Finding car insurance seems like a hard, time-consuming, and expensive task that isn't much better than getting a root canal. But it doesn't need to hurt so much. By taking a few simple steps, you can find cheap, good car insurance that fits your needs.
First of all, it's a very bad idea to not have car insurance at all. It might seem like a good way to save money, but in most developed countries, car insurance is required by law. If you don't have car insurance and you get pulled over or are in an accident, the law is very harsh.
It is important and necessary to pay for car insurance. Insurance rates vary a lot from person to person. They depend on things like the person's age, the type of car being insured, their driving record and credit score, and how often and how far they drive each day. College students can often get insurance rates that are lower than the market average.
Because insurance rates are different for each person, it is not very helpful to ask your coworkers around the water cooler what kind of insurance they have. One company might give your friend a great rate and give you a bad one.
You should get quotes from at least a few different insurance companies. You can find sites where you can get quotes from different insurance companies by doing a few quick searches on the Internet. When you go to sites like these, take your time and carefully read what they have to say. You might find a piece of advice that will help you a lot.
You can easily and quickly get a quote if you go straight to the insurance company. Almost every good insurance company has a website where you can get an instant quote or a toll-free number you can call to get a quote. But again, an insurance company might be cheap in general but charge you a lot. Make sure you try out more than one insurance company before you decide.
Once you've found an insurance company that gives you good coverage at a price you can afford, one way to save more money on your payments is to raise your policy's deductible. The amount you have to pay out of pocket if you get into an accident is your deductible. It's fine to raise the deductible as long as you don't get into an accident. If you don't have money saved up for an emergency, a high deductible is a big risk if you don't. Be careful about raising your deductible past your limits.
Another great way to save money on car insurance is to pay the full bill instead of just the minimum payment each month. Most insurance companies will give you a discount if you pay your premiums all at once. If you can pay for the initial cost, this will save you money in the long run.
Lastly, insurance companies charge more for cars they think are more likely to be stolen or are fast sports cars with few safety features. The least expensive car to insure will be a simple one with airbags, anti-lock brakes, and anti-theft devices. So think carefully before you buy that sports car!
