Cheap Car Insurance

Friday, November 27, 2009

How Can I Find Cheap Car Insurance?

Times are hard and everyone is looking for a way to save money. And, for many of us, car insurance is a hefty expense, particularly if we own more than one vehicle. There are ways to find cheap car insurance and ways to reduce the cost on car insurance you already have. Here are a few tips to help you sort out the right car insurance for you.

If you're interested in finding reducing the cost of your car insurance by changing insurance carriers, take a look at those which advertise that they specialize in providing minimum car insurance requirements at the lowest prices. These companies help to find you the lowest cost on simple liability insurance - the coverage that most states require you to have. Their rates on collision, comprehensive and other "optional" types of insurance may or may not be any lower than other agencies, since their specialty is cheap car insurance for those who want the minimum coverage.

If, however, you're like most people and you want to save money on your car insurance but you also want full coverage, you should start by talking to your current insurance agent. In any economy, it's wise to review your insurance coverage and rates every few years so that you can ensure that your insurance coverage changes as your life and needs change. Reviewing your coverage regularly will also help see to it that you're getting all the discounts to which you're entitled.

For example, most car insurance companies offer multi-line discounts for people with more than one vehicle. The more cars you have insured, the bigger your discount. However, if you just add those cars without ever alerting your agent to the fact that you now have several cars insured with his company, you may never have the discount applied.

In addition to sitting down with your current agent to review your coverage, you may also want to shop around with other companies to see what rates they might offer you. Be certain to compare companies fairly, however, since minor differences in coverage can also change the rates.

If you're really strapped for cash, one of the ways to make sure your insurance is more affordable is to reduce your coverage. For example, you may choose to drop your collision coverage or drop or reduce your medical payments coverage. You can also switch to a higher deductible to reduce your monthly premiums.

Reducing coverage is a quick way to save cash, but there's a risk involved. You must also consider the consequences reduced coverage will have in the event of an accident. If you drop your collision coverage, can you afford the down payment on a new car if yours is totaled in an accident? Keep in mind that if you decide to reduce your coverage while you're financially strapped, you can always add the coverage back when your finances are back on track.

There are lots of things to consider when shopping for car insurance. Of course, we all want cheap car insurance, but we also need to have enough coverage to protect us. For more information about finding great car insurance rates, visit http://www.cheapcarinsurancquotetips.com.

Barry Brenner is a licensed car insurance agent specializing in low cost insurance.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barry_H_Brenner

Thursday, November 26, 2009

How to Find Cheap Car Insurance Rates For a New Young Driver

Is it possible to find cheap car insurance rates for a new driver? However young the driver it is certainly possible to find cheap auto insurance rates if one is simply willing to do their homework. As a new driver, finding a cheap car insurance policy should be your first priority. To begin, it is the law. In every state in the United States, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires drivers to be covered by a car insurance policy (although some states allow you to skip purchasing coverage if you are willing to pay an annual fee to the state). The idea of car insurance is that it protects you if you cause damage to property or bodily harm to another person when driving your car. If caught by the (DMV) without car insurance, you can be charged hundreds of dollars in fines or even have your license suspended if you are involved in an accident.

So obviously, it is important and necessary to have car insurance. The first step as a new driver is to work with your parents to determine if they will pay the monthly premiums, if you will help by contributing a certain amount, or if you will pay the amount each month yourself. A lot of parents feel that if their teens pay for part or all of their car insurance, it teaches them responsibility in exchange for the privilege of using the parents' car, or vice versa.

The first step in shopping for car insurance is to set a budget of how much you and/or your parents are able to pay each month. Once you know a monetary amount, you can best determine how much and what type of insurance you need. The type of policy coverage required varies from state to state, so it's important to research this when shopping for car insurance. Once you figure out what extra coverages you may want to add on, such as comprehensive, collision, or emergency roadside assistance, you can determine deductible amounts according to your budget.

Once you know what type of insurance and the amount of coverage you are looking for, you can start researching different insurance companies. To begin, it is best to review insurance company ratings online, which show the financial strength of these companies and their ability to pay claims. It's also important to keep in mind that insurance companies may use you or your parents' credit score in order to determine your rate amount. At this point, you can most likely narrow it down to several car insurance companies of interest. Now you can call them or visit their websites to determine which company can give you the best, competitive rate with the coverage you need included. A good tip is to mention that you have a few other companies in mind as well, so they can hopefully give you the best deal possible.

After searching and reviewing several car insurance companies and a variety of plans and coverage amounts, you should have been able to narrow down the best plan for you with the most reasonable price tag. It is essential to make sure you fully understand all aspects of your insurance plan and how the policy will work for you by reading attached documentation you received when you choose the car insurance company's plan. It is also helpful to know what to do in case of an accident and how to file an insurance claim, so you won't be caught off-guard if something happens to you.

Since cost-efficiency is often a high-priority aspect, it's important to know about ways to save money on your insurance rate or reduce your monthly premium amounts. Many car insurance companies offer "good student discounts" to young drivers who prove their good grades or GPA by sending in a copy of their school transcript. This is an incentive to work hard in school in exchange for the reward of lower-cost car insurance. Some insurance companies also may offer a reduced rate for customers who have taken an approved Safe Driver or Defensive Driving course. These are ways to further your personal driving education while saving money. As you remain a customer of a car insurance company, if you are accident free for a certain period of time, you may be eligible for discounts as well.

As a new driver, it is essential to be educated on the types of coverage and plan options. It also pays to "do your homework," in more ways than one. First, research different car insurance companies in order to find the one that provides the best car insurance coverage for the most reasonable rate. Also, it pays to be a good student in many cases, by way of the "good student discounts" that many companies offer. Being a safe, cautious driver and avoiding speeding tickets, a lot of claims, or accidents will also help you have the most cost-effective monthly car insurance rate.

Just because you need car insurance for a young driver does not mean that you should have to forgo finding a cheap auto insurance policy. Spending just a few moments comparing rates from top companies could save you $100's or even $1,000's over the course of the next 12 months. Get started comparison shopping cheap car insurance quotes from top companies now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_J._Robinson