The Best Cheap Auto Insurance for Your Desired Coverage Level

The expenses that come with owning a car can quickly add up, and that’s why most drivers are always on the lookout for great car insurance deals. Due to the dangers of car accidents, however, it’s important not to risk your financial security for some short term savings.

Thankfully, there are several ways to get cheap auto insurance for your desired coverage level!

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If you’re like most people, then you may be trying to save money for retirement, a nice vacation or the kid’s college fund. As a result, you want to make sure that every dollar you spend on car insurance is well spent. So, if you want to get the best, cheap car insurance possible, without sacrificing the coverage you need, then follow these tips!

Choose Your Coverage Wisely

One way to get cheaper, but effective, car insurance is to evaluate what amount of coverage you can afford, in comparison to your state’s minimum requirements. Depending on what state you live in, the minimum level of insurance you’re legally required to have can vary.

Typically, drivers must have a certain amount of liability insurance. This type of coverage helps pay for the repair bills and medical costs another person or property gets from an accident you’re responsible for.

For example, in the State of New Mexico, one of the minimum requirements set out by the Motor Vehicle Division is that each driver must have $10,000 worth of coverage for property damages.

In Oregon, however, the Department of Motor Vehicles requires drivers to carry $20,000 in liability insurance for damages to property.

Of course, it’s important to remember that these are just examples of the minimum requirements. If you’re responsible for causing serious damages and you don’t have much liability insurance, you could be forced to pay out thousands of dollars in compensation.

Not buying enough liability insurance could really hurt you financially, so it’s important to figure out an affordable amount that will still protect you and your family.

Taking a similar approach with other types of coverage, like collision, comprehensive or personal injury protection (PIP) insurance is also a good idea. Take some time to review whether you feel it’s best to get additional coverage and, if so, how much. Then, take a look at your budget and decide what makes financial sense. This way you’re not blindly agreeing to buy too much coverage or not enough.

In a nutshell, collision insurance helps cover any repairs your car needs from an accident in which you are at fault. Comprehensive insurance, on the other hand, pays for damages your vehicle receives from an act of nature or from a non-motorist.

For example, a tornado or an errantly thrown baseball could cause damage that your comprehensive insurance policy would cover. PIP insurance is purchased to help pay for various costs that can come from a car accident like medical bills for rehabilitation or lost wages.

If you want to do more research about the various kinds of auto insurance, organizations like the Insurance Information Institute offer info for free.

Review Your Circumstances

Another way to get cheap insurance, and keep your desired coverage, is to review your driving habits to make sure your rates are accurately priced. If your driving routine has changed since the last time you purchased car insurance, then you may not need the same amount of coverage anymore.

For example, perhaps you’re working out of the house these days, and you’re not commuting three hours daily like you used to. If so, you’re not driving nearly as much annually and you should be paying less as a result. Or, if you drive an inexpensive vehicle that’s getting older, then you may decide to not carry as much collision insurance.

If you have comprehensive insurance, maybe your circumstances have changed and you no longer require as much coverage. Perhaps you’ve moved into a house with a garage, and your car is no longer being parked outdoors. As a result, your car isn’t as likely to get broken into or to get damaged in a storm.

By taking a little time to review exactly what you’re paying for, you could save some money and still carry the coverage you desire for your car.

Drive an Inexpensive Car

A really effective way to get an affordable policy and still protect yourself from costly damages is to drive an inexpensive car. Insurance providers charge more to insure pricey vehicles because they’re usually much more expensive to repair. Luxury cars are also targeted more often by thieves. Accordingly, there’s a greater chance that an insurance claim will be filed that cost providers money.

If you drive a cheaper car, on the other hand, the rates for your collision and comprehensive coverage will be much lower. This will provide you more flexibility in terms of what you can put towards liability insurance. This way you can save on your insurance and also know that you’re protected from costly bills if you’re in an accident. If you would like to learn more about what cars are most expensive to insure, do a search online or check with car publications like Auto Guide.com.

Drive Safely

Of course, one of the best ways to get cheap auto insurance and keep your coverage options open is to drive safely. As anybody with a poor driving record will tell you, a quick way to drive your rates through the roof is to cause a few accidents or get several tickets. If you’re seen as a high risk driver, who could cost an insurance company money, your rates will be much more expensive.

The worse your driving record is, the less likely you’ll be able to afford the level of insurance you desire. In fact, drivers who have extremely bad records may not qualify for standard insurance rates at all.

Completing driving classes, and driving cars with great safety ratings, are both effective ways to show you’re a low risk customer.

Many state governments, like Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for example, provide information and tips on how to keep a clean driving record.

Raise Your Deductible

An easy and practical way to lower your insurance rates, but keep the coverage you want, is to have a higher deductible. Many people decide to go with a lower deductible so that, if they make an insurance claim, they won’t have to pay much money out of pocket. By going this route, however, your premiums will be more. If you have a really low deductible your insurance company will have to pay more for any damages you charge to them.

If you’re certain you’ll have the money then increasing your deductible to $1,000, or whatever you can afford, can lower your rates without adjusting your coverage!

You can still have the coverage you desire at a more affordable price.

Shop Around

Find the best, cheap auto insurance by shopping around. First, take a little time to research the major providers to see which companies have received the best reviews. Not only do you want to see who is offering great, affordable coverage, but you want to deal with a company that treats its customers well.

Most major providers offer free insurance quotes online or over the phone. Once you’ve answered several general questions, like the type of car you drive and how often you use it, then they will send you an estimate.

Contact several different companies and compare what they’re offering. If one provider’s prices are better, then don’t hesitate to ask another company if they’ll match it or go lower.

One of the most convenient ways to do this is by using a website that specializes in comparing car insurance rates. Once you’ve provided your info, the site will send you a bunch of quotes from several different companies.

You don’t have to surf around the Internet trying to find each company’s site or keep entering your information. There’s no commitment required and you don’t have to deal with an insistent salesperson.

By shopping around you can find out who is offering the best price on the amount of insurance you want.

In addition, once you find some interesting offers, you can contact the provider and tailor fit the policy to your needs and budget even further.

Before you provide any information, do a quick search to make sure the company is legitimate and to see if it has received positive reviews. Also check to see if the website has security measures in place guarantees the privacy of your info. If the company asks for money just to get an estimate it’s likely a scam.

Ask for a Discount

There may not be any easier way to lower your insurance costs and get the coverage you want than by asking for a discount. Insurance companies like to do business with people who have great qualifications like good driving records and high credit scores.

Make sure to ask potential providers what kind of discounts they offer and what their eligibility requirements are. Many companies also offer discounts to students with good grades and military veterans, among many others.

Find the coverage you desire at a great price by entering your ZIP code into the FREE box below!