Whether you are about to shop for a better deal for your car auto insurance coverage or buy a new car and update your car insurance policy—the daunting task of seeking out car insurance freaks car buyers out everywhere, but we are here to help you with powerful tips for buying car insurance!
It seems like the sky is the limit from pricing to offers, but when it comes to shopping for auto insurance tips, what you don’t know can harm you when you most need to make a claim.
As a Mom, a car brand test driver, and a consumer who purchases, shops, and prices out car insurance (just like you) to find the right coverage at the right price for my family, I’ve recently been ‘schooled’ in car insurance. We overpaid with ONE of the BIG Names out there, claiming the best pricing. Stop the B.S.
When shopping for auto insurance, I’ve found it is smart too:
- Shop
- Learn
- Share
- Repeat
I am doing that today, sharing hot tips for buying car insurance and how we solved the overpriced dilemma.
Car Insurance Tips: Features That Help Slightly Adjust Insurance Costs
Many procrastinate because not all car brands get the ‘good’ insurance deals due to a lack of offerings when it comes to safety features. What should you consider before you buy car insurance?
When you buy the right vehicle with the right safety features, insurance companies are amiable to work with! Specifically when seeking a new car that will reap the benefits of safety features.
Tips For Buying Car Insurance: Shop For A Vehicle With Safety Features
Seek out these safety features to save a bit of money on your car insurance coverage.
- Lane Change Assist
- Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- Blindspot Detector
- Eyesight Technology
- Collision Avoidance
Use These Tips For Buying Car Insurance
- Reshop your insurance EVERY Year and Compare rates from different insurers to find the best deal.
- Consider all factors when determining your premium, such as your driving history, car make and model, and the driver’s age.
- Choose a policy with a deductible you can afford if you need to make a claim.
- Don’t decrease your deductible; increase it and pay less for your insurance.
- Review your policy regularly to ensure it meets your needs and budget.
- Put your name on the registration as the owner of the vehicle and your teen child as the co-owner (for insurance especially)
- Ask your insurer about discounts you may be eligible for, such as a safe driver’s discount or a low mileage discount.
- Get quotes from multiple insurers and then compare those rates for the exact SAME coverage.
- Make sure you understand the coverage. (from TORT to Rental Car Reimbursement)
- Get discounts for early signing, a good driving record, and more.
- Save even more by bundling your car insurance with other police (home, life, auto, etc.)
Click here to help keep your FOB in good condition & find other helpful car accessories
Shopping For Auto Insurance: A Used Car Is Not Always the Best
Just because you have found a great older car, (anything from 2017 and older) doesn’t mean that it’s a gem, especially when it comes to putting our tips for buying car insurance into play.
As mentioned above, new technology is great. Stacking the money upfront in a newer vehicle rather than an older one would be better. Doing such will hopefully help you buy more safety features to keep you safer while you drive and park it, and insurance companies reward your rate for safety features in a vehicle.
Older cars. 2017 and earlier tend to have fewer features built-in, and safety is what you want behind the wheel. Just something to consider!
Tips for Buying Car Insurance: Online Tools Make Shopping For Auto Insurance EASY
Once you have narrowed down your insurance company choice, use that policy and shop more. Go online, and list exactly the items and amount of coverage you LIKE on the policy you are almost ready to settle for.
Then, shop it again. You might be surprised at what you find. Don’t forget to consider shopping at Sam’s Club and Costco if you are a member.
Shopping For Auto Insurance? Try These 10 Car Insurance Companies
- GEICO
- Progressive
- State Farm
- Travelers
- The Hartford
- Allstate
- USAA
- MetLife
- Liberty Mutual
- Farm Bureau Insurance
- Amica
- Experian
- The General
Tips For Buying Car Insurance: 4 Car Insurance Policy Places You Forget About But Are Competitive
- Costco Car Insurance for Costco Members
- Sam’s Club (again, due to its business strength, it has discounted car insurance offers with insurance brands)
- Credit Unions often have alliances with car insurance brokers for discounts.
Look Over Your Current Policy – Tips For Buying Car Insurance
It’s ALWAYS wise to review your current policy before deciding on a replacement. Situations change from one year to the next.
So, this typically does two things. It alerts you to the coverage you may now need and coverage that’s no longer necessary. The last thing you want to do is pay for something you don’t have to.
Don’t tell one insurance company your current pricing. Let them quote and provide you with the information.
Pro Tip: Consult A Legal Person (Yeah, A Lawyer )
You could also consult a car accident lawyer to help you understand and maximize your coverage. It sounds crazy but that little conference with them might save you a bundle!
Search for Lesser-Known Discounts
Some car insurance discounts are quite common.
This includes both “good driver” and “customer loyalty” discounts. However, there are several other obscure discounts to consider if your insurance company offers them.
