Car insurance is one part of our family budget that we will always have to deal with and so it behooves us to get better informed. We would all love to buy some form of discount car insurance. The reality of that already exists. There are more discounts in car insurance than ever before. Some of the newer vehicles have so many of them that they are often cheaper to insure than some of the older vehicles. Let us make an analysis of some of the discounts available during the process of purchasing car insurance.
Multiple Policy Discount – This is a common one and still there are many people who are yet to take advantage of this discount. This discount, with some companies, can be as high as 15%.
Good Driver Discounts – Insurance companies love to reward the driver that has an excellent driving record. These are profitable policyholders and help bring the over all rates down.
Auto Safety Features Discount – Automobiles with airbags and seatbelts receive lower rates. Anti-lock brakes and anti-theft devices also lower car insurance rates. The vehicle identification number will identify all of these features and so it is important to give that number to whoever is quoting your car insurance.
Young Driver Discounts – Many companies give substantial discounts for high school and college students that have a 3.0 grade point average or better. The drivers training discount has been a standard discount for young drivers. Find a company that has both and you will help lower premium dramatically.
Senior Citizens Discounts – Drivers who are 55 years and above and are currently not employed are given retirement discounts. Homemakers can qualify automatically with some companies at age 55. One can also avail of mature driver discounts once a driving course is complete.
Lower Tort Option – In many states, tort option is either lower or limited. This is your ability to sue for pain and suffering. Though a lower tort option restricts your ability to sue, it can also bring your premium down by 20% or more. Contact your agent or insurance company to know more of the tort laws that are followed in your state.
Auto Insurance – Don’t Pay Too Much
All Auto insurance premiums and costs are based on statistics. These statistics involve analyzing accident rates and theft rates for the different makes and models of automobiles, under differing circumstances. It is for this reason that auto insurance is significantly more expensive for teenagers than it is for adults. But there are many factors that determine the cost of your auto insurance premium.
Lets take a look at the main contributing factors.
A. Deductible. There will be an upward surge in the cost of the policy if you have a low or zero deductible on your auto insurance. This is of course a tradeoff, because you are essentially gambling on the fact that there won’t be a requirement for you to make a claim. You can pay up to 10% less on your annual premiums buy increasing the deductible. But a word of warning, if the time arrives to make a claim then you will be digging deeper into your pockets to pay for the larger deductible.
B. Crime Rate . If you are living in an area that statistically has high theft rates for your make and model of vehicle, then you will pay a higher premium. The reason for this is that chances of your car being stolen, vandalized, or getting involved in an accident is very much real. There is not much you can do about this, you shouldn’t move location just to cut your auto insurance costs. Don’t make the mistake of asking one of your family who live in the rural if you can use their address for your auto insurance. If the insurance company discovers this, you may be in trouble when its time to make a claim.
C. Garage Parking. The majority of auto insurance companies will give you to a slight premium reduction because cars parked in a garage are less likely to be stolen, vandalized, or damaged.
D. Mileage. Some companies have a low milage discount if you drive less than a certain number of miles in a year. This is often difficult to become eligible for because you will need to limit your driving in order to qualify.
E. Anti-theft Alarms Most auto insurance companies offer policy discounts if your car is equipped with a safety device or antitheft device
F. Shop around to find the cheapest auto insurance available. Get a quote from every reputable auto insurance company in your town or city. Most reputable insurance companies are on the internet and its easy to get online quotes.
F. Insurance Consolidation. There wil be significant discounts for you to have from most insurance companies if you have all of your insurance policies from the same company.
G. Driving Courses. Most companies are in the process of lowering the policy for people who go through a course on driver education. This mainly applies to new drivers. Insurance companies like to know whether you are driver educated and therefore statistically have less liklihood of the occurence of an accident.
H. Being Smart Helps. Many car insurance companies are now offering discounts for higher than average grade students.
7. No Claim Bonus. Most insurance companies will reduce the premium every year if you don’t make a claim. Every year there will be a reduction in your premium if you do not have an accident.
8. Sports Cars Pay The Price. If you have a high performace sports car then you better dig deep. Insurance costs in case of sports cars and up market luxurious cars are the highest. The cost can often be double or more than a standard family car.
So finally, to save on your auto insurance premium costs its a matter of keeping the above factors at a level that are in your favor.
More insurance info can be found at Illinois Auto Insurance