Affordable Auto Insurance Quotes
 Have
you taken a good look at your auto insurance policy lately? If you're
like most of us, there's a good chance that you haven't really taken
a good look at your policy since you bought it in the first place, which
means there is good news and bad news. The good news is that you probably
haven't had a major accident. The bad news is that you may be paying
more for your auto insurance than you have to.
While most insurance companies give you all the discounts that apply
to you at the time your coverage starts, the reality is that as you
progress through life, with family changes, job changes, and lifestyle
changes, your auto insurance doesn't change with you unless you tell
your agent what's going on.
Fortunately, it's never too late to look at the discounts that may
apply, call your agent, and have them re-price your insurance, or, if
you think you can do better elsewhere, comparison shop for some alternatives.
Here are seven kinds of discounts for affordable auto insurance that
may apply to you. If you are not already getting "credit" for them,
talk to your insurance agent at your earliest convenience.
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- Age. If you've crossed over into the dreaded "senior citizen"
category, you may be able to get an insurance discount for being a
senior driver.
- Bundling. Are your home, auto, and life insurance policies
all held by the same company? If not, bundling them together under
a single umbrella can save you a significant amount of money.
- Driving Record. If you haven't had an accident in the last
two or three years, you may qualify for a good driver discount. As
well, if you take a defensive driving class, that can positively impact
your insurance rates, as well.
- Your Job. Just as people in high-risk professions have a difficult
time getting any kind of insurance, and have to pay more for the insurance
they have, those of us in low-risk occupations can sometimes get lower
rates. Engineers and teachers, for example, may have discounts available
that the rest of us do not.
- Professional Organizations. Your job may not only give you
the option for group insurance, which can save you money, but there
may be special discounts offered to members of unions or trade organizations.
It's another good reason to actually join your professional organization,
if you haven't already.
- Risk Increases. There are two ways to increase your risk,
which reduces your insurer's risk, and, in turn, lowers your insurance
rates. The first is to decrease your coverage. If you're driving an
older car, worth less than $2,000, you may want to consider dropping
your collision insurance, because you're likely paying more in premiums
than the car is actually worth. You can also re-design your policy
to change your deductible. The more you agree to pay out-of-pocket,
the lower your insurance premiums will be.
- Safety Features. Anti-lock brakes are at the top of the list
of car safety features that can save you money. In fact, in states
like New York and Florida, insurance companies are required to offer
discounts to drivers whose cars are equipped with anti-lock braking
systems. Other features that can save you money include airbags, automatic
seatbelts, and anti-theft devices.
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