Buying A New Car? Find Out About Insurance First
Plenty of insurance commercials state that by switching to their company, you will save so much a year in terms of dollars or percent. But in doing so, you may be sacrificing quality service. You don't always have to find a new auto insurance provider just to cut costs. We have several tips to help you save money without compromising service.
To file an insurance claim correctly, you must be aware of your company's rules. Contacting your agent as soon as possible should always be your first step as this will set the machinery into motion. Your agent will be the one coordinating the details such as scheduling any appraisers to evaluate the damage and put you on the road to getting the repairs made.
Driving less can help you save money on your auto insurance. If you've retired or started telecommuting, tell your insurance agent right away. Without those long commutes every day, you'll probably be able to get a lower premium. The fewer miles you drive, the better rate you're likely to get.
One, less well-known way to get further discounts on auto insurance, especially if you have a teen driver around who is only going back and forth to school, is to request whether your insurance offers a discount for low mileage. If you can accurately estimate the actual mileage your teen drives and report it accurately, you will pay less.
Check out your state's minimum insurance guidelines, and follow them. Some states only require you to have liability coverage, but others require personal injury as well. Make sure you know your state's practices so that you do not fail to meet them, and end up with a ticket for not having enough coverage.
Look up grade discounts if you are a student. Many insurance companies offer rate reductions for students who do well in school, so find out if yours does. Bring your transcript by to show off your grades, and you may be rewarded with a great discount. Good grades show the insurance company that you are responsible.
Drive smart and safe to keep your auto insurance cheap. A clean driving record makes a huge difference in the premiums insurance companies will charge you. Insurers inspect your driving history perhaps more closely than any other factor when setting your premium. Do not worry about accidents where you were not at fault; drive safely to avoid any other bad marks on your record.
Do not forget to update your car insurance policy if you relocate. Even if you are only moving a few miles away, make the changes. You may not like what you see, though, because premiums are set by zip code. In one town it could be higher because the theft and collision rates are higher.
When you get older, you will want to have your vision checked regularly. Some states have made mandatory eye testing a requirement for a senior license. This will keep you and the others around you a bit safer; even if your state does not require the test, be safe and have it done on your own.
In order to save money on car insurance, it is critical that you understand what level of insurance you need. If you are driving an older car, it might not be worth paying for comprehensive or collision coverage. The most your insurance company will pay for damage to the car is its current resale value. Find the current resale value of your car and check it against how much you could save over two or three years by switching to the minimum liability insurance. You could find that simply switching your coverage from collision to liability will save you hundreds of dollars!
Be aware - there are certain aspects of car insurance - which each state requires car owners to have. It is important to know this because you do not want to get in trouble for not having these aspects. If you are unsure of what these requirements are, you may want to contact your auto insurance agent.
You can save money by increasing your deductible in case of collision. This means you will pay less every month, but will pay a more important part of the repairs if you get into an accident. If this is a risk you are willing to take, put some money aside.
Do not bother insuring an older car with collision coverage. Your insurance provider will only give you the book value on your car. Chances are that an older vehicle might not be worth much, thus rendering the collision coverage pretty useless. Check the book value on the car before continuing with collision coverage.
If you severely damage your vehicle or total it, the insurance company will offer you an amount they think your vehicle is worth. If you don't agree with the value they give you, get quotes from different auto dealers and prove the value of your car, to make sure you are getting the right amount.
Check with your automotive insurer to see if you can qualify for a premium discount by enrolling in a defensive driving course. Such courses are becoming very common, and many insurance companies offer discounts to drivers who attend them. Remember that proper documentation of your course will be vital to securing a discount.
Look for group discount rates on your auto insurance. If you belong to any kind of trade organization, or have eligibility for group rates through any kind of group, such as your employer, you may be able to get a good discount on your rates. You may need to purchase your insurance through the organization to get the discount, so ask up front.
When you use these tips to help cut your auto insurance costs, you should be able to stay with your current auto insurance provider. If you do decide that it is worth your while to switch insurance companies and reap the savings as a new subscriber, be sure to use these tips to keep your costs down with them as well.
