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Fuzz-free ways to get the best auto insurance rates
People are always on the look out for great buys. There’s probably nothing more exciting than finding a good product for sale at an extremely low price. Auto insurance shoppers are in no way different. They scout the market for policies offering excellent coverage for the lowest possible cost. If you have somehow found yourself in need of auto insurance then here’s something for you. But first, it would be helpful to understand one basic concept – risks.
Auto insurance rates are largely based on the risk that a buyer or he’s car would suffer from injuries and damage, respectively, from vehicular mishaps. The higher the risk, the higher the rates go. Showing proofs that you are a low-risk buyer enables you to get access to the best auto insurance rates available.
The following enumerates helpful advice on how you can successfully get the lowest rates.
Shop around. Don’t just buy the first quote that comes your way. Remember that you have so many options that it’s simply up to you to look around. Online resources such as quoteserv.com, progressive.com, and geico.com can make insurance-hunting significantly easier for you by showing a summarized version of the best-priced options available.
Maintain a good driving record. Being marked as a “safe driver” gives you the right to avail of huge premium deductions from insurers. The number of years that you’ve been driving a vehicle, speeding points you’ve received, and DUI offenses you’ve been charged with all determine how safe your driving is. When you drive safely, you are at a lesser risk of being in an accident than those who drive recklessly. Regularly check your driving record for errors since experience shows that more than 20% of all records have wrong entries in it. Overstated penalties or speeding points can drive rates up so you need to examine your record before shopping for insurance.
Avail of discounts. Almost all insurers offer discounts for people and cars with specific characteristics that are indicative of lowered risks. Drivers under the age of 25, who have just finished a state-approved class on driver’s education, and those over 55 normally get 10% off the regular rates. The same thing goes for students who have good academic records and who are presumed to be healthy and responsible drivers. Statistics show that engineers, mathematicians, and scientists get involved in much fewer accidents than the average individual warranting lower rates for such people. And due to meritorious reasons, teachers and military men are often offered reduced rates.
Drivers from rural areas get access to lower rates because the incidence of vehicular accidents is high only in urban centers. If you’re not planning to drive your car to work, then you’ll also be entitled to discounts. People who drive to work everyday especially during rush hours in an urban environment is at higher risk of being in an accident than say, people who drive regularly on weekends for fun and leisure.
Meanwhile, owning a car that has been statistically proven safer than most models (by virtue of its design, features, etc) also gives you significant price advantages. In fact, merely having automatic seatbelts and airbags already gives you approximately 30%. Anti-theft alarms also cut insurance rates most especially when they automatically activate once the engine is turned off.
Sign-up online. Many companies now offer discounts to people who sign-up for policies online. This is because it’s much easier and faster for insurers to process applications filed online than those filed over the counter. It’s basically cheaper for them and this savings are reflected on the lowered rates.
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