9 Ways to Lower your Auto Insurance Costs
You may not realize it, but the insurance rates you pay for your car can vary
dramatically depending on the insurance company, agent or broker you choose, the
coverages you request and the kind of car you drive. Listed below are a number
of things you can do right now to lower your insurance costs.
1. COMPARISON SHOP.
Prices for the same coverage can vary by hundreds of dollars, so it pays to shop
around. Ask your friends, check the yellow pages or call your state insurance
department (phone numbers are on back page). You can also check consumer guides,
insurance agents or companies. This will give you an idea of price ranges and
tell you which companies or agents have the lowest prices. But don't shop price
alone.
The insurer you select should offer both fair prices and excellent service.
Quality personal service may cost a bit more, but provides added conveniences,
so talk to a number of insurers to get a feeling for the quality of their
service. Ask them what they would do to lower your costs. Check the financial
ratings of the companies too. Then, when you've narrowed the field to three
insurers, get price quotes.
2. ASK FOR HIGHER DEDUCTIBLES.
Deductibles represent the amount of money you pay before you make a claim. By
requesting higher deductibles on collision and comprehensive (fire and theft)
coverage, you can lower your costs substantially. For example, increasing your
deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision cost by 15% to 30%.
3. DROP COLLISION AND/OR COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGES ON OLDER CARS.
It may not be cost-effective to have collision or comprehensive coverages on
cars worth less than $1000 because any claim you make would not substantially
exceed annual cost and deductible amounts. Auto dealers and banks can tell you
the worth of cars.
4. ELIMINATE DUPLICATE MEDICAL COVERAGES.
If you have adequate health insurance, you may be paying for duplicate medical
coverage in your auto policy. In some states, eliminating this coverage could
lower your personal injury protection (PIP) cost by up to 40%.
5. BUY A "LOW PROFILE" CAR.
Before you buy a new or used car, check into insurance costs. Cars that are
expensive to repair, or that are favorite targets for thieves, have much higher
insurance costs. Write to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 1005 North
Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22201 and ask for the Highway Loss Data Chart.
6. CONSIDER AREA INSURANCE COST IF YOU ARE MAKING A MOVE.
Costs tend to be lowest in rural communities and highest in center cities where
there is more traffic congestion.
7. TAKE ADVANTAGE Of LOW MILEAGE DISCOUNTS.
Some companies offer discounts to motorists who drive fewer than a predetermined
number of miles a year.
8. FIND OUT ABOUT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT OR AIR BAG DISCOUNTS.
You may be able to take advantage of discounts on some coverages if you have
automatic seat belts and/or air bags.
9. INQUIRE ABOUT OTHER DISCOUNTS.
Some insurers offer discounts for more than one car, no accidents in three
years, drivers over 50 years of age, driver training courses, anti-theft
devices, anti-lock brakes and good grades for students. See the following page
for a guide to these and other discounts.
INQUIRE ABOUT DISCOUNTS FOR:
COMPANY A COMPANY B COMPANY C
$500 deductible _______ _______ _______
$1,000 deductible _______ _______ _______
More than 1 car _______ _______ _______
No Accidents
in 3 Years _______ _______ _______
No Moving Violations
in 3 Years _______ _______ _______
Drivers Over 50 Years
of Age _______ _______ _______
Driver Training Course _______ _______ _______
Anti-Theft Device _______ _______ _______
Low Annual Mileage _______ _______ _______
Automatic Seat Belt _______ _______ _______
Air Bag _______ _______ _______
Anti-Lock Brakes _______ _______ _______
Good Grades for
Students _______ _______ _______
Auto and Homeowners
Coverage with the
Same Company _______ _______ _______
College Students
Away From Home
Without a Car _______ _______ _______
OTHER DISCOUNTS:
_______________ _______ _______ _______
_______________ _______ _______ _______
_______________ _______ _______ _______
_______________ _______ _______ _______
YOU CAN REACH YOUR STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT AT:
AL: 205-269-3550
AK: 907-465-2515
AS: 684-633-4116
AZ: 602-255-5400
AR: 501-686-2900
CA: 800-927-4357
CO: 303-894-7499
CT: 203-297-3800
DE: 800-282-8611
DC: 202-727-8002
FL: 800-342-2762
GA: 404-656-2056
GU: 671-477-5144
HI: 800-468-4644
ID: 208-334-2250
IL: 217-782-4515
IN: 800-622-4461
IA: 515-281-5705
KS: 800-432-2484
KY: 502-564-3630
LA: 504-342-5900
ME: 207-582-8707
MD: 800-492-6116
MA: 617-727-3357
MI: 517-373-9273
MN: 800-652-9747
MS: 601-359-3569
MO: 314-751-2640
MT: 800-332-6148
NE: 402-471-2201
NV: 800-992-0900
NH: 800-852-3416
NJ: 609-292-5363
NM: 505-827-4500
NY: 212-602-0203
NC: 800-662-7777
ND: 800-247-0560
OH: 800-686-1526
OK: 405-521-2828
OR: 503-378-4271
PA: 717-787-5173
PR: 809-722-8686
RI: 401-277-2223
SC: 803-737-6117
SD: 605-773-3563
TN: 800-342-4029
TX: 512-463-6464
UT: 801-530-6400
VT: 802-828-3301
VI: 809-774-2991
VA: 800-552-7945
WA: 800-562-6900
WV: 800-642-9004
WI: 800-236-8517
WY: 307-777-7401
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL THE NATIONAL INSURANCE CONSUMER HELPLINE (NICH) AT
1-800-942-4242
