InsuranceLecturer — The mythology tells you everything to do with insurance is difficult to understand. While it’s true the policies themselves are written in complicated language to keep the attorneys in work, the basic principles are straightforward.
Here’s an overview of the things you need to know about cheap car insurance.
1. Drive safely
All insurance is a form of betting. The company estimates the chances you will make a claim. If you drive safely and make no claim, you keep your cheap car insurance. Indeed, the longer you drive without picking up a ticket or being involved in an accident, the lower your premium.
But if your driving record shows you regularly commit moving traffic offenses and there have been a number of accidents, your premium rates will be going up fast. Since how you drive is directly under your control, it’s your decision on whether you retain your cheap car insurance rates.
2. Not all insurance companies are the same
Every company builds up experience on how to assess risk. Over time, this can lead to significant differences in the premium rates offered to different groups of drivers. The only way you find out about this is by shopping around.
The only way you can benefit from these cheap car insurance quotes is by being prepared to change your insurance provider to the one offering the best deal. Staying with your current insurer is often refusing to buy cheap car insurance.
3. Think about increasing your deductible
The deductible is the amount you have to pay out of your own pocket before the insurer will honor the claim, i.e. you insure the first part of the risk. The higher the deductible you agree to pay, the lower the premium rate you pay.
But before you sign up for this deal, be sure you can afford to pay the deductible. For these purposes, assume the worst. If you had two accidents in the same year, could you pay the deductible twice?
4. Pick the right vehicle to drive
The cheap car insurance rates are offered on the vehicles with the best safety records. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tests all makes and models, giving each model a rating based on crash and rollover test results.
The vehicles with the highest rating in each class get the cheapest rates. If you buy something with fast acceleration that thieves love to steal, expect to pay high rates.
5. How much insurance do you need?
If you have been putting off the replacement of your current vehicle, it’s appropriate to consider how much cover you need. Every year, the value of your vehicle falls so when it comes to collision and comprehensive cover, there may come a point when you could buy a replacement with the amount of the deductible you have agreed to pay.
If you have paid off the auto loan, think about buying liability cover only.
