We’re all looking for ways to save on car insurance and any chance we might have to keep some cash in our pockets is going to be a welcome opportunity. So you might be pleased to know that you don’t need to spend a lot on auto insurance Fairfax, VA, not when you know these six practical tips for auto insurance savings.
The fact is you must have a valid insurance policy on your automobile if you plan to operate that vehicle on our country’s roads and highways. So if owning auto insurance is mandatory then you’re going to want to find ways to pay less for it. The good news is that you do have a wide range of discounts and policy types that you can turn to in order to make your coverage more affordable while being cost-effective.
You don’t want to buy an insurance policy for your car that doesn’t do much for you when the time comes to file a claim. Poor coverage can be even worse than no coverage because you’ve been paying this provider a premium every month and getting little to nothing for it in return. But there are some steps to saving on your auto insurance that you may not be aware of or perhaps you haven’t tried because you didn’t believe they were really all that effective. Well guess what, these work and you should be thinking about applying these tips to your current and future policies.
1. Pay in Full
That’s right, saving money on your car insurance policy can be as simple as paying your bill. Most insurance companies will offer to lower your rates just a bit if you pay off your premiums in full every six to twelve months instead of sending in monthly payments.
When you pay on a monthly basis there’s the greater risk of missing a payment and the insurance companies are looking to avoid that from happening. So they will incentivize customers who pay in full by offering them a break on their costs.
2. Choice of Automobile
When we choose a car to buy or lease, we’re usually considering a multitude of choices with respect to aesthetics and functionality, but the next time you step on that lot, you may want to think practicality in terms of how much it will cost to insure.
That means considering a vehicle that comes with several safety features as these can lower your auto insurance costs through big discounts. These features include things like air bags, automatic seat belts and anti-lock breaks. Anything that will make your car safer and more stable on the road is going to make it a lot less expensive to insure.
3. Comparison Shopping
This is an easy one as it’s something everyone can do, but not all of us take this step because we think it’s going to be a hassle. Well, the more time and effort you put into this task, the more money you could save on your auto insurance.
So get online and start hitting up those insurance company websites, get some quotes, and compare the prices for the amount of coverage you need for your car. The quotes are free and while you may have to enter the same information over and over again, you may just end up paying a whole lot less than you might expect.
4. Drive Less
The less time your car spends on the road, the happier the insurance company will be. That can translate to lower premiums on your insurance policy. At the time you request a quote, your insurance company may ask how many miles you drive on average per year and the answer you provide will affect the quote you receive.
Just remember, that’s an estimate you give them, so if you end up driving fewer miles than you expected, you should let your provider know as that could result in you receiving a low-mileage discount on your car insurance costs.
5. Clean Driving Record
This one is pretty self-explanatory and really the best and most effective way to save on your car insurance premiums. Keeping your driving record spotless, that is no accidents, no speeding tickets, and no moving violations, is your best bet for auto insurance savings.
6. Consider Your Coverage
Finally, it’s a good idea to re-examine your policy every so often. The cost of your premium is based on how your coverage limits so you may want to think about looking at those limits to determine if you really need this much coverage on your car.
This will be dictated by your driving habits and how much of a payout you need on certain components of the policy. The higher your numbers, the more expensive the coverage. Perhaps you needed these limits at one time in your life because of your driving habits, but times change and people change. Maybe it’s also time to change your policy and, in doing so, lowering your premiums.
