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Useful Tips On Reducing Insurance Costs
By: John Mussi
Most people want lower insurance costs but are often too lazy to do anything
about it. All it takes is a little time and effort and you could be looking at a
reduced insurance premium.
Here are some useful tips on reducing insurance costs:
Shop Around
Although it may sound an obvious thing to do, you will be surprised at how many
people just renew their policy without comparing prices. It'll take some time,
but could save you a good sum of money.
Check consumer guides, insurance agents and online insurance quote services. Ask
friends what they are paying for their policies. This will give you an idea of
price ranges and tell you which companies have the lowest prices. But don't
consider price alone. The insurer you select should offer a fair price and
deliver quality service.
Raise Your Excess Amounts
Excess amounts are the amount of money you have to pay toward a loss before your
insurance company starts to pay a claim, according to the terms of your policy.
The higher your excess, the more money you can save on your premiums.
Buy your home and car policies from the same insurer
Some companies that sell homeowner, car and personal liability insurance
policies will offer you a reduced premium if you buy two or more insurance
policies from them. But make certain this combined price is lower than buying
the different policies from different companies.
Improve your home security
You can usually get discounts for fitting a smoke detector, burglar alarm or
dead-bolt locks. Some companies offer quite substantial reductions on premiums
if a sophisticated sprinkler system and a fire and burglar alarm that rings at
the police, fire or other monitoring stations is installed. These systems aren't
cheap and not every system qualifies for a discount. Before you buy such a
system, find out what kind your insurer recommends, how much the device would
cost and how much you'd save on premiums.
Maintain a good credit record
Establishing a solid credit history can cut your insurance costs. Insurers are
increasingly using credit information to price homeowners' insurance policies.
To protect your credit standing, pay your bills on time, don't obtain more
credit than you need and keep your credit balances as low as possible.
Stay with the same insurer
If you've kept your policy with a company for several years, you may receive a
special discount for being a long-term policyholder. But make certain to
periodically compare this price to ensure that you are getting the most
competitive price.
About the Author:
John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the
best available loans via the
www.directonlineloans.co.uk website .
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