Tips and Ideas for Cutting Car Insurance Costs
June 18, 2019
Car insurance rates are on the rise across the country. The good news is that there are things that you can do to minimize increases and/or reduce the burden on your wallet.
- Insure multiple drivers, multiple vehicles and/or multiple risks (e.g., homeowner's insurance) with the same company
- Be a safe driver by avoiding accidents and moving violations
- Sometimes insurance companies will provide a discount for those who complete an approved defensive driving course
- Consider shopping around and obtaining quotes from competing companies
- Investigate the use of mass transit - if you use your vehicle to commute three hours to work every day, you will generally pay more in insurance premiums than someone who only drives one mile a day
- Insuring a 5,000-pound, top-of-the-line vehicle can be more expensive than insuring a small (but safe) lower-cost commuter car
- Increase your deductibles - generally speaking, the lower the deductible, the higher the annual premium
- Improve your credit rating - insurance companies may also consider credit ratings when determining insurance premiums
- Location matters - when planning a move, the potential change in your car insurance rate is something you will want to factor into your budget
- If you have an old car, it may make sense to drop collision or comprehensive coverage
- Evaluate the potential to lower annual premiums, sometimes by as much as several percentage points, by installing anti-theft devices
- Speak to your agent - you never know what sort of discount pricing might be available for your circumstances (such as military personnel or employees of a certain company)
- See if a usage-based insurance program may be available to you - by signing up for these programs, you let your insurer track your driving in exchange for possible discounts based on how much you drive, when you drive, and how well you drive
- Look for additional discounts, such as paying the entire annual or six-month premium at once, or agreeing to receive e-bills and documentation
- Remove coverage you may not need, such as roadside assistance and car rental coverage
These options are discussed in more detail in this article.
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