Category: Auto Insurance

Quick Ways to Save on Auto Insurance

Posted by – September 7, 2009

With the way prices on everything are going up lately, you might be surprised to find out that there are some quick ways to save on auto insurance you pay every year. With smart research and some time and effort put into the task, it is possible for you to reduce your payments by a considerable amount. The following items can be done both before and after you have already taken out an auto policy for your vehicle, so don’t think you are trapped into your current rate.

One of the quickest ways to save on your auto insurance is to combine both your home and auto insurance policies– or renter’s insurance for those that are renting. Insurance agents are more likely to offer deals to those who give them more business, and combining insurers can save you anywhere from ten to fifteen percent off one or both policies. If there are no advertised savings, do not hesitate to ask the agent about the possibility of a discount when you request a quote.

Combining your insurance policy is not the only discount that auto insurers offer though, so make sure that you take advantage of every discount that is open to you. Ask about safe driver programs, student and senior citizen discounts, discounts for club membership and loyalty discounts. When you are able to stack these discounts the savings really adds up and you save money and time the quickest.

In addition to agent offered discounts, the quickest way to reduce your auto insurance bill is to request a higher deductible. A higher deductible saves you money on a monthly basis and in the long term. When doing this though, it is important to keep the available cash ready in case you need to make car insurance claim and require the necessary deductible. This tip is smart financially and in terms of being a smart shopper, because of the nature of insurance and its purpose.

Finally, to save even more money on your auto insurance, go over your existing or new policy with a fine tooth comb. Look for any coverage that you absolutely do not need or that you are overinsured for. Most consumers do not even realize when they are paying more than they need to for auto insurance based on the actual replacement value of their cars. Simply being diligent and smart with your money is the quickest way to save on your auto insurance bills.

How to Determine the Amount of Auto Insurance Needed

Posted by – September 7, 2009

car-insuranceMost consumers do not take the necessary time to actually determine how much auto insurance they need to buy. Instead, quotes for coverage are requested and a choice is made for the lowest priced option in many cases. But, the lowest or most affordable quote may not always be the best option, and it might not provide enough or too much auto insurance coverage than you actually need.

If you are currently shopping for auto insurance, there are several things that you need to consider in order to determine exactly how much auto insurance you should purchase. In addition, if you already have a policy, it is important to review it regularly to determine if your auto insurance needs have changed and if you need to purchase more or less coverage. The following items should be considered when reviewing an auto insurance policy and might even reduce the costs of insurance.

First, determine what is absolutely necessary for you to cover in terms of state laws and what you would need to recover costs if you were to ever suffer the loss of a vehicle. In most states bodily injury liability is required in order to drive your auto legally. This coverage is meant to insure you in the event that you cause damage to another person or their vehicle because of negligence or an accident. Because it is required, and because of the nature of its purpose, you not only want to just have bodily injury insurance, but you want to make sure you have enough in case something ever does happen and you are sued.

The best way to determine how much bodily injury liability you need to purchase, ask yourself how much you have to protect. Determine this based on your annual salary and any assets that would likely come into place if you were to be held liable for an accident. On the other hand, personal injury protection is meant for your own benefit and this is where you can balance out what you do and don’t need. If you already have health insurance, as well as life insurance, paying for personal injury insurance is basically over insuring yourself.

Speak with your life insurance agent and your auto insurance agent to determine how much coverage you already have and how much of a difference you need to make up. It is also important that you provide yourself with enough property liability to cover the costs that would be incurred in the event that property Is damaged.

Just by looking at these three types of coverage included in your auto insurance, you can easily and quickly determine how much auto insurance you need.