4 Slam Dunks to Save on Car Insurance

Every car driver will inevitably have to face the dreaded day when they must purchase their car insurance. Indeed, it’s something that some states absolutely require, while others don’t. It’s one of those things that you must have in order to be indemnified against any potential losses from an accident or natural phenomena that leave your vehicle damaged. Costs for car insurance vary based on a number of criteria that an insurance company will measure you by in order to come up with the premium. This is where a lot of people get afraid. The big question is, “How much will I have to pay each year?” To get the best possible savings in service offerings and value, heed the following four pointers.

Compare Consumer Reviews of Insurance Providers

Settling on an insurance provider is a big step. Remember, you’ll be stuck with that decision for a very long time, in most cases. As a result, don’t make the decision in haste. Compare consumer reviews of insurance providers, such as the Mercury Insurance review by NerdWallet. The reviews will give you a real-world perspective of what it’ll be like to deal with an insurance provider in question. Existing policyholders will share stories about what’s good about the provider as well as horror stories about what to be on the watch for. Sites may also provide various metrics to help consumers glean what the provider would be like to do business with; for example, you may find a rating system, so you can see at a glance how a provider measures up.

Compare Price Quotes of Insurance Providers

Since at the end of the day, you simply want to know who can offer you the best deal on your premium, consult one of the many price quote generators that are available online. Conducting your search online can save you a ton of time, and you have the luxury of doing it from your smartphone or mobile device as well. Alternatively, visit various insurance providers in person or call them to attain quote information for comparison’s sake; ask your family and friends to recommend agents to visit. Keep in mind that if you only provide insurance agents with limited information about your situation, they can only provide you with a very rough estimate of what you’ll pay. Including as much personal information and in full detail gives the agent a wider opportunity to find the best rate for your auto insurance needs.

Bundle Various Types of Insurance

Bundling is a key way to lower your auto insurance premium. The insurance company where you have your homeowners or renter’s insurance parked would gladly add auto insurance as a so-called “companion discount” for you. This cost-cutting strategy is one that many drivers miss and promises a substantial discount—sometimes as much as 25 percent—so definitely consider it a wise cost-saving move.

Buy Additional Coverage

Too many people have been in for a rude awakening when they’ve had an accident and realized they weren’t covered for the specific accident at hand. That’s why it’s important to add comprehensive coverage, which will provide the maximum amount of coverage for just a few hundred dollars more each year. The extra coverage will provide necessary protection to offset, if not completely compensate you for, damages done to your car during hurricanes and other natural disasters as well as accidents with animals. At a time when the world is seeing higher incidents of Mother Nature acting up with catastrophic results, having comprehensive coverage is a smart move to take that costs so very little in cost.

Wrap-Up

Auto insurance can save your life, so it’s smart to buy it for protection. While it’s a necessity, it doesn’t have to put a dent in your budget. You can find a good insurance provider by using specialized websites such as personal finance sites like NerdWallet to investigate providers and understand how other drivers feel about their features and services. By also comparing price quotes, you can quickly decide where the value lies and use the quotes to show agents in order to get a better deal. Two further missed opportunities when buying auto insurance are bundling the different types of insurance and having a singular provider be the “caretaker,” and getting extra coverage in the form of comprehensive coverage to ensure in the event of an of act of God, the insurance company will approve the coverage and you won’t be left with the burden of cost.