Be As Accurate As Possible With Your Information
In order to get an accurate quote for your car insurance, the information you give must be accurate, too. For instance, information such as your address, the type of car you drive and even your credit score can affect the amount you pay. You will also find that past accidents and tickets may have an effect on your quote. Not mentioning these things, for instance, in order to get a better quote might seem like a good idea. However, when you get your first invoice, you might find it is a lot more than you were expecting. Avoid this by being as accurate as possible when you apply for your quote.
Know What To Expect Before Getting A Quote
Another thing that you will want to do before getting a quote for car insurance is to do research on average quotes in your state and area. Someone living in an urban area who often parks their car on the street will pay more than those who park their cars in a garage located in a rural area. Average car insurance costs are available on the Internet and can be found with just a bit of research. Once you have this information, you will know if the quote you receive is fair or not.
Know What You Need And What You Don’t
Finally, you should know what you need from your car insurance and what you don’t. For instance, if you have a car that is 20 years old that will not last for more than a couple of years, you probably don’t want to spend the money on a top of the line insurance policy. However, if you just spent $40,000 on a brand new car, you likely won’t want state minimum coverage.
Know What Deductible You Can Afford
When it come to the deductible on your insurance, you should know how much you can afford. The higher the deductible (the amount you have to pay before insurance kicks in if there is an accident), the lower your insurance cost will be. It’s important to know you’ll be responsible for this amount if you do get into an accident, so if you don’t have an emergency fund, a high deductible, although it saves you on the insurance costs, can put you in a financial bind if you do have an accident. You want your deductible to be as high as you can comfortably afford in case there is an accident.
Ask What You Can Do to Lower Your Insurance
Once you get an insurance quote, don’t simply accept it. Talk with the agent and ask what steps you can take to lower the cost over time. There may be a number of easy steps you can take which can lower the cost of your insurance. Even if it isn’t an immediate reduction in the cost, taking those steps will reduce the amount you pay over the long-term. This can put you in a position to get a better rate rather than staying with your original quote for years and years.
As you can see, it is best to keep these tips in mind before you get a quote. This way, you will save time and most likely, money.
(Photo courtesy of Tony Alter)
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