning on being in an accident or having your car stolen. If things worked like that, we wouldn't need insurance in the first place! Always remembering to drive cautiously and always obeying the traffic laws will lower your risk considerably and make the chances of you having to pay over a large excess much lower.
Combined insurance and renewal rates
Try and insure all your home contents and cars on the same policy. This will most likely save you a significant chunk of cash every month. Also, ask for a discount after a few years of claim-free insurance, as you'll be a loyal customer. They probably won't want to lose you as a customer and will lower your premiums.
Occupations that are lower risk
It sounds silly, but over the years insurers have created a risk profile of prospective clients based on their occupation. Architects and engineers, for instance, are less likely to get into accidents than for instance, a DJ or a bartender.
It's never a bad idea to ask your prospective insurer if your occupation will affect your premiums.
Hopefully you will take to heart all or some of the tips provided in this article, but always 'Shop Around'! To find the lowest possible car insurance premiums you will need to compare, compare and compare some more! Good luck.
Prepare for the anxiety attacks now, before your teenager gets their drivers license. Chances are that they will want to spend some time behind the wheel of your car as you worry over their safety and skyrocketing auto insurance premiums. It is statistically proven that teenagers are far more likely to be involved in a collision than any other driver on the road. This makes premiums for teen drivers the highest, which is why you need to search for cheap car insurance quotes. And you can start now with the helpful strategies listed in this article.
First and foremost, you should sign your teen driver up to your policy. It may sound ludicrous to do so, since he or she is statistically likely to bump up your insurance rate. However, it’s cheaper to do so, since you will save money for signing up a new driver to your auto insurance policy. To keep cost down even further, you and your teen should also do the following:
Practice safe driving. This applies to both you and your teen. Your teen may be inexperienced behind the wheel, but keep in mind, too that you are his ultimate role model. Therefore, you should be a living example to how to drive appropriately on the road. The two of you doing this together will help keep your auto insurance bill down even further.
Maintain good grades. Your teen may be going through high school, and you want the best from him or her. And your auto insurance company does, too. Ask whether or not if they have a “good student” discount. It will lower your premium by encourage your student to maintain good grades.
Buy an older and/or used car. Older vehicles are less expensive, which is ideal for your teen to drive. Any expensive vehicles should be driven by you, the experienced driver, since these actions will reduce premium costs.
Have your teen take driver’s education. This course will help teens drive better on the road, and auto insurance companies will give you and your teen a discount, if he or she passes.
Raise the deductible on your policy. Your deductible (out-of-pocket expenses for your claim, before your insurer pays the rest) should be raised to lower your premium.
Drop coverage when your teen goes to college. When your teen goes to college, most likely – unless they commute from home – they will not need to be on your auto insurance plan, if they plan on buying their own auto policy. No matter what though, teens must have an auto insurance policy, since it’s against the law to drive without one.
Shop for another insurer. Perhaps it’s time to switch insurers, if your current provider is giving you a high rate. It will allow you and your teen to find a rate that’s reasonable, especially if the new policy has a great coverage plan.
These strategies will help reduce costs associated with teen driving. Be sure to also question your insurance agent about discounts or other cost-reducing strategies.