Never Mind That Salamander! No Need To Switch Auto Insurance Companies - Just Check Your Discounts
Almost everyone is deluged with offers for automobile insurance nowadays, promising reduced premiums. Switch if you need to, but you can probably get a better rate staying with your current insurer and claiming all the discounts you can get.
Insurers offer at least 20 different discounts, and you should review these with your agent to find out. There are also other ways to save money on premiums. I’ve been with one insurer for over 15 years, and every offer claiming savings usually ends up costing more.
Let’s look at some of the discounts you can take, and other ways to reduce your auto insurance premiums.
1. Drop comprehensive insurance on older cars. It just isn’t worth it, when you will only be paid blue book value anyway.
2. Consider raising your deductibles for the comprehensive insurance you do have.
3. Equipment Discounts – if your car has them, claim them.
a. Passive restraints – automatic seat belts or air bags.
b. Anti lock brakes (ABS).
c. Daytime running lamps.
d. Anti-theft devices like alarm, active or passive disabling device, electronic tracking devices, window glass etching.
e. Vehicle safety – 1999 and newer model year cars may receive a discount on medical payments coverage and Personal Injury Protection.
4. When you buy another car, check to make sure it’s a low profile car. Ask your agent before you buy it.
5. Educate yourself.
a. Take a drivers education class – even if you didn’t get a ticket.
b. Drug and alcohol awareness training.
6. Senior Citizen / Retired – discounts, but if you’re over 75, take a drivers education class – seniors have higher probabilities of collisions.
7. Student related or drivers younger than 25.
a. Good student – maintain a B average or better.
b. Driver Training Class – some states allow parents to train their children.
c. Student away at college at least 100 miles.
d. Three year accident free discounts – applies to younger drivers too.
8. If one of your underage drivers is away from home, and NOT driving, ask your agent to exclude them. That will mean they are NOT insured, but if they’re away, why pay for them?
9. Check your credit rating – good credit usually gives you lower rates.
10. If you are moving, sometimes a move across the county line will dramatically lower your rates. Rates are usually higher in urban areas, and less in rural areas, but are frequently set by county.
11. Three or five year accident free discounts.
12. Occupational discounts
a. Military
b. Senior level federal employee
c. Some companies give discounts to engineers / scientists
d. Some companies give discounts to teachers
13. Lower your mileage and lower your rates. Look into that car pool to work. Staying home more often saves on gas money too!
14. Vehicle used for farm, ranch or orchard work (if that’s your occupation).
15. Multi-car discounts – insure all your cars with the same company.
16. Multi-line discounts – insure your house and cars with the same company.
17. Renew your auto policy, or transfer a prior insurance to a new firm. Never drop your coverage for just a short time. When you return, your rates will be huge.
18. Pay in full, or have payroll deductions / EFT payments automatically withdrawn.
19. If you get a ticket, there are ways to prevent it from going on your driving record.
a. Take drivers education. The charge is dropped.
20. Ask your judge for deferred adjudication. You pay the fine, but they drop the charge if you don’t get another ticket for 90 days.
21. And here’s the final savings – make your teenage drivers get a job and contribute their own insurance payment money.
Al Weber publishes tips on saving auto insurance premiums at http://auto-insurance.reallyimportant.info. He’s been with the same insurer for over 15 years, and consistently finds offers to save money cost more. With three teenage boys driving, his interest in saving premiums is acute, and he wants to help others save as well.
About the Author
Rating: Not yet rated