Auto Insurance – How to Keep The Premium Down

Auto Insurance – Don’t Pay Too Much

All Auto insurance premiums and costs are based on statistics. These statistics involve analyzing accident rates and theft rates for the different makes and models of automobiles, under differing circumstances. It is for this reason that auto insurance is significantly more expensive for teenagers than it is for adults. But there are many factors that determine the cost of your auto insurance premium.

Lets take a look at the main contributing factors.

A.Deductible. Having a low or zero deductible on your auto insurance will significantly increase the cost of the policy. This is of course a tradeoff, because you are gambling on the fact that you won’t need to make a claim. You can pay up to 10% less on your annual premiums buy increasing the deductible. But a word of warning, if the time arrives to make a claim then you will be digging deeper into your pockets to pay for the larger deductible.

B.Crime Rate . If you are living in an area that statistically has high theft rates for your make and model of vehicle, then you will pay a higher premium. This is because your car has a much higher liklihood of being stolen, vandalized, or involved in an accident. There is not much you can do about this, you shouldn’t move location just to cut your auto insurance costs. Don’t make the mistake of asking one of your family who live in the rural if you can use their address for your auto insurance. If the insurance company discovers this, you may be in trouble when its time to make a claim.

C.Garage Parking. The majority of auto insurance companies will give you to a slight premium reduction because cars parked in a garage are less likely to be stolen, vandalized, or damaged.

D.Mileage. Some companies have a low milage discount if you drive less than a certain number of miles in a year. This is often difficult to become eligible for because you will need to limit your driving in order to qualify.

E.Anti-theft Alarms Most auto insurance companies offer policy discounts if your car is equipped with a safety device or antitheft device

F.Shop around to find the cheapest auto insurance available. Get a quote from every reputable auto insurance company in your town or city. Most reputable insurance companies are on the internet and its easy to get online quotes.

F.Insurance Consolidation. Most insurance companies will give you significant discounts if you have all your insurance policies with the same company.

G.Driving Courses. Most companies are now reducing the policy for people who take a driver education course. This mainly applies to new drivers. Insurance companies like to know that you are driver educated and therefore statistically have less liklihood of an accident.

H.Being Smart Helps. Many car insurance companies are now offering discounts for higher than average grade students.

7.No Claim Bonus. Most insurance companies will reduce the premium every year if you don’t make a claim. Every year your premium will reduce if you do not have an accident.

8.Sports Cars Pay The Price. If you have a high performace sports car then you better dig deep. Sports cars and up market luxurious cars are the most expense to insure. Many times the cost can be double or more than a standard family car.

So finally, to save on your auto insurance premium costs its a matter of keeping the above factors at a level that are in your favor.

Save money on your auto insurance: Money-saving car insurance tips

Save money on your auto insurance: Money-saving car insurance tips

Are you paying too much for your auto insurance? If you believe you are paying too much for your current auto insurance coverage then the following suggestions may help you save money:

1. Shop around
Sure, youve read this tip everywhere but its true. Only by shopping around for auto insurance coverage and getting quotes on premiums from several insurance companies will you be able to know for certain you are getting your car insurance coverage at the best available rate.

When shopping for your auto insurance policy, remember to compare more than insurance rates. Ask about how insurance claims are approved and processed, and how quickly theyre paid. Look into each insurers financial stability (there are independent rating services that can help you with this.) Remember, during times of stress like after an accident you will be dealing with the insurance company and youll want to make sure youll be helped when you need it most.

2. Select a higher insurance deductible
When you file a claim, a deductible is the amount you pay first before your insurer pays the remaining balance. Often people select lower deductibles, so when they have to submit a claim, their out-of-pocket expenses are minimal. But the truth is, the higher your collision and comprehensive deductibles the lower your auto insurance premium. The savings by increasing your deductible to say 1,000 from 250 are significantyou can save hundreds of pounds off your insurance premium.

Of course, the flipside is that if you should have to submit an insurance claim you are responsible for paying the deductible. So select the maximum deductible you can afford to paythe higher the better because the difference in your car insurance premiums will mean more cash in your pocket.

3. Remove or reduce coverage on older vehicles
If your car is getting up there in age, you may want to think about dropping the collision or comprehensive coverage (or both) on your policy. You need to think about this one though – it’s not always a clear-cut decision. You need to weigh the cost of the two coverages with the value of your car and your chosen deductibles. For example, if you had a 10-year-old car thats worth about 1000, and your deductible was 1000, the coverage is not actually going to help you.

