There is no such thing as cheap car insurance. Like anything, you get what you pay for.
With that out of the way, there are ways to decrease your car insurance rates.
Shop for the Best Auto Insurance Rates
The best place to start is by contacting an independent insurance agent. As opposed to captive agents, who are limited to one carrier, independent insurance agents offer multiple product lines and thereby exposing you to increased opportunities for savings.
Buying a new or used car?
Check the insurance rates before signing that contract. Knowledge is power and, in this case, good financial sense.
What type of car do you drive?
Look at the type of car you are driving. Is it racy convertible? Sportier cars attract younger, riskier drivers, therefore they can be more expensive to insure. On other end of the spectrum, it would seem like larger, boxier vehicles, like SUVs, may be less expensive to Insure. Not true. Due to their extra weight and greater potential to inflict damage, these cars can also be expensive to insure.
In general, mid-size sedans offer the best insurance rates.
Move to a Lower Crime Area
If you live in a high theft area, consider getting a different vehicle.
Kelley Blue Book lists these findings:
The 10 Most Stolen Cars in 2008 Included:
1. Cadillac Escalade ESV (2007)
2. Ford F-250 SuperCrew (2005 – 2007)
3. Cadillac Escalade (2005 – 2007)
4. Dodge Charger (2006 – 2007)
5. Ford F-350 SuperCrew (2005 – 2007)
6. Hummer H2 SUT (2005 – 2007)
7. Dodge Magnum (2005 – 2007)
8. Hummer H2 (2005 – 2007)
9. Dodge Durango (2005 – 2007)
10. Honda S2000 (2005 – 2007)
The 10 Least Stolen Cars in 2008 included:
1. Mercedes E Class (2005 – 2007)
2. Buick Rainier (2005 – 2007)
3. Subaru Forrester (2005 – 2007)
4. Buick Terraza (2005 – 2007)
5. Volkswagen Beetle (2005 – 2007)
6. Ford Focus (2005 – 2007)
7. Volvo V70 (2005 – 2007)
8. Toyota Prius (2005 – 2007)
9. Saturn Relay (2005 – 2007)
10. Ford Freestyle (2005 – 2007)
Clean your driving record
Tickets and accidents build bad driving records and your finances. To buy back some dependability and reduce your insurance rates, take a defensive driving class. A variety of in-class and on-line courses are available and are often directed at specific target audiences such as mature drivers and truck drivers.
Teen drivers at home?
Good grades pay off in many forms, including insurance discounts. Exact amounts vary among carriers.
Consolidate your policies with one company
How easy is this! Buying your home and auto insurance from the same company earns you a discount and an A+ in economics.
“The information on this site is general in nature. Any description of coverage is necessarily simplified. Whether a particular loss is covered depends on the specific facts and the provisions, exclusions and limits of the actual policy. Nothing on this site alters the terms or conditions of any policies, nor does it provide any guarantees. You should read your specific policy for a complete description of coverage.”
