It would be nice if getting car insurance were as easy as simply picking a company and sticking with them. While this approach may work for some who are OK with potentially paying more money than they should, it definitely does not work well for the average car owner. That's because the average car owner wants to get the best bang for their buck.
The internet has made the process of picking a car insurer very easy. By going to sites like Progressive.com, Statefarm.com, Esurance.com, and Geico.com, you can easily search through quotes for car insurance. Since car insurance can vary widely from company to company, it's important for you to get as many quotes as possible.
You may also want to go into your local car insurance business and ask for quotes from them. In some cases, local auto insurer quotes will be cheaper than those found on the internet.
Unfortunately, even if you get a ton of quotes, you may still find that the insurance is a lot more than what you're willing to pay. The good thing is, there's something you can do to get the cheapest quote possible: you can use the tips in the next section for getting cheaper quotes.
Tips for Lower Auto Insurance
Believe it or not, but there are things you can do on your part (besides having a good driving record) to increase the likelihood of getting lower car insurance quotes.
Tip #1: Accuracy
You've probably noticed how utterly daunting auto insurance quote forms are. They're full of several questions, and by the time you've gotten halfway through filling it out, you're ready to quit. Did you know that how accurately you fill out the form can have a great effect on how much you pay for insurance? Well, it can and it does have an effect. That's because there are certain discounts you may be eligible for (such as residency and marriage) and if you don't properly fill out the form, you'll miss out on these. So pay attention to every single question and fill it out to the best of your ability.
Tip #2: Shop Around
One auto insurer may charge you $1000 for auto insurance, while another one may charge you $650 for auto insurance with the same conditions. Insurance quotes greatly vary, which is why you should shop around before settling on any insurance plan.
Tip #3: Don't Get Too Much Coverage
It's definitely a good idea to get comprehensive coverage for a brand new car. It's not such a good idea, however, to get the same coverage for an older model. The amount of coverage you get obviously influences the overall cost of the insurance, so the less coverage you get, the lower the price. When the collision premium equals 10% or more of the car's value, it's time to consider dropping the collision premium which can save you hundreds of dollars.
Tip #4: Raise the Deductible
The deductible is what you'll pay should something happen to your car. If you set the deductible to $200, you may end up paying hundreds more in premiums each year. But if you raise the deductible to $500, you can save hundreds of dollars.
Tip #5: No Extra Coverage
Some aspects of auto insurance coverage aren't really worth the extra $100-$400 a year. One such coverage that is worth getting rid of is the Rental Reimbursement coverage. This coverage pays for rental costs on the outside chance that your car has to go to the shop for a day or two. It's really not worth the extra money you'll pay for the coverage, so it's something you should get rid of to save money.
Car Insurance Without License
Insufficient coverage. "State minimum required coverage equals to sufficient coverage" is a common thoughts in drivers' mind. They never think how the minimum required coverage is decided, simply the amount the state wants you to have. The state has not considered drivers' personal situation before setting it. If you own a home, or other substantial assets, the minimum car insurance cannot protect your home. Therefore, it is best to talk to your accountant or your income tax preparer before deciding the limits of your car insurance.
Under the situation that your car insurance does not sufficiently cover the damages, including medical expenses of injured parties, property damage repair or replace, in an at fault accident, you need to settle the bills personally. Although it does not mean the injured part to take y our home, you may still need to pay the bills by borrowing against your property.
Too much coverage. Some prospective car insurance policy owner may think of buying the highest limits of every coverage as a fool-proof approach. This may not be a bad choice, but the premium may be sky high for an average car insurance buyer.
Hoping not to buy the insurance. This is one of the biggest mistake to think about car insurance, while many drivers on U.S. roads still think in this way, even the states already require that insurance is needed. 57% of vehicles owned and registered in Florida do not have car insurance. And in some states, it is mandatory to provide the state minimum required car insurance proof before getting a license plate.
Some vehicle owners deal with the states requirement by purchasing the cheapest required car insurance when their licenses needs to be renewed. They simply lapsed the policy right after they have provided the insurance proof and have the licenses being renewed
You think you are insured, but in fact you are not. It happens more common than you think, and we always find it in divorce situation. While couples are busy settling the separation, you will not think about car insurance at that time. While rules for these cases deviate from state to state. Some states allow the sole applicant of car insurance policy to have the right or removing their partners at anytime, without prior notification.
There are still lots to pay attention in car insurance. Therefore, it is best to have regular contact with your insurance agent, adjusting your coverage when your situation changes, like buying a home, and you should also review your insurance coverage before renewal.
Both Dennis James & Susan Tanner are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Dennis James has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cars, Auto Insurance and Used Car. Dennis runs Car Dealer Check which has independent written by the car dealerships customers and a. Dennis James's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.