4. Ask about discounts
Most insurance companies offer discounts. While the availability of discounts will vary depending on your insurer, where you live and whether you meet eligibility, make sure to ask if there are any discounts you can take advantage of. The following is a list of a few of the more common discounts (if available in your state, each insurer will have different eligibility requirements):

Multi-vehicle discount – available if you insure multiple vehicles with the same insurer
Multi-line discount – available if you insure your home and auto with the same insurer
Good driver discount – if you have not had an accident or ticket in a long time
Good student discount – if youre a student with good grades, usually about a B average
Safe driver discount – if youve taken and passed an accredited driver safety course
Anti-theft discount – if your vehicle has certain anti-theft devices installed
Safe vehicle discount – if your vehicle has certain extra safety features
Retiree discount – if youve reached a certain age, usually 50 or 55
Low mileage discount – if your vehicle is not driven often
Occupational discount – if you work in a certain field or hold a certain degree
Auto club discount – if you are a member of an auto club, like AAA
Association discount – if you belong to certain associations, like your alma mater
Away-at-school discount if your child is attending school out of town

5. Choose a car that costs less to insure
If youre purchasing a new car and have narrowed it down to two or three options, compare the auto insurance rates of each to see if there is a notable difference in the cost to insure. Remember, insurance rates are more for vehicles with high theft rates and repair costs. If there is a significant difference in cost to insure your first choice car, you may have to reconsider.

6. Drive safely
OK, this one is obvious but true. Drivers with no accidents, tickets or insurance claims almost always pay less for their auto insurance coverage. Your driving record is an influential factor in determining your insurance rate. Tickets and at-fault accidents affect your insurance rates for years. With a less than perfect driving record, you can find yourself paying a lot of extra insurance premium over the years.

How to Lower Your Auto Insurance Premiums

People invest a good share of their hard earned money on material assets such as house, automobile etc. So it is quite essential to secure these things and therefore get them insured. Auto insurance is akin to health insurance. Just as the latter compensates for any attack on ones health, similarly the former reimburses for any damage to your vehicle and also for its loss. With the aid of auto insurance you can keep your car in a good shape and even by a new car in case your insured car gets stolen or lost.

There are lots of companies or agencies that offer auto insurance policy. People prefer the policy that provides maximum benefits and demand less premium. The insurance premium of your vehicle is adjudicated by the parameters of safety, repair costs and theft problems etc. So in order to have low premium rates make sure that you consider these crucial factors carefully.

The kind of car you drive or desire to purchase affects the cost of coverage for any physical damage happening to it. Insurance companies (such as CLEAR or Canadian Loss Experience Automobile Rating) analyze a vehicle in terms of its safety records and wear and tear expenditure. If the repair and replacement chances and so expense is quite high, you are required to pay a good amount of premium for your mode of transport. The premium for the cars that have a good design, are carved in a manner that there are less chances of its being stolen and also run fewer risks of damage or impairment is significantly low. So if you really crave for low premiums, be prudent in your choice of vehicle. In case of purchasing a car, try to go with one that has a good efficiency and built, perfect design and that fetches you least trouble.

Besides the physical and mechanical features of the automobile, the amount of attention you pay to it contributes greatly to its insurance and your happiness. In other words it is very essential for the car owner to prevent it from theft as much as he can. Make sure that the locks of your car are working properly especially if it is an old car. In 2000 CLEAR had revealed that old cars were more susceptible to theft than the new ones. It can be because of their debilitating physical condition and lack of heed people pay to these cars.
Alongwith this it is also very important that you drive your vehicle safely and maintain it well.

Apart from these, one who seeks to take an automobile insurance should compare the policies of different companies, make a complete survey of the market first and then decide which policy to take.

For more information about points that should be borne in mind prior to purchasing a vehicle, you can contact the Insurance Bureau of Canada. At the end what is to be considered is the fact that lower claims entail lower premiums and if the car that you desire has a negative record you will definitely end up paying a good amount for it. So do think of the safety, damage and repair costs and also the theft issue regarding in context of your coveted car.

7 Easy Ways To Slash Your Auto Insurance Costs

Here’s 7 easy ways to get the best possible auto insurance deal.

* Multiple Quotes

Get multiple quotes – use the internet and call a few brokers. It’s easy to gather some good comparison quotes.

Remember to get different types of quotes e.g one from a direct-sell insurance company; another from an offline broker who keeps a database of quotes; and a couple from the internet.

Cheapest might not mean best. Will they pay out if you make a claim ? How financially secure ? How reputable ? Check around with family and friends, and look for online reviews.

* Different type of car

Insurance costs vary depending on car type. Obviously, that 100k sports model costs more to insure than your average runabout. If you’re planning to buy a new car, check insurance costs before you buy. I once set my heart on a beautiful, high performance, highly tuned Pontiac.

