Three easy tips to low auto insurance.
In these tough Financial times, everyone is searching for ways to trim their budget. Many families are faced with having to make hard choices between paying the rent, buying food, or paying the monthly bills. One area that can yield significant savings is your auto insurance rate. Spending a few minutes reviewing your policy and your current requirements could save you hundreds of dollars per year.
There are ways to save 50 percent or more on your annual car insurance bill, but they all involve taking on more risk. We buy auto insurance because it protects us in the event of an accident or break-in. But in some cases you may be protecting yourself more than you need, and paying for the extra expense of that in the process.
If your budget is in dire need of trimming, here are a few ideas to consider.
Reduce or drop your collision and comprehensive coverage. If you got your insurance policy when you first got your new car and it’s been several years since you have had it, you may be carrying too much coverage here. As your vehicle gets older you need less collision coverage and may even be able to eliminate it altogether. You may find, for example, that your Toyota Corolla insurance rate may be much lower a few years after you have driven it off the lot.
If you want to keep your collision coverage you should at least consider increasing your deductible to $1000 or more. While this means you will pay more money out of your own pocket in the case of a crash, you will be saving a lot of money on your premiums. If you drive an older car you may well find that the amount you save by eliminating collision coverage more than pays for any repairs you will have to pay for as a result of an accident.
Lower your liability coverage. This can be a scary prospect for many people and if you have significant assets, this option is not recommended. But if your back is against the wall and you have to make cuts, this is one area that can save you significantly.
Many insurers recommend that you carry at least $100,000 in bodily injury liability coverage with a $300,000 limit. If you can reduce those limits to $25,000 per occurrence and $50,000 total, it will save you money. You first need to check with your state insurance office to see what the minimum coverage requirements are for your area. Some states allow you to go even lower than the 25/50 coverage, while others require you to maintain more than that.
While this may seem like a great way to cut back, it is important to understand the consequences of reducing your liability coverage. If you get into a serious accident that injures other people, medical expenses could easily go beyond your lower coverage limits. If this happens, you expose your assets in the even of a lawsuit. So if you have money in the bank or a home, you could lose these if you are sued.
If money is tight, consider dropping your uninsured motorists coverage. As with dropping your liability coverage, you are increasing your risk exposure, but you will be saving money.
For most drivers, maintaining high coverage limits is a good idea. You are exposed to less risk and can drive secure in the knowledge that if you do get into an accident you will be covered. But if money is running out and you need to make some tough choices to stay above water, then cutting back on your car insurance is a viable way to save. Just make sure you are comfortable with the additional risk you will be taking on by doing this.
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