by admin on March 14, 2011
Americans are a busy group of people, and once we take care of something, such as purchasing automotive insurance, we tend to forget about it and fade on to the next task. However, purchasing an automotive insurance policy only to neglect it could end up costing you more money in the long run, or even leaving you unprotected. There are times in our lives when we need to stop and evaluate our current automotive insurance policies.
Reconsider your automotive insurance policy when you collect married. When two people win married, they can get an automotive insurance policy together, thus spending less money and possibly even getting additional discounts.
Reconsider your automotive insurance policy if you retract a novel car. If you've borrowed money from a lender to purchase your new car, chances are your lender will require you to purchase paunchy coverage insurance. Even if your lender doesn't, your state most likely will. If your automotive insurance policy only covers liability because you believe one of your cars, or the car you traded in, you need to increase the coverage of your automotive insurance policy.
Reconsider your automotive insurance policy if you relocate. If you currently live in a quaint little country town that sees very little wrongdoing aside from the occasional cow-tipping, you probably don't have a very high amount of automotive insurance. However, if you're moving to a larger city with a higher crime rate, your car will be more at risk and you should make sure you add the extra coverage.
Reconsider your automotive insurance policy if you're getting on in years. Most insurance companies offer discounts to policyholders who are a certain age – usually 55 years old. If this is you, give your agent a call and find out about discounts you may qualify for.
Remember, certain tasks are worth completing and forgetting. Taking out the trash is one of them; purchasing automotive insurance is not.
by admin on February 27, 2011
I have a confession to make. A while back, I was lured into applying for a free rate quote from Geico by their slick – and memorable – advertising. They hooked me with the caveman. I’m not ashamed to admit it. But, great to my surprise, their quote didn’t live up to the hype. In fact, Geico’s rate quote was $50 per month higher than I was paying with Nationwide Insurance. My first thought was that obviously their advertising was better than their rates. However, after doing some research, I learned that if I had explained the situation better and asked the right questions, I might have gotten a better rate quote from Geico.
Here are a few tips I’ve learned for getting the best car insurance rate possible:
1. If you’re under 24, and/or a student, try to accumulate on your parent’s insurance policy. Unusual drivers and new policyholders always obtain higher rates than everyone else. If you can piggyback on Mom or Dad’s good driving record, then do it.
2. Now I know this seems cruel and contradictory, but if you’re a parent who is struggling to make ends meet, then try to keep your children off your car insurance. If you absolutely can’t afford an increase in your car insurance, it’s best to let your children pay higher rates than for you to take the risk of their learning curve affecting your rates. Unless your teenager is an especially good driver, you’re better off telling them to pay for their own auto insurance policy.
3. If you own a home, get your auto insurance and home insurance through the same company. In my case, that’s exactly why Nationwide was cheaper than Geico. Nationwide offers a special “package deal” to customers that have both auto and homeowner’s insurance through them.
4. When you’re comparing auto insurance rate quotes, know your policy and don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you currently have a $500 deductible and XYZ amount of coverage, compare that to another company’s quote and perceive which is the better deal. If they’re not offering a better deal, tell them the deal you currently have and see if they have a plan that’s comparable. Don’t always go with the first auto insurance conception they suggest.
5. Don’t buy more insurance than you need. If you have a car loan, it’s required that you carry full coverage auto insurance. Otherwise, it really depends on the value of your car and how easily you can replace it in case of an accident. If you’re driving a car that’s paid off and only worth around $2000, is it really worth it to have plump coverage? Liability coverage will take care of someone else’s car if you total yours, and the chances are that even paunchy coverage won’t pay you enough to get a new car without taking on some sort of car payment. You have to decide for yourself if the extra monthly cost of full coverage is worth it for a car that is already paid for. Unless you really need every cent you can gather for a down payment, or your car is worth more than what you’d spend on another car, the chances are that you’re better off carrying liability insurance.
6. Last, but not least, try to keep your driving record as clean as possible. I know this seems like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many people think that a petite speeding label here or there won’t affect their car insurance rates that much. Speeding tickets and traffic violations can affect your auto insurance rates dramatically. Keep track of your driving record, and if you have older offenses that should be expunged, develop positive they are. Just like you wouldn’t bewitch that bad credit falls off your credit report without checking, don’t assume that driving offenses fall off your record as well.
After trying all of the above tips, then spend some time filling out rate quotes online and don’t be afraid to try several different companies. If you want to simplify the process, then try sites like http://www.insurance.com/ and http://www.netquote.com. With a little time and effort, it’s easy to find the best rates for car insurance possible for your situation.