Luckily I checked the auto insurance before I bought it, because I couldn’t get insurance. Every broker, every insurance company flat turned me down because I lived in a high car-crime area. So I had to forget the car of my dreams until I moved up-town.

* Age and Value of Car

Maybe you’re buying a used car ? Maybe your car saw better days a few years ago, and now values much lower ? So why pay for high-priced auto insurance ? In particular, do you still need fully comprehensive coverage ?

A good rule of thumb multiplies insurance premium by 10, and compares that figure with your car value. So if you’re quoted 1000 premium and your car is worth less than 10,000 you may want to think if comprehensive represents good value. If you drop collision andor comprehensive coverage, you should get big savings.

* Higher deductibles (excess charges)

Most auto insurance companies use deductibles to keep policy cost down. Deductibles, or excess charges, show what you pay before your auto insurance policy kicks in. Try requesting quotes with different levels of deductibles, and see how your quotes vary.

Most internet quote forms contain a box where you can specify preferred level of deductibles. Ask your broker his recommended level. For example, going from 250 to 500 deductible can slash your insurance costs by 20% or more. Go to 1000 and you save a lot of money. But you must pay the deductible if you need to make a claim !

* Multiple Insurances

I guess this might come under the ‘Get Multiple Quotes’ heading, but it’s still worth mentioning separately. You usually get an insurance break if you buy multiple policies with the same insurer.

This might mean multiple vehicles, or homeowner and auto insurance. Either way it’s worth asking about multi-policy discounts.

* Low Mileage

More and more people work at home. No more commuting. Fewer business trips. Low mileage on your car. Maybe you do travel to work, but car pool ?

Either way, look for low mileage discounts.

* Good Driving Record

A good driving record always reduces your auto insurance costs. Keep a clean drivers license. Don’t speed, don’t drive dangerously, and you’ll save money (apart from other benefits !)

* Bonus Tip

Okay, I said ‘7 Ways…’, but here’s some extra tips. Fit anti-theft devices to your car. Go on an advanced driver training course. Use daytime running lights. If you’re a college student away from home, consider adding to parents policy.

This short article covers the things you must consider when shopping for auto insurance. Follow these tips and you’ll slash your auto insurance costs.

5 Quickest ways to lower your Auto Insurance Premium

Are you looking for ways to lower your Auto Insurance Premium? Auto insurance rates can spiral depending upon factors that include your age, past driving record, and other factors such as credit history. However, the trick is to find ways to lower the annual pay-off. We have pulled up for you the 5 quickest ways to lower your Auto Insurance Premium.

Tip 1:Hike up your deductible

Stop trying to get the lowest deductible, instead go in for a comfortably higher out of pocket payment plan. Deductible is the amount that you would pay before your insurance policy kicks in. This is an easy way to reduce your periodic premium amount, however, be warned, in such a case, if something happens to your vehicle – you need to shell out more to cover the initial expenses, prior to going in for a claim.

Tip 2:Park your vehicle in a garage

One of the simplest ways to cut down on insurance premium is to park your vehicle in a garage, personal or commercial establishments. This helps in knocking off, in some cases, close to 20% of the premium. In a garage, the chances of your vehicle getting stolen or sideswiped are considerably lower. From a transaction perspective, parking in a garage could mean a difference between a preferred rate and a standard rate.

Tip 3:Shop around and bargain

Nothing beats the traditional shop around to bargain. Make sure you at least have three to four price quotes with you, prior to fixing on the service provider. Ensure that you are not shopping for price alone, but the whole deal.

Tip 4:Take a Defensive Driving Course

Not many people are aware of this. By volunteering for a state-approved defensive driving course, you can avail discounts in premium of up to 10%. However, do cross check with your insurer on this.

Tip 5:Downsizing Coverage

Well, downsizing coverage is perhaps the easiest way to lower your auto insurance premium. However, we suggest you to be careful and prudent, while taking this decision. This might save money, but, would also limit coverage.

Understanding Your Auto Insurance

Reading auto insurance policies can be like trying to decipher advanced calculus. It’s really not that difficult if you understand a few basic terms. Collision, Comprehensive, Bodily Injury Liability and Property Injury Liability are the main terms you need to fully understand.

You’ll appreciate Collision Coverage in the event you need repairs or replacements if your vehicle collides with another vehicle or property. The higher the deductible you elect, the lower your premiums will cost you. If you’re at fault for something, well of course it would still be an accident, as I doubt you’d plan to run into that guard rail, but how much would you be able to afford to pay out of pocket for repairs? 250? 500? 1,000? Just like medical insurance, you’d have to pay that deductible amount first and then the insurance company would pay for the remaining charges for the repair.

