The cheapest car insurance will likely be the minimum coverage required in your state, which is generally liability insurance only; covering property damage and medical bills for others due to accidents you cause. Policies with comprehensive and collision coverage are pricier, but cover you in case your car is stolen or damaged, no matter who (or what) caused it. So what’s the secret to getting discounts on car insurance?
Ask for them. There probably are some discounts you’re not taking advantage of, especially if you haven’t checked your policy in a while. Maybe you retired and are driving less than when you bought your policy. Maybe you got married and you now qualify to be on the same insurance plan. If you moved out to the burbs where there’s fewer accidents and crime, your rates could go down too. A local agent can help go through your life to see if you quality for a low-mileage (or any other) discount.
Rethink deductibles. A higher collision/comprehensive deductible makes perfect sense if you don’t drive much, or if you trust yourself with the risk. You can get cheaper car insurance with a low deductible if you’re comfortable knowing that you’ll pay more out of pocket if an accident were to happen. Just note that sometimesit takes up to 6 months to get your deductible back.
Know when to cut coverage. Don’t strip away coverage just for the sake of a lower price. Many auto loans require full coverage, and chances are you’ll want to keep that level of coverage for as long as you’d still be in the red if you had to replace it. For older cars, comprehensive and collision coverage might be something you can live without because they only pay out up to the vehicles current value.
This post was produced in partnership with State Farm Agent Dereda Porter.
