Auto Insurance Discounts & Tips

• Make Sure You Get Auto Insurance Discounts

  If you don’t have good car insurance and you’re ever in a wreck, it can literally change your life. That’s why it’s so important to spend some time and effort getting auto insurance quotes.

• If the accident is your fault, you become financially responsible for the property damage -- say you knocked down a street sign or hit a parked car. You’re also responsible for paying for the medical care for yourself and anyone else who is involved. That means not just hospital bills but ambulance charges, doctors’ fees, tests and procedures, and possibly even compensation for loss of income or even loss of life.

• But if it’s not affordable, you won’t have any insurance at all. In most states, that is a criminal offense. You can find car insurance that gives you good coverage at a reasonable price, as long as you’re willing to invest the time.

• The first place to look, obviously, is online. There are literally hundreds of places to check auto insurance quotes. All you have to do is search the term “car insurance quotes” and dozens of sites will show up. They will give you a monthly, semi-annual or annual quote for the policy premiums you’ll have to pay, based on the kind of car you drive, your age, sex and driving history, and other factors, like where you live or how far you drive to work.

• It doesn’t always make sense to choose the lowest-price policy. There are other things to consider besides cost. You’ll want to find a reputable company, because if you have an accident, you want to have someone reliable helping you sort through your responsibilities. Evaluating car insurance quotes also includes looking at the service provided by the insurance company. Will they come to your home or office to estimate damage? Will they provide a rental car while your vehicle’s in the shop? Will they be available 24/7, since car accidents don’t always happen during office hours?

• Another discount auto insurance tip is to talk to your friends, neighbors and coworkers. They will probably have an opinion on one or more car insurance providers. Anyone who’s ever had a claim against their insurance company knows first-hand if the insurance is worth the money they’re paying. Some people with poor driving records, lots of tickets or otherwise considered a higher risk, just have to pay more for their car insurance. When you get other people’s comments on their experiences with their insurance company, keep that in mind.

• Probably the best discount car insurance tip is this: you’ll get the very best prices from the top-rated companies if you drive safely, avoid accidents, don’t get stopped for speeding or get traffic-related tickets. Insurance companies evaluate you, too, because ultimately, they share the risk when you’re behind the wheel.