How to Save on Car Insurance

by Elbert Hamilton

Note from the editor:  We have included this article because a number of Chicagoland couples purchase a car during their engagement or right after the wedding.  We hope that you find it helpful when you start shopping for a car.

Everyone who owns a car needs auto insurance. This article will give you some tips on lowering your auto insurance costs. You will find a checklist of items to ask your insurance agent that may qualify for discounts. Keep in mind that not all discounts can be applied with all insurance companies in all states.

1. Shop Around

Go to your favorite search engine and type in “free car insurance quotes online”. You’ll see a long list of insurance companies that you may even be familiar with. Visit at least five car insurance websites and look for a link to free quotes. You will then be asked basic information about yourself, your driving history, and your car’s make, model, and year. It just takes a couple of minutes, and shortly thereafter, they will email you a no obligation quote. Write down their website address, their toll free number, and customer service email address.

Each insurance company will ask you generally the same questions, and will give you options about how much coverage you will want. Find your current policy, if you have one, and take note of the coverage you currently have. Always provide the same information and ask for the same coverage at each company so you will be comparing apples to apples. Read the fine print and make sure nothing is excluded from the quote like Rental car coverage, towing, medical, etc…

For the purposes of the quote, the insurance company will not ask you your social security number, but keep in mind your actual cost maybe higher or lower depending on your credit history. If you’re not sure about some of the terminology or coverage, take notes so that you can ask the insurance company about them directly.

Once you have at least five quotes emailed to you, take the lowest two or three quotes and see if they are less than what you are paying now. Most likely at least one of them is much lower. At this point you will want to call them directly to get the most accurate quote by providing additional personal information. For additional discounts, here is a checklist of things you should ask about.

[ ] $500 deductible

[ ] $1,000 deductible

[ ] Paying monthly, semi-annually, or annually

[ ] More than 1 car

[ ] No Accidents in 3 Years

[ ] No Moving Violations in 3 Years

[ ] Driver Training Courses

[ ] Defensive Driving Courses

[ ] Anti-Theft Devices

[ ] Low Annual Mileage

[ ] Air Bags

[ ] Anti-Lock Brakes

[ ] Daytime Running Lights

[ ] Student Drivers with Good Grades

[ ] Auto and Homeowners Coverage with the Same Company

[ ] College Students away from Home

[ ] Long-Time Customer

[ ] Other Discounts

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