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1. Comparison Shop.
Prices for the
same coverage can vary by hundreds of dollars from company to company,
so it pays to shop around. Surf the net using sites such as this, ask
your friends or call your state
insurance department for ideas about companies and agents to
contact. You should get at least three different quotes. But don't shop
price alone.
The insurer you
select should offer both fair prices and excellent service. Quality
personal service may cost a bit more, but provides added conveniences,
so talk to a number of insurers to get a feeling for the quality of
their service. Ask them what they would do to lower your costs.
Check the
financial ratings of the companies with A.M.
Best or Standard
and Poor's.
2. Ask for Higher
Deductibles.
Deductibles
represent the amount of money you pay before you make a claim. By
requesting higher deductibles on collision
and comprehensive (fire and theft) coverage, you can lower your
costs substantially. For example, increasing your deductible from $200
to $500 could reduce your collision and comprehensive cost by 15% to
30%.
3. Drop Collision
and/or Comprehensive Coverage on Older Cars.
It may not be cost
effective to have collision or comprehensive coverage on cars worth
less than $1,000 because any claim you make would not substantially
exceed annual cost and deductible amounts. Auto dealers and banks can
tell you the worth of your car.
4. Buy a "Low
Profile" Car.
Before you buy a
new or used car, check into insurance costs. Cars that are expensive to
repair, or that are favorite
targets for thieves, have much higher insurance costs.
5. Take Advantage of Low
Mileage Discounts.
Some companies
offer discounts to motorists who drive fewer than a predetermined number
of miles a year.
6. Consider Insurance
Cost When Making a Move.
Costs tend to be
lowest in rural communities and highest in cities where there is more
traffic congestion.
7. Find out about
Automatic Seat Belt or Airbag Discounts.
You may be able to
take advantage of discounts on some coverages if you have automatic seat
belts and/or airbags.
8. Ask About Anti-Lock
Brakes.
Anti-lock brakes
improve steering control and stability when a car is brought to a stop,
thus reducing accidents. Some states, including Florida, New Jersey and
New York, require insurers to give discounts for cars equipped with the
brakes and some insurers have a nationwide discount in place.
9. Inquire About Other
Discounts.
Some insurers
offer discounts for things like no accidents in three years, drivers
over 50 years of age, driver training courses, anti-theft devices, good
grades for students and having more than one car insured with that
company.
10. Don't Put it Off -- Shop Now.
Let's face it, most of us have a lot of things we'd
prefer to do. But shopping for auto insurance could save you a lot
of money. Don't put it off. Visit our Quote
Center now!
Get an auto insurance quote
now.
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