Did you know that, statistically speaking, over 40% of drivers feel like they’re paying too much for their car insurance coverage? Even more alarming, did you know that 20% of them are absolutely right? Between the constantly shifting algorithm used by car insurance companies to calculate your rates and the fact that most people don’t even realize they’re missing out on opportunities to buy cheap car insurance, it’s almost impossible for your average, everyday driver to get the affordable coverage they deserve!
Note the use of the word “almost” in that sentence. There’s a large, easily distinguishable difference between “impossible” and “almost impossible,” and if you know what that difference is you can easily whip out of the slow lane and onto the fast track for cheap car insurance.
To lower your car insurance rates ASAP, all you have to do is:
a) Raise your deductible. This has the most immediate effect on your insurance rates, so this is a great place to start. Insurance companies love it when you actively try to save them money, and they’re usually more than happy to return the favor. Just try not to go overboard; remember, you’re going to have to actually come up with that money sooner or later!
b) Talk to your agent about any car insurance discounts you might be missing out on. I’m not saying that your agent would deliberately lead you astray, but there are a lot of options out there when it comes to saving money on your insurance and not all of them are on the handy-dandy cheat sheet agents use when they first sell you your car insurance policy. You might be surprised at how much you missed out on when you sit down with an experienced agent and make a point by point examination of your car, your driving history and your lifestyle.
c) Clean up your driving record. It’s hard, very, very hard, to resist hopping into the fast lane when you’re out on the freeway and putting the pedal to the metal. If you want to get those cheap car insurance rates we keep talking about, however, you’re going to need to keep your nose clean. Qualifying for a five year good driver discount can do more to improve your rates than just about anything else on the market.
d) Volunteer to go back to driving school. Yes, the thought of repeating driver’s ed is probably enough to leave you shaking in your shoes, but car insurance companies absolutely, positively LOVE drivers that are willing to go the extra mile to minimize their risk. Low risk drivers pay low risk (read: cheap) car insurance rates.
Saving money on car insurance isn’t nearly as hard as most people think it is, and don’t you deserve to be able to do something better with your paycheck than put it in your insurance company’s pocket? Of course you do. Everybody does. Follow these steps, and you’ll finally be able to.
