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5 Easy Steps To Lower Your Auto Insurance Quote
By: Sam Caldrone
It was not too long ago when contracts were made on a handshake and a promise.
Individuals were not particularly concerned with things like insurance because
they relied upon the goodwill of their neighbor to compensate them for wrongful
damage. For a variety of reasons, including an increase in the speed and cost of
auto wrecks, auto insurance soon became an important purchase for responsible
individuals. Not long after, the federal government mandated that auto insurance
be carried, at least minimally, by all car owners. The increase in the need for
auto insurance over the last 10 years has led to increases in the complexity of
insurance, while at the same time, amplifying the need to be more cost conscious
in auto insurance purchases.
Buying auto insurance today requires as much dexterity as buying the automobile
itself. It is important to know the factors that an auto insurance company
considers when offering quotes. This will allow you, as the consumer, to know
what steps you need to take in order to qualify for a lower quote. The five easy
steps to a lower insurance quote are:
1. Portray yourself as a ‘safe’ candidate: Insurance companies are interested in
managing risk. Consequently they offer drivers who are less likely to get into
wrecks or at a minimum into wrecks of less severity, a lower insurance quote.
- Maintain a clean driving record, free of traffic violations or accident
claims.
- Install anti-theft devices in your vehicle.
- Attend a Drivers Safety Training program.
- Buy a ‘safe’ vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
and The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety together collect information on
safety related aspects of different vehicles. Buy an automobile that is
officially designated as ‘safe’.
- Park your vehicle in a garage.
2. Show your Credit worthiness: As a risk management entity, insurance companies
are also worried about getting paid on time. If you can show yourself to be
credit worthy, there is less risk of you not making your payments on time, thus
warranting a lower rate.
- Maintain a good credit score and clear up any errors on your credit.
- Cut down on the total number of outstanding credit cards to 2 or 3.
3. Practice Financial Wisdom: The way in which you structure and pay for your
policy can lower the risk that an insurance company faces with respect to you as
a customer. By taking steps to lower their risk, you receive a lower insurance
quote and policy.
- Buy an annual policy instead of a six monthly coverage to get you a lower rate
that remains the same for a year.
- Opt for automatic payment deductions from your bank account or your credit
card to avoid getting charged for mail payments.
- Increase your deductibles on comprehensive and collision policies to reduce on
the rates.
- Get loyalty discounts by buying your home and auto insurance from the same
company.
4. Assess your Insurance Needs accurately: This is obvious, the more coverage
you get the more it will cost you. Add-ons are killers in the insurance
business, strip your policy down to just the minimum of what you need.
- If your vehicle is not used much or you have an old car with little market
value, opt for minimum liability alone. It will cost you less.
- After fulfilling the legal mandate on auto insurance, insure according to your
needs alone.
5. Other wise things that you can do: There are a number of other considerations
that go into your insurance quote. Some of them are not reasonable steps to
take, while others you can do with little effort which can translate into
substantial savings.
- If your car is used only for a particular purpose, make your agent aware of
it, as this will limit the cost.
- Students that make good grades are often eligible for a discount.
- Give up smoking; it can help you get better quotes.
- Change your occupation if you can help. A delivery boy carries a higher risk
than a storekeeper.
About the Author:
Sam Caldrone recommends that you visit http://www.smartautoinsurance.com for more information on getting an auto insurance quote.
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