The Secrets of Cheap Car Insurance
by Mike McDonough
Have you ever wondered where cheap car insurance is hiding? Believe it or not, cheap car insurance isn't as elusive as you might think! In fact, it's been right under your nose the whole time, taunting you, teasing you with the possibilities without ever coming out into the open. (It's kind of like Big Foot and the Lochness monster that way!) The bottom line is, the discovery of cheap car insurance can be yours if you know where (and how!) to look.
The first step to finding its secret hiding place is to look around. No, this isn't a child's game of hide and seek, and the cheap car insurance you're looking for probably isn't hiding underneath your bed (although under the hood of your car might be another story). It's important to remember, however, that car insurance providers are kind of like pizza parlors. There are plenty of them floating around in every corner of the country, and each of them is just a little bit different.
Since every car insurance provider is different it stands to logic that their prices would be different too-and they usually are. You could find yourself saving 10-20% or more on your car insurance premiums just by bidding a fond farewell to your old provider and hopping on another insurance bandwagon, and nine times out of ten you can do it without sacrificing any of your coverage.
The real secret of cheap car insurance, however, isn't just looking around. Most insurance companies give you the chance to find out your "base" premiums using their automated service, either online over the phone. Once you find a car insurance provider willing to give you a good deal using your basic information it's time to see how low you can go. How are you going to do that?
Discounts.
Discounts are the bread and butter of the cheap car insurance industry. Why? Because you can shave another thirty percent or more off of your insurance premiums by finding discounts that your insurance provider forgot they offered! Every insurance provider is different, and many times new agents don't even know what discounts their insurance provider offers. Because of that, it's important to stay informed! Common car insurance discounts include:
• Your age. Most companies lower your car insurance premiums dramatically when you turn 25, then again at 55.
• Your job. Did you know that teachers and engineers are statistically less likely to have accidents and, consequently, pay considerably less for their car insurance?
• Your credit score. You're never going to get away from it. It's pointless to try.
• Organizations you belong to. Many insurance providers team up with specific organizations to offer their members a discount in exchange for sending more business their way, so if you belong to a club or organization (or your employer has hopped on the car insurance bandwagon) you might be eligible for discounts you never even knew existed.
• Your car. The Highway Loss Data Institute compiles a list every year of the cars most likely to be stolen/vandalized/involved in an accident/etc., and insurance companies pounce on these like a cat chasing a mouse. If your car is on their "better than average" list you're going to go to the front of the line for cheap car insurance.
• Your car's safety features. Seat belts. Air bags. Anti-lock brakes. All of these things can save you money on your car insurance.
• Your driving history. You knew it was coming sooner or later! Every ticket you get, every accident you cause, drives up the cost of your insurance and puts cheap car insurance that much farther out of reach. Honor the rules of the road and that five year good driver discount can shave hundreds off your annual premiums!
As you can see, cheap car insurance isn't as far away as you might think. Isn't it time you took advantage of it?
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