Another term to become intimately familiar with is Comprehensive Coverage. This is the coverage that pays for damage caused from falling objects, fire, certain natural disasters, theft and vandalism. Deductibles work the same way as with Collision; the more out of pocket costs to you, the less your insurance premium.

In addition to knowing how much Collision and Comprehensive coverage you have, you’ll want to know about your liability coverage. Let’s say you rear-end another driver. Or your foot slips off the brake onto the gas pedal and you plow down a mailbox. Your liability coverage will kick in and pay for the damages that you caused with your insured vehicle. You liability coverage will, or could, include bodily injury (people) and property damage.

You don’t want to go without Bodily Injury Coverage. If you were at fault in an accident and others involved needed to go to the hospital andor lost wages from missing work, those costs would come out of your pocket if you are not insured with Bodily Injury Coverage. It doesn’t take a genius to know how quickly those amounts can add up. This type of coverage can also help you in the event the other party takes legal action against you. Many states require you to carry Bodily Injury Coverage.

The other part of liability includes Property Damage coverage. Can you imagine how much it might cost should you accidentally drive into the side of someone’s home? You wouldn’t want to be caught without property damage insurance should you need to pay for repairs to another vehicle, building or anything else you might hit. As with Bodily Injury coverage, Property Damage coverage also helps protect you in the event of a related lawsuit.

Every policy will have its limits and various degrees of coverage. It’s important that you understand the basics of what you are paying for and why it is necessary. No one plans for an accident, be prepared!

Top 5 Ways to Save Money on Your Auto Insurance.

Top 5 Ways to Save Money on Your Auto Insurance.

Auto insurance is one of those must-haves in life. In most states, it is required by law that you carry at least the minimum coverage. There’s no way around this, so you might as well take advantage of the money-saving tips below to make the most of your insurance experience.

Tip Number One: Consider Your Vehicle’s Value

Let’s face it, automobiles depreciate (or lose value) very quickly. When you drive your vehicle from the car lot brand new, the “new” value goes down suddenly to a “used” value. No matter how well you take care of your car, the value will decrease tremendously over a short period of time.

If you’ve paid off all debts owed on your vehicle, find out from your previous lender the estimated book value. If this amount equals the same or less than what your collision insurance premium is going to cost you, then there’s no reason to carry collision coverage. You would basically be paying the total value of your car each year, whether you have an accidentor not. You can save tremendously on your auto insurance premium by leaving off the collision if this is the case with your vehicle.

Tip Number Two: Avoid Traffic Tickets

Speeding tickets or moving violations are the number one causes of high insurance rates. When you drive at high speeds or disregard traffic rules, you are considered an “at-risk” driver, and your insurance rates are raised for several years as a result. Driving safely and following the rules of the road will keep your insurance rates at a low and enjoyable amount.

Tip Number Three: Know Your Coverages

There are some coverages that may not be necessary, depending on where you live or the type of vehicle you own. For example, if you live in a large city where auto theft is common, then theft insurance coverage might be wise. However, if you live forty miles from the nearest town on a high mountain where theft is very rare, then there’s no need to pay the additional premium for this type of coverage.

There are many coverages which are optional, but still helpful. You’ll need to carefully examine each coverage to decide if it’s needful or not. If your insurance company offers you “full coverage”, find out exactly what’s included. It might be cheaper to pay for only a few of the options separately if you don’t need all of the included coverage. This will depend on your needs, car value, etc.

Tip Number Four: Auto Insurance Deductibles

Although high deductibles often get a negative response from consumers, they can actually work to your advantage and save you tons of premium money each year. The concept behind a deductible is to place more of the responsibility on the driver and less on the insurance company. In turn, your premium can be substantially less each year.

A 1,000 deductible amount seems extremely high, but if it saves you 200 per year on your insurance premium, it’s well worth it! Keep in mind that the deductible will be due only if you do have an accident where insurance is needed. Otherwise, you get to enjoy the lower premiums year after year.

If you select a policy with a high deductible, you might want to put some of your premium savings into an emergency fund, so you’ll have some or most of your deductible if an accident does occur.

Tip Number Five: Insurance Comparisons

Another way to save money is to make comparisons before signing on for insurance. You’ll not only want to compare policy options, but also insurance companies and pricing.

Note of Warning: Be careful not to sign up too quickly if a very low price is being offered. Get some references if possible, or ask around to find out if someone else has had experience with the company. Some companies who boast low prices offer the worst customer service, and take a very long time to process claims, so use caution at all times.

Utilizing online resources is a great way to compare California insurance companies. You might also find discount offers online which provide additional savings.

When choosing an insurance company and selecting your coverage, use these simple tips to save money on the premium while also getting a great plan to meet your needs.