Auto insurance is mandatory. If you’re someone with many monthly expenses, your main priority may be to keep this cost as low as possible. Fortunately, you do have some options when it comes to keeping your premiums low, and you can even make them lower.
What Affects My Car Insurance Premiums?
How much you pay in premiums depends on:
- Personal driving history
- The type of vehicle you own
- Where you live
A clean driving record is the easiest way to keep your premiums low. If you cause an accident, and/or have a history of traffic violations (including DUIs and suspended license), you’ll automatically pay more in premiums and you’ll have difficulty finding affordable coverage.
Certain types of vehicles are more costly to insure. It may seem that newer vehicles would cost more to insure due to them being more expensive, but they’re actually cheaper than used cars. This is because used cars are more likely to have issues.
Vehicles with lower safety ratings are also more expensive to insure – Ford F150s, for example, are more expensive in part due to being more likely to be involved in a rollover crash.
As for location, the most commonly stolen cars cost more to insure. These also happen to be more common models in general, such as the Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, and GMC Sierra.
What Can I Do To Have Lower Premiums When First Enrolling In A Policy?
When enrolling in a car insurance policy for the first time, you have some control over how much your premiums will be. First, choose a car with less mileage that has better safety features and higher crash ratings.
It’s also important to consider the relationship between premiums and deductibles. You’ll be able to choose whether you want a high or low deductible. The higher the deductible, the lower your premiums will be. However, this also means you’ll need to pay more out-of-pocket before your coverage kicks in if you were to be involved in an accident.
Also, you need to employ safer driving practices. Drive defensively and within the speed limit, and do not drive under the influence.
How Can I Decrease My Premiums?
If you’ve had your policy for some time, or you have higher rates due to past accidents or traffic violations, you still have ways to decrease your current monthly rate.
Look for discounts. Some insurers provide discounts for individuals who get multiple policies from the same company, while others may reduce premiums for those who pay the entire annual or six-month premium all at once.
If you have a poor driving history, you can get premium reductions for taking driving courses (including online courses) and installing safety features on your vehicle.
We Will Help You Get The Lowest Premiums
At All Things Insurance, we strive to make your car insurance more comprehensive while also being more affordable. We believe that everyone should have opportunities to lower costs, and we want you to be rewarded for practicing safe driving. To learn more, call us today at (763) 645-5450.