Boost your Deductible

Generally, when someone decides on a deductible amount for his or her car insurance, he or she sticks with it. But increasing the amount you pay for fender benders is the best place to look when trying to lower your annual out-of-pocket expenses, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Admittedly, it’s a gamble. A car wreck will cost you more this way, but if you and everyone else on your car insurance policy have a history of safe driving, it’s a way to save money. And if the threat of a big deductible payment worries you, put the money aside. Use your annual savings as an auto emergency fund so you’ll never be caught by surprise.

Carpooling

Joining a car pool has benefits beyond helping the environment. If you carpool with three other people, with each driving one-week shifts, you can cut the miles you drive by up to 75 percent. And the less you drive, the more you save on car insurance.

“Most companies track mileage,” says Art Scott, a retired insurance agent who worked for State Farm for 30 years. “Anything under 7,500 miles is considered the pleasure rate — and that’s the lowest. Up to about 13,000 miles is a medium rate, and anything over that is a higher rate.”

The amount you save will vary depending on several factors, but J. Robert Hunter, insurance director for the Consumer Federation of America, says the difference could be as much as 25 percent.

Buy What You Need

The car insurance you need when your car is brand new is often considerably different than what you need later on. Initial rates are generally higher, since you’re required to get both comprehensive and collision coverage if you took out a car loan to pay for the vehicle. Comprehensive pays for the repair or replacement of your car from damage that doesn’t result from an accident, and collision covers damages if you’re in a wreck.

Once it’s paid off, most people forget to save money by exploring their car insurance options. Check the value of your car through the Kelley Blue Book or NADAguides.com. You might have more collision insurance than you need. And in some cases, it might be worth dropping it entirely, especially if your car is an older model.

“It’s often smart to drop collision on older vehicles,” says Mike Barry, spokesman for the Insurance Information Institute. “Comprehensive is so inexpensive, and you’re giving up a coverage you might need – that’s worth hanging on to, though.”

Among the reasons you might need comprehensive coverage: damage from storms, vandalism and theft.

Combine Your Policies

If you’ve got your car insurance through a different company than you did your homeowners insurance or renters insurance, you may be paying more than you should. It’s called “multilining” in the industry. It means that by combining policies with a single company, you can stack discounts and save money.

Car insurance is the biggest risk for policy writers. You’re more likely to get in an accident or have your car stolen than to have something catastrophic happen to your house. By combining policies, you lower some of the insurance company’s risk.

“Multiline is where they make their money, rather than just picking up a loser like auto insurance,” says Scott. “The more lines (of insurance that insurance companies) can get, the more they’re willing to give discounts for it.”

Audit Your Driving

Have you changed jobs recently? Maybe you’ve moved to an area where your favorite stores are a lot closer? Keep an eye on that odometer to save money. Just like with carpooling, reduced driving mileage means reduced car insurance rates, says Scott, the retired insurance agent. But people often don’t reach out to their insurance agents when their residence or driving habits change, and they end up sticking with unnecessarily high rates.

Consider a Tracking Device

If you know you’re a careful driver, you might save money with a new car insurance policy from Progressive Casualty Insurance Co. called MyRate. A small wireless device is attached to your car, letting the company monitor your driving habits, including distance, most frequent travel times and driving habits, such as sudden stops or speeding.

After the first year, you could save as much as 60 percent, according to Progressive. But you will be sacrificing some privacy for the savings. And in some states, such as New Jersey, if the company doesn’t like your driving habits, it could raise your rate by up to 9 percent.

Concerns about the device’s intrusive nature have slowed the rollout of MyRate in several states. In Pennsylvania, Progressive ultimately withdrew its filing to introduce the coverage, says Melissa Fox, deputy press secretary for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.

Pay Your Bills

Your timeliness in paying your bills may not seem like it has anything to do with your driving abilities, but it’s something car insurance companies pay attention to. If you’ve got a good credit report, it’s worth checking with your agent to see about a discount and save money.

“Many insurers use credit-based insurance scores,” says Barry. “It’s a contentious issue in certain state houses … (but) insurers will say their studies show that if you’re responsible in your personal life, you’re less likely to file claims.”

There are other ways to get car insurance discounts. Older drivers who complete adult driver safety programs can get premium reductions, while many insurers offer discounts for teens who maintain a 3.0 grade point average in school.

H/T Source: Bankrate, Inc.

