| Are You Still Paying Too Much for Car Insurance? | | | | [ ] Other Discounts |
| You will find a checklist of items to ask your insurance | | | | 2. Saving Insurance Premium on cars you own outright. |
| agent that may qualify for discounts. Keep in mind that | | | | If you own a clear title to your car, meaning there is no |
| not all discounts can be applied with all insurance | | | | bank loan on it, then you may want to consider |
| companies in all states. | | | | dropping the collision/comprehensive coverage. As a |
| 1. Shop Around | | | | rule of thumb, if the cars value is less than $3000, it |
| Go to your favorite search engine and type in free car | | | | may not make sense for you to pay for this additional |
| insurance quotes online. You'll see a long list of | | | | coverage. Over time, the cost of the additional |
| insurance companies that you may even be familiar | | | | insurance premium will exceed the value of the car. It's |
| with. Visit at least five car insurance websites and look | | | | pretty simple math. |
| for a link to free quotes. You will then be asked basic | | | | Check the fair market value of your car either through |
| information about yourself, your driving history, and | | | | or even your local newspaper. See what other people |
| your car's make, model, and year. It just takes a couple | | | | are trying to get for the same car. Keep in mind your |
| of minutes, and shortly thereafter, they will email you a | | | | cars mileage, condition, and age. Has it been in an |
| no obligation quote. Write down their website address, | | | | accident before? Does it have unusually high mileage in |
| their toll free number, and customer service email | | | | excess of 15,000 miles per year? Does it need new |
| address. | | | | tires? You get the idea. Be realistic, because in the |
| Each insurance company will ask you generally the | | | | event that this car is in an accident and is damaged |
| same questions, and will give you options about how | | | | beyond repair, it is unlikely you will get the full value of |
| much coverage you will want. Find your current policy, | | | | the car. |
| if you have one, and take note of the coverage you | | | | 3. Ask About Insurance Rates in Different Areas |
| currently have. Always provide the same information | | | | Rates can vary widely even in the same state. |
| and ask for the same coverage at each company so | | | | Different locals have different accident rates, |
| you will be comparing apples to apples. Read the fine | | | | population, and crime. These all factor in to the final |
| print and make sure nothing is excluded from the | | | | cost. If you are moving to a different area, ask about |
| quote like Rental car coverage, towing, medical, etc... | | | | what the rates are for that town. |
| For the purposes of the quote, the insurance company | | | | 4. Ask About Getting Other Insurance Policies |
| will not ask you your social security number, but keep | | | | Together With Your Auto Insurance |
| in mind your actual cost maybe higher or lower | | | | Combining insurance policies with the same company |
| depending on your credit history. If you're not sure | | | | can often give you additional discounts. If you own a |
| about some of the terminology or coverage, take | | | | home, ask about combining your homeowners |
| notes so that you can ask the insurance company | | | | insurance with your auto insurance. Also ask about |
| about them directly. | | | | other polices, such as life, health, and business |
| Once you have at least five quotes emailed to you, | | | | insurance. Most insurance companies cover a wide |
| take the lowest two or three quotes and see if they | | | | range of policies and will give substantial discounts |
| are less than what you are paying now. Most likely at | | | | when you do business exclusively with them. |
| least one of them is much lower. At this point you will | | | | 5. A Clean Credit History Can Reduce Car Premiums: |
| want to call them directly to get the most accurate | | | | Having good credit can also lower your insurance |
| quote by providing additional personal information. For | | | | costs. Many insurance companies will use credit |
| additional discounts, here is a checklist of things you | | | | information to price auto insurance policies. Drivers with |
| should ask about. | | | | good credit and a clean driving record may qualify as |
| [ ] $500 deductible | | | | a "preferred" customer with lower risk and will be |
| [ ] $1,000 deductible | | | | rewarded with lower premiums. |
| [ ] Paying monthly, semi-annually, or annually | | | | 6. Low Mileage Discounts |
| [ ] More than 1 car | | | | Some companies offer discounts to drivers who drive |
| [ ] No Accidents in 3 Years | | | | a lower than average number of miles per year. If you |
| [ ] No Moving Violations in 3 Years | | | | car pool, take public transportation like the subway, or |
| [ ] Driver Training Courses | | | | work from home, you will most likely drive few miles |
| [ ] Defensive Driving Courses | | | | per year than the average driver. |
| [ ] Anti-Theft Devices | | | | 7. Group Insurance |
| [ ] Low Annual Mileage | | | | Some insurers offer discounts to drivers who work for |
| [ ] Air Bags | | | | certain companies or belong to professional |
| [ ] Anti-Lock Brakes | | | | associations, and alumni groups. Ask your employer, |
| [ ] Daytime Running Lights | | | | group or clubs that you belong to if they have any |
| [ ] Student Drivers with Good Grades | | | | special arrangements with different insurance |
| [ ] Auto and Homeowners Coverage with the Same | | | | companies. |
| Company | | | | Using all of these tips can save you hundreds of |
| [ ] College Students away from Home | | | | dollars per year, especially when you have multiple |
| [ ] Long-Time Customer | | | | cars and multiple drivers in the same household. |