There is nothing sweeter than a romantic road trip with your beau or a ride or die vacay with your bestie. And shopping for car insurance has never been easier. You can easily get quotes online and over the phone. There are several factors that can help drive the price of insurance down. Here are some things that you can do to help you lower the cost of your auto insurance policy.
Gender
Believe it or not, gender can influence the price tag of your insurance policy. Studies show that women are more likely to be safer drivers but as time goes on and women get older they are more likely to have more accidents. Securing your policy early on and locking in those good driver discounts as a woman will help you maintain reasonable insurance as you age oh so gracefully.
Claims
If you don’t have as many claims, your insurance price will be cheaper than someone who has a lot of them. Most best car insurance companies will reward drivers who have less fender benders. So drive safe, put down that latte, and save some dough.
The Amount Of Mileage
If you keep your mileage low, say, you ride your bike on the weekends or you have your honey drive you around, you can actually save money on your car insurance. After all, it makes sense that the less driving hours you clock, the lower your chances become of being in an accident. So take public transport when available, rideshare, and of course, bike or walk whenever you can. Good for the environment and your wallet. Some insurance companies offer usage based insurance, where you pay less for driving less, by adding a small tracking device to the car to count your miles.
The Type Of Car You Are Driving
If you have a fancy car that is more desirable, it will require a more costly insurance price because it is more likely to be stolen. At the same time, if you have an old beat up car that does not easily pass smog check, requires a lot of maintenance, and is not as safe, it is more likely to be demolished in an accident. And thus, the insurance price will also go up. Opting in for a middle of the road, safer car, that is fairly new will help you have reasonable insurance rates. Once you figure out that perfect middle of the road vehicle then shop for car insurance with confidence.
Bundling Your Insurance And Sticking With Your Carrier
These days, you can insure your home, apartment and jewelry all with the same carrier. Sticking with the same one and getting good driver discounts through the years will not only simplify the renewal process, it will help give you some great loyalty programs with discounts too.
Request A Higher Deductable
Going for a larger deductable up front can save you up to forty percent on your monthly payment. This way, you keep your money on you for emergencies and you can save each month on your monthly payment. Just be sure to have that extra money handy in case you need to file a claim.
Be Conscious of the Cost of Collision and Comprehensive Insurance
Maybe you drive a beat up old car and a fender bender wouldn’t be worth the cost of fixing the damage. Especially if you have a higher deductable. You should consider ditching the Collision and Comprehensive when you drive around a beat up vehicle. The best way to be sure that it’s time to do so is to total the cost of the value of the car against what you pay annually in auto insurance. If the car is worth less, consider ditching Collision and Comprehensive. And once the car drives it’s final ride, have that money you saved set aside to purchase a new car.
Maintaining Good Credit
Insurance companies will look at your credit to determine insurance costs. Once again, your credit score matters in terms of getting the best rate. Studies have shown that having a better credit score results in filing fewer claims. So keep that credit score up and save some money. Be sure to check your credit regularly to get any errors.
The Occasionial Driver
Becoming an occasional driver means you are added to an existing policy as a secondary driver. While this is usually reserved for spouse and children, it can also be used for siblings and roommates sharing a car. The best time to add an occasional driver to a policy is when that driver is using the car more than two times a week. Having an Occasional Driver Policy is a great way to start building credibility to have your own policy and it will usually cost a lot less than having two separate policies for the same car. It is really important in the long run to be entirely honest with your insurance carrier. In most cases, there are ways to effectively lower the cost of insurance such as an occasional driver discount. For example, to drive the car regularly uninsured can result in a rejected claim and a higher cost to insure the vehicle moving forward. The cheaper option is to get insured as a part time driver.
Discounts Are Out There
Finally, take the time to shop around. There are many discounts out there, such as student discounts, good driver discounts, loyalty programs, homeowner discounts. As well as driver training and course discounts, state by state discounts, hybrid and safety discounts, muti-car, and bundle discounts, to name a few. It is really so easy to get insurance and customize it for your daily driving life. Drive Safe!