10 Ways to Save Money on Auto Insurance

How to Lower Your Auto Insurance Rates without Sacrificing Coverage or Service in the Process

Let’s face it. We all like to save money, especially when it comes to auto insurance. But does lowering your insurance premiums mean less-than-adequate coverage or working with a provider whose customer service leaves a lot to be desired? Not at all. We’ve put together a variety of suggestions to help you save money on auto insurance without sacrificing quality in the process.

Consider car insurance costs before you buy

When it comes to buying a new or used car, many people overlook insurance expense as part of the total cost of owning a vehicle. It’s better to consider the cost of insurance before you buy since auto insurance premiums vary widely depending on a vehicle’s specific characteristics, including its price, average repair costs, safety record and whether or not it’s a target among thieves.

Combine insurance policies with one carrier

Many insurance companies offer multi-policy discounts, such as buying a homeowners policy and auto coverage from the same carrier. You might also be able to save money if you insure all of the vehicles in your household on one policy or if you insure all of your driving-age family members on the same plan. Be sure to do your homework though, since there’s a chance you could save more money buying policies from multiple carriers.

Compare auto insurance carriers

Because auto insurance companies and rates vary widely, it helps to shop around when selecting an insurer. As a general rule, it’s wise to obtain auto insurance quotes and information from at least three separate companies. Calling insurance carriers directly, asking family and friends about their insurance providers and getting an auto insurance quote online are just some of the steps you can take in helping to ensure you choose the right auto insurance company.

Another helpful resource is your state’s department of insurance, which typically offers information such as rate comparisons, customer ratings and complaint ratios, as well as contact information for a variety of major carriers.

Don’t forget you’ll be dealing with your auto insurer in the event of an accident or emergency, so be sure to select a company that’s committed to customer service. Do your homework ahead of time by comparing ratings and researching complaints to ensure a company handles claims — and answers questions — honestly and promptly.

Drive less, save more

The more you drive, the higher the likelihood of an accident or emergency. That’s why many auto insurance companies offer low mileage discounts for people who drive less than the average number of miles per year, or for people who carpool on a regular basis. Be sure to ask your carrier if you qualify.

Drive safer, save more

The better you are as a driver, the more money you stand to save in coverage costs. People with clean driving records who haven’t had any accidents or moving violations for a certain number of years can qualify for safe driver discounts. What’s more, you may be able to take advantage of additional savings if you’ve recently taken a defensive driving course.

Increase your deductible

Sure, you’ll have to pay more out of pocket if you have an accident, but if you increase your deductible by just several hundred dollars, for example, you could save anywhere from 15 to 40 percent or more in collision and comprehensive coverage costs. It’s always good practice to set aside a portion of your monthly car insurance premium savings to ensure you can actually afford a higher deductible in the event of a claim. Learn more about how much, and what kind, of auto insurance you need.

Inquire about other car insurance discounts

There are a variety of additional car insurance savings you might be able to take advantage of, including discounts for teens who have good grades or who have taken an approved drivers’ education course, for college-age drivers who go to school more than 100 miles away, for people who are over the age of 50/55 or those who are retired, or for people who belong to business groups, alumni groups or other professional associations. You can also save money on auto insurance if a group plan is offered at your place of employment. When it comes to discounts, be careful. An insurance company that offers huge discounts might charge the highest rates to begin with, so be sure to do your homework thoroughly before signing on the dotted line.

Maintain good credit

In the eyes of auto insurance carriers, drivers with established and stable credit records have fewer accidents. That’s why an increasing number of auto insurance companies consider credit scores when calculating rates. Since your credit score can impact the amount of money you pay in auto insurance, be sure to maintain a good credit rating and check your credit report periodically to ensure the items in your history actually belong to you. There are a variety of online services that allow you to check your credit as well as those that offer advice about how to improve it.

Opt for safety features

You can qualify for a car insurance discount from many carriers if your vehicle is equipped with safety equipment designed to reduce the risk of injury or theft, such as antilock brakes, automatic seatbelts, running lights or an alarm system.

Reduce insurance coverage on older cars

If you own an older vehicle, check its Kelley Blue Book value. If your annual comprehensive/collision insurance premiums are more than 10 percent of the current value of your car, consider dropping the coverage. Claims only occur an average of every 11 years, so there’s a good chance any claim payment you might receive down the road could be less than the comprehensive/collision premiums you’d paid.

While not exhaustive, this list gives you a good start in saving money on auto insurance. Keep in mind that the key to saving on auto insurance is about finding the best final price, not the biggest discounts. You may find that a company offering the least amount of discounts still offers the lowest auto insurance rates.

H/T Source: Kelley Blue Book Co.