Low Cost Car Insurance

The lowest auto insurance rates come after years of safe driving, living in a ‘safe’ location, and being able to cash in on certain discounts. But if you have a few violations on your record or can’t afford to live in the best parts of town, never fear! You too can have affordable car insurance – as long as you can invest a little time into looking.

First, take advantage of the many internet sites that offer discount insurance and insurance quote comparisons. Some people stay with their current insurance company and assume that all rates will be similar, but this can be a costly mistake! Never assume that rates at one company are the same as the rates at another! Those commercials advertising that they can save you hundreds of dollars are often very accurate. Some good internet sites at which to compare quotes are Geico.com, Progressive.com, and Esurance.com.

Second, take advantage of extra discounts. Some companies, such as Progressive, offer an extra discount to those customers who choose to go paperless and receive all bills and paperwork via email. Many companies also offer discounts to students with a 3.0 or better GPA average, so be sure to note any hardworking students in the family when requesting your quote! Take some time to explore any other discounts that might apply to you.

Third, take a good long time to think about how much coverage you need. If you have an older car that isn’t in particularly good shape, consider going without comprehensive coverage or collision coverage. Consider also how large a deductible you can afford – a $1000 deductible will lower your rate considerably. Your highest area of coverage should be bodily injury; medical bills from an auto accident can run very high in a very short time. In addition, evaluate whether you need rental reimbursement or roadside assistance– could a friend or relative drive you to work if the need arose? Do you already subscribe to a service such as AAA that provides roadside assistance? Declining rental reimbursement and roadside assistance will also lower your rate.

Happy savings!