If you’ve ever owned a car and paid for car insurance, then you already know that it adds up. Car insurance can be quite costly depending on the car, your accident record, and other factors like where you live. Luckily, car insurance is as dynamic as it is expensive. There are ways you can get cheaper car insurance in your current situation. Whether you have been in a lot of accidents or have a car that is difficult to repair, car insurance doesn’t have to cost as much as it typically does. Below are five tips to get cheaper car insurance.
Call Around for Quotes
One thing that people skip over in their efforts to lower their car insurance is calling around for quotes. If you have been with the car insurance company for a while, then you are probably paying more than you should. These businesses often raise the price of insurance yearly without you noticing, which adds up over the years. Are you currently paying too much for insurance? Call around. Ask other companies for quotes. If they know you are trying to find a better price, they might even offer you a deal to get your business.
Switch Cars
If you have an old Mercedes or a luxury sports car, the insurance you have to pay will be quite high. This is because the parts and repair costs are expensive. Remember that you are paying the company to cover you when you get into an accident. The price will go up with your car and the cost of parts and labor. If you want to lower the cost of your monthly coverage, you should think about switching cars. You will not only pay less every month, but you will also have less of an expense in a more accessible and practical vehicle. Some people don’t want to give up their vintage or luxury automobile, but if you are willing to drive something less flashy, you will be rewarded for it.
Renting? Try Rental Insurance
When you need to drive a car but don’t have one all the time, you should try renter’s insurance. For example, USAA renters insurance provides good rates to military personnel who are on leave. Rental insurance is available for homes, cars, health, and life policies, but when you need to drive and will return to base, rental insurance is great for driving for specific periods. You won’t need car insurance when you are not driving, but you don’t want to pay the full price for it either. When there is a specific period that requires you to drive, you should pay for insurance during only that period.
Raise Your Credit Score
Another way to make your car insurance cheaper is to raise your credit score. When you pay back your debts and clear out your credit cards, you are a lot more likely to get a better price on your insurance. If these companies see that you are trustworthy with money, then they will be more likely to offer you coverage for a decent premium. While you can definitely look for insurance that doesn’t require a credit check, if your score is good you don’t have to worry about it. Instead of applying for insurance with a bad credit score, raise your credit and you will be able to get approved for cheaper coverage.
Avoid Incidents
Finally, to ensure that your coverage is reasonable, you should avoid accidents and other incidents with the law. Your car insurance will go up considerably if you get arrested for a DUI or get pulled over for continuous traffic violations. Of course, no one is really trying to get in trouble, but if you want your car insurance to be as low as possible, then you should avoid any run-ins. Even if you already have one of these infractions on your record, once they are off it, then your insurance will go down.
Whatever your situation, there are many ways to lower your car insurance. Whether you have an expensive car, have been with the same car insurance company for a while, or have a bad credit score, there are methods to decrease your insurance. Car insurance can be quite expensive, but luckily there are all kinds of methods to get the price down. Get started today!