10 Ways To Lower Your Auto Insurance
 by: 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.

About The Author

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 for any zip code in the United States.

petelance1@yahoo.com

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Hope you enjoy the read as much as I did and please if you have something to say, use the comments form below to let everyone know your thoughts.

Have a great day!

Steven John

Amarillo Texas

In the past, you literally have to call every agent in the phone book to get an automobile insurance quote in Amarillo Texas. But in today’s technology, the Internet can help you and your parents get car insurance rates in seconds and even companies all at once. But if your parents still prefer to get quotes thru an automobile car insurance broker, then try to meet halfway. You may still check online, compare quotes and once you find a car insurance company, you can also check if they have an agent or a broker -then you set an appointment for your parents.

You asked about the difference between a car insurance agent and an automobile car insurance broker in Amarillo Texas. Well, in many aspects, the two terms both mean a person or company that markets and sells insurance to the public. But to put it simply, a car insurance agent is a person who is either employed by or is acting on behalf of a car insurance company. An automobile insurance broker on the other hand, is an independent liaison who uses his expertise in the field of car insurance to set up a beneficial agreement between an insurance company and the prospect customer.

Others think that a car insurance agent may be biased to the insurance company that he represents, but is also inclined to know more about the product that he is selling than an automobile insurance broker who represents several insurance companies. But the reality is; both agents and brokers are paid on commission by the insurance company for each month that their clients remain insured. So whether you choose an agent or a broker, what’s important is that your parents get the best car insurance quotes available.

I was required to go to a DUI school. After I completed this do I need to give the certificate of completion to my car insurance provider? Will this lower my car insurance premium?

William

Amarillo TX

If you are required to go to DUI school or was required to take driving course due to your driving under the influence DUI conviction, then I do not think this will help to lower your car insurance premium. Typically, going to DUI school after conviction is part of the penalties that is ordered by the court. This depends on which state are you in.

States differ on their laws with regards to DUI school. Most states would require someone to take or attend DUI class as part of their reinstatement process of their drivers license. Some states would require anyone with DUI conviction to attend DUI class.

I suggest that you speak with your current car insurance agent if they will need you to provide them the certificate of completion once you finished the DUI class. I do not think that attending DUI class would lower your car insurance rate since it was required by the state as part of the penalty for your DUI conviction. If you want to lower your car insurance premium, you may contact your car insurance company and what discounts may be available to you.

Jenny

Amarillo, TX

Your cousin can definitely avail of teacher discount auto insurance. This discount is offered to those who are teachers by profession like those who are certified by your state, college or university professors and alike.

Car insurance companies offer a teacher discount auto insurance because studies showed that drivers with such profession are found to be careful drivers thus they have lower chances of getting involved in car accidents.

It is important that your cousin check with his car insurance agent to avail of the teacher discount auto insurance to help him save a lot of money. It is a known fact that teacher’s income is not that high here in Texas. In fact, about 25% of Texas teaches hold two jobs just to make ends meet. If your cousin avails of this teacher discount auto insurance, he could get as much as 10-30 % discount on the insurance’s base rate.

In addition, your cousin could also check on the websites to find out more about getting auto insurance rates for teachers. All he needs to do is to enter his zip code here and he’ll get the results right away!