Great Deal on Auto Insurance

Are you looking for a great deal on your car insurance? No, don’t worry; this isn’t another useless attempt by a nameless, faceless corporate insurer to get your business. This is an attempt to teach what you’re going to need to know when you step out into the insurance arena to make sure you get the best possible deal on your auto insurance.

1. Know your state’s minimum requirements-and what you really need coverage for. Although the idea of purchasing the minimum and saving the money you would pay in premiums is probably tempting, you can lose more by not having the right amount of coverage than you would by spending a little extra each month.
2. Know what discounts you qualify for. Most auto insurance companies will cut you a deal on your insurance if you have a good driving record or if your vehicle meets certain safety requirements. This includes features such as an alarm system, anti-lock brakes, power steering and air bags.
3. Don’t buy a new car. The lower the value of your car, the less you will have to pay in premiums. That doesn’t mean you should go out and buy a clunker off of the side of the road for $300! Buying a lightly used car with adequate safety features that is only two or three years old will still cost you less than buying a car straight off the lot.
4. Keep your commuting to a minimum. Commuters spend more time on the roads than their locally employed counterparts, and therefore are at a higher risk of having an accident. 15,000 miles a year of driving time to and from work is usually the cut-off to distinguish a commuter and a non-commuter, but it’s good to look into each company’s individual policy before making a decision.
5. Take a defensive driving course, even if you’ve never been involved in an accident. The DMV judges their drivers on a point scale; each accident or moving violation takes points away from your total score. Auto insurance companies consider this score when they are deciding on your monthly premium. A defensive driving course will add points onto your score, making you eligible for a lower rate.
6. Combine your auto insurance with your renter’s or homeowner’s policies. Most insurance companies offer discounts to clients who combine their insurance policies, meaning that you get to benefit twice!
7. Are you in the military? A member of the AARP? Many auto insurance companies will offer members of these groups discounts on their policies if they are able to provide proper identification.
8. Leave off the bells and whistles. While purchasing a greater-than-the-minimum bodily injury policy is good business, if you have some other form of roadside assistance program you probably don’t need to buy theirs as well.
9. Finally, keep your driving record clean. Drive the speed limit, practice defensive driving, don’t drive when you’re tired or inebriated and always wear your speed limit. Keeping negative points from accumulating on your record is the single most important thing you can do to keep your Online auto insurance premiums reasonable and ensure that you are eligible in the future for the best possible deal on your auto insurance.