Buying even the minimum levels of liability insurance can be
expensive for good drivers.
Research released in June by the
Consumer Federation of America
(CFA) found that more than half of motorists in its sample --
drivers without moving violations or accidents who live in
moderate-income areas -- were quoted rates of more than $1,000 a
year for basic coverage. For 32 percent, the quotes averaged more
than $1,500.
Yet drivers in some parts of the country can get full coverage
for a fraction of that amount.
With such a wide disparity in insurance costs, it's hard to be
certain you've got the best coverage at a good price. But if you've
checked into these 12 savings strategies and discounts, you can be
reasonably sure you're not leaving a lot of money on the table.
Shop around. Shop around. Shop around.
Short of getting rid of your car, there is no faster or easier way
to save on car insurance. The same driver in the same car will find
rates that differ by hundreds of dollars, even thousands, from one
insurer to the next. (See "
Pocket $1,102 just by shopping around
.") The more you pay, the more likely it is that you can save
money.
Choose the right side of town.
If you're moving, check rates before you decide on a new address.
ZIP codes matter a lot when car insurance companies set rates, and
you may see a difference of a few hundred dollars a year. (See our
"
Nosy Neighbor ZIP code rate comparison tool
.)
Let your insurance company ride shotgun.
If you drive very little and very carefully, programs that monitor
your driving can cut your bills considerably. Plug-in gadgets send
data back to your insurance company about how far, when and how you
drive. Typically the data cannot be used to charge you
higher-than-standard rates, only to give you a discount. (See "
Progressive allows Snapshot test-drives
.")
Keep the shiny side up.
According to an analysis of 841,000 quotes for "full" coverage
(liability, comprehensive and collision) delivered through
CarInsurance.com's comparison-shopping engine, drivers with a
single accident claim pay an average of $300 more a year.
Pay your bills on time.
With poor credit, you'll pay more to buy a car, and you'll pay more
to insure it, too. (See "The double-whammy of bad credit.")
Raise the deductible.
You can save as much as a few hundred dollars by increasing the
deductible you'd pay when filing a claim against your collision or
comprehensive coverage. Just be sure to put that savings aside in
case you need it to pay the higher deductible someday. (See "Will
higher deductibles save you money?")
Drop collision coverage.
Getting rid of collision coverage if you have an old car that you
own outright could make sense if you wouldn't bother to repair it
after an accident. (See "Is it time to drop comp and
collision?")
Drop comprehensive coverage.
Some drivers also drop comprehensive insurance, but because it
covers a lot of events (theft, fire, flood, hail) and is a
comparatively small percentage of the overall premium tab, it's
worth keeping, says Michael Barry, a spokesman for the Insurance
Information Institute.
Buy less liability coverage.
Minimum auto insurance coverage requirements vary by state, but
having such limited coverage has an extreme downside, says Andrew
Schrage of Money Crashers. It could open you up to lawsuits if you
get in an accident and don't have adequate coverage, Schrage says.
(See "Expensive car, cheap car insurance.")
Send the kids to college.
When personal finance writer Kathy Kristof sent her children off to
college, she didn't immediately realize she'd save $800 per year on
her auto insurance. Because their colleges were more than 100 miles
away and they weren't bringing one of her cars to school, Kristof's
children weren't rated on her policy but were instead listed as
occasional drivers when they came home on breaks.
Or make them hit the books.
When Kristof's son was in high school, he kept a "B" average and
earned a good driver discount. Depending on your insurance company,
that can save as much as 25 percent on premiums for the car the
young driver is assigned to. (See "The basics of a good student
discount.")
Teach an old driver new tricks.
The AARP Driver Safety Program has been offered since 1979,
teaching drivers 50 and older the effects of aging on driving
behaviors and how to adjust those behaviors. The course must be
retaken every three years to continue receiving the discount,
Schrage says. (Other defensive driving courses can bring a discount
as well, but you can only take one discount at a time.)