They include a short commute discount, an annual renewal discount, a good student discount, and farm-related use of car discounts.
Additionally, there are other discounts some don’t consider.
Don’t forget about AAA discounts, as well as military discounts.
You might assume most think about this, but they don’t.
Many tend to get engulfed in car buying, and insurance is the afterthought.
If you think about purchasing insurance before you car shop, you can get an idea of your new cost of insurance.
These discounts might apply to you, so consider those lesser-known discounts; there might be more change in your pocket!
Carry a Huge Umbrella
Regarding car insurance, a big umbrella is vital, even on the sunniest days. The easiest way to explain an umbrella policy is to refer to it as an “excess” policy. Exhausting your liability coverage will provide needed coverage to protect you further! In today’s world, $2 million in coverage is more or less the norm.
Are you carrying that on your policy?
Paying On Premium
Many insurance companies offer Auto Deduct for insurance payments, and often you will find companies that offer a 5% incentive to hook right on up to your checking account.
Don’t forget to look at savings like on PLENTI cards to earn while you spend. Otherwise, you will be paying more if you pay it in pieces. We saved over $400 by paying the whole amount in ONE payment.
Tips For Buying Car Insurance Like This One: Don’t Buy a Vehicle In Your Teens Name
Buying a vehicle for your teen can raise your car insurance premium by as much as a whopping 58 percent. Buy the car, put it in your name, and place them on your insurance. I also learned this information with a few teens under my roof. Never insure the car in their name! The reasoning behind this is simple. Insurers automatically assume teens will drive more when they can access their own cars.
So, in turn, premiums skyrocket.
When You Have The Hot Tips
Hot Tips For Buying Car Insurance
Ideas and Tips for Shopping for and Ultimately Matching yourself and your family up with the right car insurance.
Don't overpay, shop, and read these tips!
Keep Your Time Behind the Wheel and Parked Safer
Have you ever heard of Subaru Eyesight Technology?
For those purchasing a 2019 Ascent, Crosstrek, Forester, Impreza, Legacy, Outback, and WRX front crash prevention just got easier!
Eyesight monitors your position on the roads and if you happen to stray from your lane, the vehicle will alert you!
Also, if there are things you might hit in front of you, the power of your engine is automatically reduced.
Online Shopping Comparison Tools for Buying Car Insurance
Once you think that you have narrowed down your insurance company choice, use that policy and shop more.
Go online, list exactly the items and amount of coverage you LIKE on the policy you are almost ready to settle for.
Then, shop again.
You might be surprised at what you find.
Look Over Your Current Policy
It's ALWAYS wise to look over your current policy, before deciding on a replacement.
Situations change from one year to the next.
So, this typically does two things. It alerts you to the coverage you may now need and coverage that's no longer necessary.
The last thing you want to do is pay for something you don't really have to.
Don't tell one insurance company your current pricing, let them quote and provide you the information.
Search for Lesser-Known Discounts
Some car insurance discounts are quite common.
This includes both "good driver" and "customer loyalty" discounts. However, there are several other obscure discounts to consider, in the event your insurance company offers them.
They include a short commute discount, an annual renewal discount, a good student discount and farm-related use of car discounts.
Additionally, there are other discounts some don't consider.
Don't forget about AAA discounts, as well as military discounts.
You might assume most think about this, but in fact, they don't.
Many tend to get engulfed in the car-buying process and insurance is the afterthought.
Don't Buy a Vehicle In Your Teens Name
Buying a vehicle for your teen has the potential to raise your car insurance premium by as much as a whopping 58 percent.
Buy the car, and put it in your name, and place them on your insurance.
This is information I personally learned as well with a few teens under my roof.
Never insure the car in their name!
The reasoning behind this is simple.
Insurers automatically assume that teens will drive more when they have access to their own cars.
So, in turn, premiums skyrocket.
Paying On Premium
Many insurance companies offer Auto Deduct for payments of insurance and often you will find companies that will offer a 5% incentive to hook right on up to your checking account.
Don't forget to look at savings like on PLENTI cards to earn while you spend.
Otherwise, you are going to be paying more if you pay it in pieces.
We saved over $400 by paying the whole amount in ONE payment.
Carry a Huge Umbrella Policy
The easiest way to explain an umbrella policy is to refer to it as an "excess" policy.
When you exhaust your liability coverage this will provide needed coverage to protect you further!
In today's world, $2 million in coverage is more or less the norm.
Are you carrying that on your policy?
Consider these tips when you head to purchase a car before you start shopping! In the end, knowledge is power, and that power can translate into money saved when you look into purchasing your new or new to your car insurance.
Chances are, you’ll end up saving money on your policy. Typically, the more knowledgeable you are, you’ll likely pay less.
Dana XO
