Car Insurance Tips To Lessen Your Financial Load 2012

Anyone who drives needs to pay for car insurance. Driving without insurance is illegal, to say nothing of the potentially huge cost of being in an accident without it. Nevertheless, no one wants to pay more than necessary for insurance. Here are NUMBER ways to significantly lower your car insurance premiums.
Raise Your Deductible. A deductible is the amount of money you are responsible for in the event of a claim. The higher your deductible, the lower your monthly premiums. Opting for an increased deductible can save you hundreds every year, but be careful. Put some of that money away each month to pay the higher deductible, just in case.
Reduce Coverage. If you drive an older vehicle with limited value, it may not be financially worthwhile to pay for full collision and comprehensive coverage. The most your insurance company will pay out in the event of a claim is the book value of the car. If that value isn't high enough to justify spending hundreds of dollars for full coverage, cut back to the minimum.
Consider Storage Insurance. Do you own a car that you only use for part of the year, or a spare vehicle that just sits in your garage? Why pay full price for insurance when you aren't actually driving the vehicle? Consider getting a storage insurance policy, which will not allow you to drive the car but covers any damage the vehicle might sustain during storage. Since the risk of an accident is so much lower, insurance companies charge much less for this type of insurance.
Get a Safer Car. Many factors go into calculating insurance premiums. One is your model's loss history, which is based on the number of filed claims involving your type of car. Many insurers also offer discounts for optional safety features, such as anti-lock brakes and car alarms. If you are in the market for a new vehicle, consider the cost of insurance before you buy. It may be worthwhile to buy a more expensive car and save money on premiums.
Look for Discounts. Different insurance companies offer different ranges of discounts. You may be able to qualify for safe driver discounts, long-term customer discounts or good student discounts. If your insurer offers a discount for low mileage, look into creative ways to reduce your mileage to qualify, and save on fuel costs to boot. Other insurance companies offer discounts for optional driver safety courses; see if those are available and save.
Live in a Safer Area. Are you planning to move soon? Insurers take the accident rate in your area into consideration when computing your premiums. Obviously, insurance costs are just one of many factors to consider when planning a move, but be sure to include them in your overall assessment.
Pay in Full. If, like most drivers, you pay your premiums every month, you are actually paying more than you owe. Ask your insurance agent about paying your whole premium every six months or every year. Arranging your budget to accommodate these large up-front costs instead of smaller monthly payments can be tricky, but the savings are often worth the effort.
Shop Around. Find out who's offering the best auto insurance quotes. Armed with all this knowledge, look at all of your insurance options to find the best deal. Opting for the company that offers the lowest base premium is not always the best choice. Find out where you can qualify for discounts and compute your premiums based on your whole situation. Choose the insurance company that offers you the best bottom line, and your finances will improve accordingly.

Jeffrey Wells has been promoting smart insurance purchase tips for decades, and is a semi-retired Kanetix auto insurance agent. Canadians who are interested in reducing their rates will appreciate the additional tips about auto insurance that Jeffrey has produced.

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