Car insurance is a necessary evil; we are required by law to have it, yet we hardly ever use it. Like all other bills, I have researched ways to
save money on car insurance that actually work. Some of these options are well known and some are new. To be thorough, I have included the old and the new ways to save money on car insurance.
Multiple line discount - insure all cars and homes with the same insurance company to receive a discount
Drive Less - If you were laid off or work from home, tell you agent. The distance that you have to drive varies by agency, but with State Farm you will receive a discount if you drive less than 100 miles per week.
Safe Driving Discount - You might eligible for a discount if you have been free of accidents and tickets for several years.
Increase your deductible - A deductible increased from $250 to $500 can save a family hundreds of dollars a year. However, if you increase your deductible, make sure you have the extra $250 if you have to file a claim.
Shop around -- when your premium goes up, let your agent know you are looking; chances are they will find some other discounts.
Discount for parents under 25 - Car insurance companies reduce their policy holders premium at the age of 25 assuming there have been no accidents, some insurance companies offer this reduction for parents under that age of 25. However, another reduction will not apply once you turn 25.
Full coverage or liability - You only need full coverage if the value of your car, according to Kelley Blue Book, is worth more than repair cost. If that is not the case, change your coverage to liability.
Talk to your agent before buying a new car - The shiny red sports car and the gadget filled luxury car might look good on the dealership floor, but the premiums might cost an arm and a leg. Check prices with your insurance agent to help you make the best decision.
Avoid short-term policies - Penalties are often applied, think long-term
Don't let your insurance lapse - A lapsed insurance policy indicates irresponsibility and high-risk. Avoid this at all cost. When you are ready to renew you will notice that your cost will have jumped tremendously.
Don't insure vehicles you don't drive - Take the old Chevy that you have been working on for years off your policy. However, some states require that you have any registered vehicle insured, so if you drop insurance you may want to register the vehicle as inoperable" to avoid any complications or penalties.
Refresh your driving skills - Many insurance companies are now providing courses where people can refresh their driving skills. However, fees are applied to these courses; therefore, determine if reduction in your premium will be worth the cost of the course.
Don't hit anything or get a ticket - Your fault or not, this can increase your policy rate for several years. Keep your eyes on the road. Avoid tickets. Speeding tickets and other moving violations can push your rates up substantially and these, like accidents, usually affect your insurance for 3-5 years.
Don't insure teenager driver with your car - Premiums for a teenager driver is through the roof. Instead, purchase a safe, used car and only purchase liability. You will save hundreds of dollars.
Have good credit score- I don't agree with this step for determining policy price, but some insurance companies are now using credit scores to calculate the cost of your premium. High credit scores have lower premiums and low credit scores have high premiums. Keep your score high.
Pay semi-annually - This is my favorite way to save money on car insurance. Instead of paying your car insurance monthly, pay semi-annually. The 1st payment is the hardest because you will have to pay the full amount to cover the first six months; think ahead and start saving for this switch. Once you have paid your 1st six month premium, automatically transfer the monthly premium payment into a high yield savings account to earn interest until semi-annual payment is due. By doing this not only are you saving money by avoiding the monthly surcharge fee you are also making money off of interest.
Now all you have to do is call your insurance agent and start saving money on your car insurance.