How much could you save on auto insurance?

Of all the monthly expenses we endure that have any chance of being reduced, auto insurance is right near the top of the list.

When it comes to auto insurance, a little comparison shopping could result in a savings of hundreds–and sometimes thousands–of dollars. 

Following these guidelines can help reduce your auto insurance bill.


First, it pays to shop around. Instead of settling for the first quote you receive, do some comparison shopping, inquiring with at least three different insurers to get the best price–keeping in mind that the company’s customer satisfaction ratings and its overall reputation also count for a lot.
If you increase your deductible, you could also save on your premiums. The more you increase your deductible, the greater the savings you could achieve on your premium.


If you have an older car, you may not need collision or comprehensive coverage. As a general rule, it doesn’t make sense to buy comprehensive and collision coverage for a car worth less than $1,000, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). If you don’t have an old car and, in fact, are buying a new vehicle, keep in mind that certain types of cars cost far more to insure than others. There’s big difference between the lofty insurance premiums you’re likely to face with a slick sports car as compared to the significantly lower rate that a small sport-utility vehicle (SUV) would command.


It also pays to shop around for different discounts, such as low-mileage discounts if you work at home or have a very short daily commute; car safety discounts if your vehicle has air bags, anti-lock brakes or a car alarm; good student discounts; marriage discounts; and more.

A clean driving record free of accidents, moving violations and claims; and a good credit history are other factors bound to work in your favor in your quest for a low auto insurance premium.

source: smarterlifestyles.com

10 Ways to Lower Your Insurance Rates

Most Americans spend more than ten percent of their income on insurance. If you are among them–or if you simply want to lower the insurance premiums for auto, home, health, or even life insurance–you may want to try one or more of the following rate-cutting strategies.

1. Comparison Shop. Staying with the same insurance provider or agent for a long period of time can have its benefits, but it is always smart to shop around. Every insurance provider offers different levels of coverage as well as varying premiums. It isn’t unusual to see price differences in the hundreds of dollars. Getting quotes from multiple companies or an agent who works with multiple insurers can help you get the coverage you need for the best price possible.

2. Increase Your Deductible. Raising your deductible is one of the easiest and surest ways to save money on insurance rates. If your current deductible is low–$100 to $200–you could save as much as 30 percent by raising the deductible to $1,000. Just make sure you keep at least the amount of the deductible on hand and readily available in case you need it.

3. Reduce Your Coverage. Reducing your coverage is another good way to lower your insurance rates. You may be carrying more home insurance, (you really only need to insure to rebuild as your land is probably not at risk), more auto coverage (your yearly premium should be less than you could get back on a claim), or more life insurance than you really need. Less coverage means that you will get less back when you make a claim, but it will also lead to significantly lower insurance rates.

4. Avoid Duplicate Coverage. Many people have more insurance coverage than they need because they have duplicate coverage. For example, if you have good health insurance, you may not need to carry additional health insurance coverage on your auto policy. The same is true if you have an exorbitant life insurance policy in addition to coverage on a mortgage loan, car loan, and other debts that you may leave behind for your family. Evaluate your needs carefully and make sure you are not covered for the same thing twice.

5. Combine Policies. Most insurance providers offer discounts to customers who insure two vehicles under the same policy. Customers who insure their home and their auto under the same policy are usually eligible for additional discounts as well.

6. Ask About Discounts. Discounts are available for a range of things. You may be able to get a discount based on your age, occupation, or lifestyle. Specific discounts to ask for include a senior discount, good student discount, safe driver discount, low-risk discount, and loyalty or renewal discount. Your insurance provider or agent may also be willing to provide you with a full list of potential discounts as well as information on how you can qualify.

7. Ask About Group Insurance. Groups, associations, or auto clubs that you are already a member of may offer discounts or group rates on various types of insurance coverage. You may also be able to receive group coverage from your employer. You can ask your insurance provider about current discounts. You may also be able to learn more by consulting your employee handbook or speaking with a group representative.

8. Lower Your Risk. Every insurance provider will analyze the risk of insuring you before providing a rate quote. You may be able to lower your rate considerably by lowering your risk. This might involve making your home more disaster proof, buying a car with safety features, or agreeing to participate in a wellness program. Talk to your insurance provider about the different things you can do to make yourself more insurable.

9. Improve Your Credit Rating.Your credit rating can affect both your auto and home insurance rates. If you improve your score, you might be able to lower your premium. You may also be able to achieve the same result by purchasing insurance through a provider that does not perform credit checks on new customers.

10. Quit Smoking. Tobacco use can increase the rates you pay on all four major types of insurance coverage: home, auto, health, and life. Quit smoking and you may see significant drops in your premiums.

Guest post from Bailey Harris, financial writer and Homeownersinsurance.org contributor.

source: financialhighway.com

Auto Insurance in California

Having auto insurance in California is required by state law and can be very costly if caught without it. Many motorists today are seeking the best deal in town and living in a state where everything is known to be expensive there are so many options to choose from. Yet there are still folks driving around with no car insurance. Auto coverage helps protect against a financial loss in case of a car accident or other type of loss related to your vehicle. It covers damages and injuries that can be caused by a potential accident. It also can cover the costs of repairs to your car or replace it if it were completely damaged or stolen.

Living in California, one of the most expensive states in the country, can also bring about high insurance premiums. Typically, the longer one has been driving without tickets and/or accidents on their driving record, the better Auto Insurance rates they can get. Some other factors that can play a role include your experience (age), home zip code, and even your credit score. Keep in mind you may also qualify for discounts based on your vehicles safety features and other programs offered by carriers. In addition, select carriers offer deep discounts for having multiple policies in force.

There are many insurance carriers available and even more offering free California auto insurance quotes online. In some cases the state's imposed minimum liability may not be enough to cover the cost of damages that result from an accident. In these instances, the motorist responsible for the accident will be held liable for any excess charges not covered by the insurance policy. It is very important to consider what your needs are and putting together a policy that will suit both your needs and your budget.

Should I Have "Full Coverage"?

This question is all too common and deserves the proper attention. The term "full coverage" by definition means that you carry both liability coverage and collision coverage for your own vehicle. However, it does NOT mean that everything is covered no matter what! This is a common misconception and one should understand that you will usually have out of pocket expenses via a deductible or co-insurance. The fastest way to find out what type of coverage you currently have is to reference the Declarations page of your auto policy.

Can My Insurance Premiums Change?

Typically if you have a good driving record and no tickets or accidents, your initial auto insurance quotes in California should only get better as time goes on. However, if you do have tickets accidents or live in a high risk area, your premiums are subject to increase. It is best to evaluate your premiums at least once a year to make sure your rates coincide with the best rating factors.

You never know when an accident can occur. With traffic as bad as it is known to be in California, having the right car insurance solutions in place is very critical.

I have been providing Insurance services to individuals, families and businesses alike for nearly a decade. We are a leading online provider and source for all of your auto insurance quotes in california. Please visit us for all your Insurance Solutions needs to find out more.

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