Finding car insurance that is right for you and your wallet can be a time-consuming affair. Even those people who are not exactly thrilled with their current car insurance rates often don’t want to look around for better deals precisely because the sheer volume of options and insurance companies is overwhelming. Each company will, of course, assure those who call in for quotes that it, without a doubt, is the best choice amongst its competitors. What are we, the average consumers, to make of all the promises from the overly enthusiastic sales representatives on the other ends of our phones?
First of all, before even beginning your insurance selection process, there are several things that you can do to your car that can lower the cost of insurance right off the bat. For example, if your car doesn’t have an anti-theft device, you might want to consider investing in one, since they can lower the insurance cost. Also, depending on a state you live in, there are additional discounts that are being offered for certain features in a car. After a little bit of online research, you will be able to find out just what those features are, depending on where you live.
Before picking up your phone and making that phone call to Allstate or Geico, go check out their web sites. A lot of car insurance sites, like Progressive, can provide you with preliminary rates for their company and compare it with their competitors’ rates. While there, you can also find out how much additional coverage may cost you, depending on what additional services you would like to add to your basic coverage. Obviously, lowering your collision or comprehensive coverages will lower the rate you will be paying. Sometimes, though, it is worth getting a bit of additional coverage, since it may provide you with those much needed deductibles, in case if an accident should occur.
If you have recently been involved in an automobile accident and your rates had been jacked up high, you might want to consider calling your insurance company before switching over to a different one. Sometimes, if you tell a rep that you are considering switching companies, they might work out a more acceptable rate with you. After all, car insurance companies are looking to retain their costumers and keep their satisfaction levels high.
If you think you are going to stick around with a car insurance company for a while, it is worth buying a one-year policy, instead of breaking it up into three or six month periods. Longer agreements will result in cheaper rates for you.
Find out whether your place of work is affiliated with any car insurance companies. Many companies collaborate together and, therefore, get significant discounts on car insurance rates. You can also be eligible for a discount if you have a good driving record or if you have taken a “Defensive Driver Training Program”. Additional discounts can be given if the mileage on your car is low.
If you are a college student with a good academic record, you may qualify for a Good Student discount. There is an age limit to this discount, however, meaning that it only pertains to relatively young college students, up to twenty four years of age in most states. so even if you are a thirty-something, who is taking college courses at night, this discount does not pertain to you.
Finally, before you make your final decision, consider the age of your car. With older cars, it might be worth dropping the collision or comprehensive coverage, thus, reducing the insurance rate. You need to weigh the cost of the collision and comprehensive against the value of your car and your chosen deductibles. In some cases, a deductible can amount to more than the value of your car, in which case, this coverage isn’t actually going to help you.