5 Tips For Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes

August 1 2009 by author in Tips To Lower Insurance Rate |Comments Off

Reader’s Question:

I’ve just bought a new car. I’m looking for an auto insurer that won’t get every penny in my pocket. How do I look for the best auto insurance quotes and insurance agents in my area?

Kierra

Portland, ME

How To Find an Auto Insurance Agent

It may seem like auto insurers these days are all out in prying as much money from their policyholders as possible (and sometimes this may be true). However, you can definitely turn the table and get yourself some much-deserved savings on your auto insurance rates. Here’s how:

1. Compare Rates on Cheaper Auto Insurance Quotes – You can do this quickly and easily with the help of auto insurance comparison websites (like this one). You can get free quotes and effectively compare offers coming from a wide-selection of insurers. This helps you find the lowest quotes and rates today.

2. Are You Eligible for Discounts – There are tons of auto insurance discounts out there! Just find the ones you’re eligible for. It doesn’t stop there, certain discounts (e.g. Good driver discount, good student discounts, low-mileage discounts, Multi-policy/vehicle discounts, Annual payment plans etc.) you can work at getting. Always ask your insurer about all possible discount options you can get.

3. Minimize the Risk You Represent as a Driver – Simply following the rules and being a responsible driver is enough to keep your rates affordable. The les-risk of getting into an auto accident, the cheaper your auto insurance quotes becomes.

4. Compare Companies Carefully – Go to the Better Business Bureau website or to any independent rating agencies (e.g. A.M. Best, J.D. Power). These sites will help you find out which auto insurance companies you should be doing business with.

5. Streamline your Policy – Get a higher deductible to keep premiums low. Read your policy carefully and try to remove coverage that you may already be getting somewhere else. It also doesn’t make financial sense to buy full-coverage on an old or inexpensive vehicle.

6.  Raise your deductible amount to the highest level you feel comfortable with.  This alone can be a huge cost savings to you premium and you only pay the deductible if you have a claim and your carrier pays the claim. If you are a safe driver with few or no claims, you could save a lot with a $1,000 deductible.

 

Looking For Auto Insurance Agents? Read This First

August 26 2009 by author in Insurance Agents |Comments Off

Reader’s Question:

I’ve heard that some auto insurance agents are involved in scams. What are examples of these?

Jacob

Las Vegas NV

Auto Insurance Agent Scams

Sadly, in order to get more commissions, a lot of auto insurance agents engage in fraudulent schemes that is aimed to get your hard earned money away from you. A common practice involves selling allegedly cheap automobile insurance. At first it may appear genuine but is actually intended to trick you into paying for coverage that is either invalid or doesn’t exist at all.

Here’s one example. A person will pretend to be an agent will offer you rates that is lower than what others are said to be offering. That person will then tell you to pay a fee for this particular service. After you give him all the necessary information, he will then call an insurance company and pretend to be you. The thing is, that person will lie to the company on certain information that you gave in order to get lower rates. After that you will pay your premium to the company and get a proof of coverage.

What’s wrong with this picture? When he asks for a fee, that should have alerted you. Licensed auto insurance agents will never ask for payment from you. It is the insurance company that will pay them for getting you as a customer. Further, you are actually not covered since the information given was not true.

Is your agent Honest with you?

Another example for you to consider. An ad promises to give you insurance at low rates. To sweeten the deal, it offers free coverage for a certain number of months. When you call the company that advertised, they give you a quote. Once you find the quote good, they will then ask you to send money through a money transfer or have someone meet you. In reality you don’t have coverage because no such thing happened. All they did was pocket your money.

As you can see, one way of knowing whether they are licensed auto insurance agents is the existence of a fee. If they ask for it then do the right thing. Put down that phone.

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