Saving money on car insurance is easy — when you follow these steps.
15 minutes will save you 15%. Save hundreds in 10 minutes or less. You see auto insurance advertising everywhere. On TV, online, in the mail, on the radio — it’s everywhere. Why? Because most people can save a lot of money by switching their car insurance.
Rates can vary by hundreds of dollars or more from one company to the next — even for the same coverage limits and deductibles. And companies make it remarkably easy to get a quote. That’s why it pays to shop around. Just follow these steps.
1. Make sure you’re ready before you start
If you want to compare auto insurance quotes, you need accurate information. So before you start, take a few minutes to make sure you have the following information available.
* Your Current Insurance Declarations Page
— By matching your current deductibles and coverage limits you can be sure you’re getting the same protection.
* Vehicle Information
— Year make model and VIN
— Annual miles and distance to work
— Value of any custom or after-market equipment
— Type of alarm or theft recovery device
* Driver Information (For each household member old enough to drive)
— Drivers name, occupation, gender, number of years licensed, and Driver’s License number.
— Any accidents or violation in the past 3 years including dates, who was at fault, if someone was injured and the claim amount.
2. Don’t settle for the first company to save you money.
If you’re only getting one quote to compare with your current policy, you’re probably not going to get the best deal. There are a lot of car insurance companies out there and each one has its own way of determining rates. Multiple quotes will give you a better opportunity to make the right choice.
Some websites will give you several quotes from a limited number of companies. But to get a better understanding of the features and service a company offers you should contact them yourself. After all, if you have the right information it doesn’t take a lot of time. The service you get shopping is a good indicator of what you can expect if you purchase a policy.
3. Ask questions.
Find out what you’re getting, what’s covered and what isn’t. Get your quote in writing and confirm the accuracy of each vehicle and driver you are insuring.
— Ask about discounts and make sure you’re getting credit when you qualify.
— Make sure your deductibles and coverage limits match your current policy.
— Ask about free, value-added features, such as Emergency Roadside Assistance.
— Ask about any membership or broker fees not included in the price they’re giving you.
— Find out if repairs are guaranteed for as long as you own your car.
— Ask what kinds of payment options are available.
Saving money on car insurance is easy. Be prepared!
First, I would call your current insurance provider and see if they can give you any additional discounts.
Then go get quotes from other companies.
If you found a lower quote, call your current company again and tell them! When I did this, they matched the lowest price I found.
And don’t forget about multi-policy discounts. Home and auto at the same place usually equals more savings.
Okay, I knew all of this stuff in the back of my mind since I get new quotes every year or two, BUT, I love having it all in one place like this. This is agreat post to just print out and use as a checklist! Very nice! Good reminders in the two comments as well!
I’d add that getting new quotes on auto insurance is also a great time to make sure you are covered like you want to be. Last time I got quotes, I thought it would be a good idea to raise our liability amounts but it also made since to go to liability only on my 5 year old Aveo.