You may be a new car owner, or someone thinking about buying a car, or just in the market for better deals on your auto insurance. Regardless of the situation, it’s critical to know how to the best deal – and the best coverage – when shopping for auto insurance.
When considering what options you want to include with your auto insurance, be sure to see if towing insurance is something that you really need. Oftentimes towing is already included in certain types of accidents. If you belong to certain auto assistance agencies, they may already provide this coverage to you. Most often, it is not financially beneficial to include this extra.
One great and underrated way to save on your monthly auto insurance premiums is to join an automobile club. Especially if you are driving a classic or rare vehicle, joining an auto club will allow you to join with a group discounted rate, ultimately saving you hundreds of dollars annually on your insurance premiums.
Take a driving course. Defensive driving, safe driver, and superior driving courses all show your insurance company that you are both a cautious and safe driver. Bring your certificate in to your insurance agent, and let them make a record of it. Many companies reward safe drivers with lowered premiums.
For older vehicles, remove comprehensive and collision coverage. These options are best saved for newer vehicles, as they pay for repairs and damages caused by accidental damage and other issues. If you remove them, your premiums will be much cheaper and you will still be covered in the event of an accident.
When choosing an auto insurance policy, look into the quality of the company. The company that holds your policy should be able to back it up. It is good to know if the company that holds your policy will be around to take care of any claims you may have.
Pay a yearly sum for your automobile insurance. Some companies charge a little more to put their customers on a monthly billing plan. If you are able to pay off the bill in one lump sum for the year, you could save some money and you will have one less bill to worry about.
If your family includes teenage drivers, don’t buy them their own cars. For the first few years, it’s wise to have your teenager share a family vehicle. Having them on your current insurance plan will save you money. You may even be able to get a discount on your insurance if your teenager is a good student.
It is essential to understand what exactly you are covered for. One of the most complete types of insurance is called comprehensive. Comprehensive is considerably more expensive, but covers you even in strange situations like fires, floods and vandalism. Most of the time you will not need this, but in some situations, it can be a lifesaver.
With auto insurance, is it better to have a policy with a call center or one with a local office? It is nice to talk face to face with an agent, but he may have an interest in giving more coverage than you actually need–since he benefits personally from this.
Check the costs to insure cars before you relocate. Annual insurance in New York is about $2,800, as compared to the national average for 2011, of $1,446 per year. Different states and different cities will cost you more or less for auto insurance, but remember to also check the prospective state’s minimum insurance requirements.
To get the best prices on insurance factor the price of your vehicle into the equation. If your car is only worth a couple of thousand dollars, then you may be able to lower or drop collision and comprehensive coverage. Talk to your agent about extras that the insurance company adds into your insurance, like road side assistance. If you don’t need it, than dropping it will save you money.
Shopping for auto insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. As you’ve seen, it’s important to arm yourself with the information you need to be able to make the right decision for your car, your age, and your circumstances as an auto owner. Now that you have that information in hand, your next auto insurance buying decision should be a much smarter one.
