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How to really save on Auto Insurance 10-15-08

By Dr. Beth Dupree

One of the best ways to keep your auto insurance costs down is to have a good driving record.
Listed below are other things you can do to lower your car insurance costs.

1. Shop Around

Prices vary from company to company, so it pays to shop around. Get at least three price quotes. You can call companies directly or access information on the Internet. Your state insurance department may also provide comparisons of prices charged by major insurers.

You buy insurance to protect you financially and provide peace of mind. It's important to pick a company that is financially stable. Check the financial health of insurers with rating companies such as A.M. Best (http://www.ambest.com) and Standard Poor’s (http://www.standardandpoors.com/) and consult consumer magazines. Eshurance has some of the worst consumer complaints.Before switching companies type in the companies name followed by complaints and see what comes up.

Get quotes from different types of insurance companies. Some sell through their own agents. These agencies have the same name as the insurance company. Some sell through independent agents who offer policies from several insurance companies. Others do not use agents. They sell directly to consumers over the phone or via the Internet.

Don't shop price alone. Ask friends and relatives for their recommendations. Contact your state insurance department to find out whether they provide information on consumer complaints by company. Pick an agent or company representative that takes the time to answer your questions. You can use the checklist on the back of this brochure to help you compare quotes from insurers and on the same coverage.

2. Before You Buy a Car, Compare Insurance Costs

Before you buy a new or used car, check into insurance costs. Car insurance premiums are based in part on the car’s sticker price, the cost to repair it, its overall safety record, and the likelihood of theft. Many insurers offer discounts for features that reduce the risk of injuries or theft. These include daytime running lights and anti-theft devices. To help you decide what car to buy, you can get information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (www.iihs.org).

3. Ask for Higher Deductibles

Deductibles are what you pay before your insurance policy kicks in. By requesting higher deductibles, you can lower your costs substantially. For example, increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision and comprehensive coverage cost by 15 to 30 percent. Going to a $1,000 deductible can save you 40 percent or more. Before choosing a higher deductible, be sure you have enough money set aside to pay it if you have a claim.

4. Reduce Coverage on Older Cars

Consider dropping collision and/or comprehensive coverages on older cars. If your car is worth less than 10 times the premium, purchasing the coverage may not be cost effective. Or if the blue book value is less than $5000 it will almost always be totaled out in an accident. Auto dealers and banks can tell you the worth of cars. Or you can look it up online at Kelley’s Blue Book (http://www.kbb.com). Review your coverage at renewal time to make sure your insurance needs haven’t changed.

5. Buy your Homeowners/ Boat/RV/Motorcycle  and Auto Coverage from the Same Insurer

Many insurers will give you a break if you buy two or more types of insurance. You may also get a reduction if you have more than one vehicle insured with the same company. Some insurers reduce the rates for long-time customers. But it still makes sense to shop around! You may save money buying from different insurance companies, compared with a multi-policy discount. Make sure you tell them to give you the multi-car and home insurance discount, most carriers will give it to you even if you insure them with someone else.

6. Maintain a Good Credit Record

Establishing a solid credit history can cut your insurance costs. Insurers are increasingly using credit information to price auto insurance policies. To protect your credit standing, pay your bills on time, avoid unnecessary credit checks, don't obtain more credit than you need and keep your credit balances as low as possible. Check your credit record on a regular basis and have any errors corrected promptly so that your record remains accurate.

7. Take Advantage of Low Mileage Discounts

Some companies offer discounts to motorists who drive a lower than average number of miles a year. Low mileage discounts can also apply to drivers who car pool to work. Always say you drive less than 10 miles to work or school.

8. Ask about Group Insurance

Some companies offer reductions to drivers who get insurance through a group plan from their employers, through professional, business and alumni groups, or other associations. Ask your employer and inquire with groups or clubs you are a member of to see if this is possible.

9. Seek Out Other Discounts

Companies offer discounts to policyholders who have not had any accidents or moving violations for a number of years. You may also get a discount if you take a defensive driving course. If there is a young driver on the policy who is a good student, has taken a drivers education course or is at a college out of the area without a car, you may also qualify for a lower rate. If it has been more than 3 years for any ticket or accident make your insurer remove it.

If you have teenage drivers a drivers education certificate will save them money for life as well as save you mullah now. Girls usually don't raise insurance and boys do. As soon as your sons turn 21 call the insurer so they can drop your rates. Ask your insurer what other ways you can save with teenage drivers. They often have contracts they can sign.

10. Extras

Rental Car Insurance: Make sure it is really worth it, most times it is not. If you spend $300 a year for the extra on your policy and it only covers up to $30 for rental you could afford the rental yourself. Most dealerships and reputable repair shops will give you a loaner. Check to see how much your rental car insurance covers per day. If they only cover $30 and you have to have a larger car such as an SUV or non-compact, you will pay up to $75 a day. You will rarely ever need the rental for more than 4 days so do the math before you add this to your policy.

PIP- Personal Injury Protection: Get this instead of uninsured motorist and save allot. Good to have if you don't have full coverage and you want coverage for your medical bills in the event of an accident.

Drop Uninsured Motorist: Drop it if your state is a no fault state and you have to pay your own bills. Insurers love ignorant drivers who get this on their policy and can never use it.

Car Repair and Maintenance/ Extended Warranty: Many insurers are now offering extended warranty programs that will cover a car regardless of age or mileage. This is a rip off %80 of the time. Read all fine print, most of the time you have large co-pays, parts are only covered normally within their warranty period, program doesn't cover labor the most expensive part of repairs, you have to use a program mechanic (usually dealerships which charge an average 50% more) etc.. You are better of taking that monthly payment and putting it in a saving account or take your last years repairs and maintenance add it up and divide by 12 to get what you should put away each month for emergencies.

Emergency Road Service: Most companies will give you a free trail just to get your credit card and then you will have real problems getting the monthly payments stopped or they are hoping you will forget about it. Be sure you will use it. They often give you up to 2 gallons of gas, charge batteries, change a tire for free, (all of which you can handle by yourself and avoid the 2 hour wait) anything else they call a tow truck and you pay the rest. They tell you a tow will cost a certain amount but that is usually within 10 miles after that you will pay the per mile charge. All in all the average family pays about $150 a year for such a plan and only uses it every 3 years. So again you would be better of saving your money and be better prepared. Have jumper cables, gas can, inflated spare tire ( check weekly) and t-bar style changer as well as car jack you can easily use. There are even emergency battery chargers you can buy for about $10, that you plug into your lighter, wait 5 mins, and start your car! Also everyone should have a first aid box, flares (for night-time emergencies), flashlight, extra oil, radiator fluid, power steering, brake fluid, disposable gloves etc.. in their car. Women: AutoZone will be more than happy to help you with all this and not belittle you because you are a woman! Being a woman is no excuse for being unprepared. Not having these things puts you at risk for bodily harm because you will be at the mercy of men who stop to "help" you. Teach you daughters what to do in an emergency, know where your emergency flasher button is (usually on the steering column) and how to use it, etc..