15 ways to save money on car insurance
The rising cost of fuel, tires, servicing and insurance make it
more expensive than ever to own a car. But did you know the price you pay for
your auto insurance can vary by hundreds of dollars, depending on a number of
variables?
1.
Comparison shop
Prices vary
from company to company. Find out the minimum amount of car insurance you must
carry. Obtain car insurance quotes from at least three insurers. But don't shop
on price alone: Look at the company's reputation, its customer service and the
type of coverages and discounts it offers.
2. Ask for higher deductibles
When you
file a claim, the deductible is the amount of money you pay before your
insurance kicks in. Higher deductibles mean lower premiums. For example,
increasing your de-ductible from $250 to $500 on collision and comprehensive
coverage could reduce that portion of your premium by 15 to 30 percent.
Increasing it to $1,000 can you save you up to 40 percent or more, according to
III. Just make sure you can pay it in the event that you need to make a claim.
3. Drop collision and/or comprehensive coverage on old cars
If your car
is totaled in an accident, you receive the actual cash value of the car.
Although car insurance companies use their own criteria to determine fair
market value for vehicles, you can get a ballpark estimate from NADA Guides.
For older cars, it may not make financial sense to pay premiums over many years
to maintain collision and comprehensive coverage. As a general rule, it doesn't
make sense to buy comprehensive and collision coverage for a car worth less
than $1,000, according to III.
4. Buy a "low-profile" car
Cars that
are expensive to repair or that have a high theft rate have higher car
insurance costs. Before purchasing a specific car, III recommends you consider
both the insurance costs and the overall safety record of the car. The
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety assigns ratings to cars based on their
safety features.
5. Take advantage of low-mileage discounts
Some car
insurance companies offer discounts to drivers who put fewer than a
predetermined number of miles on their vehicles each year. And driving less
makes financial sense. Low-mileage discounts can also apply to drivers who
carpool to work, according to III.
6. Consider insurance cost when making a move
Car
insurance costs tend to be lowest in rural communities and highest in cities,
where more traffic congestion occurs and the likelihood of theft increases.
7. Ask about car-safety discounts
Your
insurance agent can tell you know about discounts available to you if you have
certain safety features on your car. Many insurers give discounts for air bags,
antilock brakes, car alarms and more.
8 .Ask about
other discounts
Some
companies offer discounts if you insure more than one car with the same
insurance company. But shop around. It's possible to save more money buying
from two different insurance companies despite the multipolicy discount,
according to III. You may also get a discount for being good driver, taking
voluntary driver-training courses and being a long-time customer. Plus,
remember good-student discounts when you are insuring a child who drives.
Some insurers use global positioning
systems (GPS) to track how your teen drives (including speeding and sudden
breaking or accelerating) and where they go. You can even set the system to
send you an e-mail or text message when your teen arrives at a specific
address. The savings on your insurance can be anywhere from 10 to 15 percent.
Other discounts :
· Multiple
policies
· Being
a loyal, long-term policyholder
· Maintaining
a good credit rating and excellent payment record
· Safe
driving
· Good
grades
· Anti-theft
devices
9. Buy your home and auto policies from the same insurer
Many
insurers will give you a discount if you buy two or more types of coverage from
them, according to III.
10. Find out about group discounts
Sometimes
discounted car insurance policies are available through large employers,
professional groups and other organizations.
11. Maintain good credit
Your credit
rating may affect your car insurance rates. Use of credit scores in setting car
insurance prices varies by state and insurance company, but statistics show
that drivers with good credit records tend to make fewer insurance claims.
12. Consider spying on your teen driver
Some car
insurance companies have started offering discounts to customers who
participate their "monitoring programs" of teen drivers. Programs
vary by insurer, and not all com-panies offer them. Some "spying"
programs use cameras, installed inside the car, that provide you with video and
audio footage of your teen driving. The camera that is triggered "on"
by aggressive driving.
13. Update your policy
Changing life circumstances may make you eligible for lower rates. Keep your agent informed if you get married or are no longer insuring a young driver
14. Avoid duplicating medical coverage.
If you already have good health, life and disability insurance, buy only the minimum personal injury protection required by the state where you live.
If you already have good health, life and disability insurance, buy only the minimum personal injury protection required by the state where you live.
15. Opt for safety gear.
You can qualify for a discount on many policies if you have air bags, automatic seat belts, anti-lock brakes and daytime running lights. An approved alarm system or other anti-theft device can give you additional savings.
