When times are tough, people start looking for ways to trim expenses. One of those ways is to cut down on your auto insurance bill. While your coverage on this is one of the more important forms of protection that you have, since your car is one of your major investments, there are ways to find less expensive policies without sacrificing in the areas of customer service and satisfaction.
When your renewal is coming up, go out and get quotes from several different providers. There are some websites that will do this for you, if you punch in your information and send it out for quotes. You can also do it the old fashioned way, by calling around. Either way, take the time to find a variety of quotes so that you get the best deal possible.
If you’ve found what looks like a great deal, but you don’t know much about the company, it’s time to do some research. Head to the websites for the Better Business Bureau and Ripoff Report to find out what other people have to say about your insurer. One or two complaints don’t mean that you shouldn’t choose the company, as no provider will have a spotless service record. However, if there is a page full of complaints, you might think about moving up to the second cheapest choice.
Do not forget to cancel your former policy when the new one starts. There’s no reason to pay for two sets of coverage at once. Your old insurer will not know unless you tell them — but they won’t forget to send you a bill.
Don’t let other people borrow your car unless it is absolutely necessary — or unless they are better drivers than you are. Every time your car enters the road there is risk — and risk is what your insurer calculates to make your premium. The more opportunities you have to get in a wreck (or your car has to get in a wreck) the more likely it is that, soon, your premiums will go up because of an accident.
There are many online insurance companies that do a fine job in providing service, because they have established networks that make sure the service is top-notch. They also have less overhead than the brick and mortar companies, because they don’t have as many offices to worry about. This means that the savings can come along to you. Before signing up, though, do your homework about their reputations.
Pay that insurance premium in full. The balance will be less, and you will not have to pay those service fees for having it billed out on a monthly basis.
These tips should have you started down the road of cheaper car insurance coverage. There is no reason why you can’t find a less expensive policy at your next renewal — just make sure you’re not sacrificing quality and service. Use this article as a starting point — and happy hunting for your new policy!