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10 Ways to Save Money
http://www.auto-insurance-quotes-4-free.com/
Now that you know the basics of an auto insurance policy, here
are 10 ways you can pay less. In many cases, you can get the
same level of coverage for fewer dollars.
- One Insurer, Multiple Policies
-- Do you
have a homeowners or renters insurance policy? If so, is it
with the same insurance company that provides your auto
insurance? If the answer's no, you're
paying too much -- for both policies. Almost every
insurance company that sells auto insurance wants its
policyholders to also buy homeowners or renters insurance from
that company. These insurers offer so-called multi-policy
discounts. Usually, these discounts
are at least 10% -- and some insurers apply the
discounts to both the auto and the homeowners/renters policy.
Good Driver, Good Price? -- It's no secret
that the better your driving record, the less you will pay for
auto insurance. But did you know that
most people qualify as "good drivers" and are eligible for
discounted premiums? Some good drivers pay a lot
more than others; however, many auto insurers are actually a
collection of several insurance companies that each cater to a
certain type of driver. The worst drivers go in one company,
the best in another, and a lot of people wind up in one of the
middle companies. These middle poeple pay less than the worst
drivers, but more than the best. The thing is, many of these
middle people have driving records that are just as good as
good as those who are in the companies that offer the lowest
rates. Yet, they are paying more. Why? The usual reason is
that they don't know any better. No one thold them which
insurance company in the gorpu had the best prices. And,
probably, no one told them there was even a group of insurance
companies. If you have a spotless
driving record, there's no reason you shouldn't be paying the
lowest price a group of insurance companies has to offer.
The Beauty of the Bus (or Other Mass Transit)
-- Do you drive to and from work? If you do, you are literally
paying a premium to do so. Insurance
companies charge you significantly higher premiums if you
drive to work. And, the longer your commute (in
miles, not minutes), the higher the premium. Consider mass
transit. Yes, there's a price there, too. But you will reap
the savings of gas and lower insurance costs.
Low Mileage, Low Price -- On average, people
drive 1,000 to 1,250 miles a month. That is what insurance
companies consider average use. If you drive less than that,
you could be eligible for low-mileage discounts, which some
insurers offer.
High Profile, High-Cost -- The type of car you
drive is a major factor in what you pay for insurance.
Is your vehicle a magnet for thieves? Is it more expensive to
repair than most cars? If the answer to either of the last two
questions is yes, you're paying more than the average car
owner for insurance. To get detailed information on your
vehicle(s) - or a vehicle you're thinking of buying - write to
the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety at 1005 North Glebe
Rd., Arlington, VA 22201 and ask for the "Highway Loss Data
Chart."
Raise Your Deductible -- The deductible is
the amount you pay before insurance kicks in if you have a
cliam. For example, if you have a $250 deductible and you have
an accident in which your car sustains $1,000 in damage, you
pay the first $250 and your insurer pays the balance, $750.
The higher the deductible you choose, the less you pay. If you
have assets, you can probably afford to absorb at least $250
and probably $500 if you have a claim. And,
if it's been years since you've had
an accident, you're probably better off raising your dedutible
and paying less each year for insurance. (Please
note that the deductible does not apply to damage caused in
accidents that are not your fault, except when the other
driver doesn’t have insurance. In that case, the deductible on
your Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage applies.
However, if the other driver has insurance, you get
"first-dollar" coverage for you damages.)
Drop Unnecessary Coverage -- Let's say you
have an older car, one not worth very much. There’s really
little point in having collision and comprehensive coverage.
You don’t have much to protect. Remember, too, that you have
to subtract your deductible from any potential payout you
might get. As a general rule, any car
worth less than $1,000 shouldn’t have collision and
comprehensive coverage. Between the deductible and
the extra expense of these coverage’s, the cost is probably
greater than the benefit. How much is your car worth? An auto
dealer can tell you, or there are plenty of books that have
values of vehicles going back many, many years.
Discounts, Discounts, Discounts -- Auto
insurance companies offer several discounts for a variety of
reasons. The car has automatic seat beats, air bags, anti-lock
brakes, anti-theft devices, etc. The driver is a good student,
which is especially valuable if you have teenage children who
will be on your policy. Are you
taking advantage of all the discounts available to you? This
is a question I can answer easily.
Taking the Defensive -- Many insurance
companies also offer discounts to those who have taken
defensive driving courses recently.
Low-Cost and High-Cost Areas -- Are you
planning to move? If you are, you should take into account the
cost of insurance. Generally, the more urban the area, the
higher the premium. The costs can
vary even within a community. And they can really
vary from state to state. If you’re living in New Jersey,
Massachusetts or Hawaii, you’re paying several times more, on
average, than you would in North Dakota, South Dakota or
Idaho.
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