Avoid Paying Too Much for Car Insurance
Even as many people struggle to make ends meet in these tough economic times, car insurance rates continue to rise. Luckily, there are some easy steps to take to curtail the sharp rise of insurance premiums and save more than a little money.
It is important to understand that the type of vehicle the policy holder drives has a huge bearing on how much insurance will cost. Things that might seem irrelevant, such as whether the car is two-door or four-door might have an effect. Get insurance quotes before purchasing a new car and avoid paying more than is necessary.
Of course, it is not possible for most to change their vehicle for the sake of car insurance. Some minor changes might be in store instead, like the addition of certain safety features. Things such as anti-lock brakes or some sort of anti-theft device or even airbags may all reduce the final quote. Cars with a good government safety rating may also find a sizeable discount. In fact, in some states, it is the law that cars with anti-lock brakes must receive an insurance discount.
Not only the safety of the car, affects the amount of the quote. The safety of its driver is an important consideration as well. A clean driving record goes far toward saving money on car insurance in California. A low-risk customer is also a low paying customer in the eyes of an insurance company. Of course, this means that drivers who have traffic violations will be considered high-risk and have commensurately higher premiums. Most insurance providers will require that higher price to take a high-risk driver, since they are more likely to suffer an accident.
One way to lower the risk assessment from the insurance company is to take an advanced driving course. Check with the insurance company first, to make sure this is actually something they will honor, and to avoid paying for an unnecessary course. There are often a number of other discounts available, like age discounts, or student discounts. Ask around, because otherwise they may not be offered at all.
A quick and easy way to lower the monthly premium is to raise the deductible. Often, depending upon state law, there is a deductible no one is allowed to go over. Just remember that the deductible is extra money the policy holder has to pay out of pocket in case of an accident. Lowering the rate of insurance payments only to owe more than it is possible to repay, should there be an accident, will defeat the purpose.