Car insurance is not only important, it is also required by law in most states. And for a good reason, it is here to protect your vehicle, yourself, and those living and driving with you. But, you do get a say in which insurance you want to choose.
The great thing is that you can influence the price of car insurance. It doesn’t matter if you choose basic or full auto coverage, you deserve to get the best deal possible. With that said, here are six ways to lower your auto insurance.
1. Choose Wisely
Before we get into traffic school and tickets. You should know you can choose which insurance provided you want. There are many factors and they often depend on personal preference and your financial situation. However, there are a few tips that everyone can use.
- Ask for recommendations from your friends and family
- Look for the provider’s financial security. There is no point in getting insurance from a company that couldn’t cover it when you need it.
- Check and compare their prices.
- Ask about discounts. Some insurance providers offer discounts for passing driver’s ed, low annual mileage, going to traffic school, no accidents in x number of years, etc.
2. Drive Safely
You can start with these safe driving tips. In general, driving safely means being focused on what you are doing, how other motorists are driving, and what else is happening on the road around you.
Driving safely means reducing your distractions, following the traffic laws, and avoiding accidents. In general, auto insurance companies offer between 10% and 20% discount if you have a great driving record.
3. Enroll in Traffic School
Traffic school can do quite a few things for you. It will reduce your auto insurance premium, mask or remove points on your driving record, and teach you valuable driving skills.
How many points you can reduce or mask depends on your state. In California, for example, you can only mask one point. Masking means the point will be there, but it won’t show up when someone is checking your background.
Traffic school is also a great way to refresh your knowledge of the driving laws and focus on safe driving techniques, like anticipating potential threats and learning to protect yourself by avoiding accidents.
You can find many traffic schools around you, but the best option is a good online traffic school course. With the online option, you can go through the course at your own pace and practice the final exam as many times as you want.
4. Have More Than One Car? Get a Discount!
Most car insurance companies offer a discount if you own more than one vehicle but insure all of them together. Basically, you will pay a higher per vehicle price if you insure each car on its own.
You should only check with the provider about multiple drivers. Generally, drivers have to be related by blood or marriage, and while insurance for vehicles with unrelated drivers is possible, they have to share ownership of the vehicle.
5. Choose a Different Vehicle
If you drive a huge SUV that eats a barrel of oil for breakfast, you can expect higher insurance rates. Choosing a smaller and safer car, especially if you need it for the daily commute, is beneficial not only for insurance rates but also for your health and the environment.
Look for an electric or a hybrid vehicle and contact your insurance provider about a lower premium. You might be surprised to hear they offer as much as a 5% discount. Plus you will save money on fuel and taxes.
6. Increase Your Deductibles
This can be a risky move, but if you are a safe driver and you live in a safe neighborhood, you may benefit from larger deductibles.
A deductible is the amount of money you have to cover in case of an accident or theft before the insurance chips in. It can be as low as 250$ or as high as 1000$. In general, the lower the deductible, the higher the insurance premium.
Having a higher deductible means a larger one-off payment, but if you rarely use your vehicle, and when you do, you drive safely, it might pay off.
A Few Final Words
The best way to lower your auto insurance, and keep it low, is to be a safe driver. This means if you paid attention to your driver’s education and you memorized all the safe driving techniques, you can drive focused and mindful of your surroundings.
Looking for ways to lower your insurance premium? Check out our Traffic School or Defensive Driving course! Call us today on (877) 786-5969 or click here to send us a message!
