Thursday, November 5, 2009

How To Save Money While Buying Auto Insurance.

Since most of us are required to carry automotive insurance - whether it be basic liability or more - the quest to save money is a common topic. If we go with cheaper, "discount insurance agency" type places, we often sacrifice service - not to mention the trust that many of us put in brand names. If, on the other hand, we go with well-established, trustworthy agencies, we often end up paying a lot more - several hundred dollars a year in some cases. But there are plenty wats to save a little money without giving up qualiy, here they are:

Figure out how much auto insurance you need

If your car is not yet paid off, you will have to have more insurance coverage than someone who owns his car outright. In addition, different states require different minimum amounts of insurance. Many people prefer to have more than the minimum required, just to be covered in the event that an accident does occur, while others prefer to carry only the minimum coverage. Take into account how much you drive, how much your car is worth, how much you have in assets in case you are sued, and how likely your car is to be stolen when considering how much auto insurance you need.

Shop around

Just as you take your time when buying the vehicle, checking several dealerships to get the best price, you should do the same when looking for the auto insurance. A site like this is a great place to start because it gets quotes from all the top companies.

Buy the right vehicle

Some vehicles are cheaper to insure. Insurance actuaries collect information about traffic accidents from all over the US. They rank vehicles according to the likelihood they will be involved in an accident or stolen. Although you may think some vehicles lack style and are boring to drive, it can be worth buying them to reduce your premium.

Drive safely

Insurers rate drivers by age, gender and driving experience. You can tilt the points system in your favor if you avoid accidents and do not pick up tickets.

Check out the ranking points for safety features

You will pay less to insure vehicles fitted with antilock brakes, airbags, and so on. It’s also cheaper to insure a vehicle if it lives in a garage or is parked off the road at night.

Read the policies before you decide which to buy

Check whether the policies give you the cover you need. Read through to see exactly what is and what is not included. Try to fit the policy to your situation, only buying as much cover as you need. Even then, everything may look good on paper, but the crunch comes if you have to make a claim.

Check out the insurance companies

Every state has an insurance department or commissioner, and their websites confirm which insurance companies are licensed to sell auto policies. The best also carry information about the number of complaints upheld against all these companies. Most of the complaints are about the way policies are sold and how the claims are handled. This can give you vital information on which companies to avoid. Even though the premium may cost slightly more, it can be worth paying the extra to get with a company that handles claims well.

What about the new online-only auto insurance?

By eliminating the costs of running a brick-and-mortar operation, insurance companies can offer you better terms at more affordable premiums.

Check your cover regularly

Using this site, it costs you nothing to check whether the quotes for the insurance to cover your vehicle have changed. New companies may have different policies on the market. competition may be bringing down premiums. It can save you a lot of money to change insurance companies every six or twelve months. With budgets tight, never just renew the existing policy. Always check out the market.

Keep a clean driving record

One of the best ways to save money on car insurance is to simply be a good driver. Without accidents or tickets on your record, your auto insurance premiums are going to be much lower.

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