State law mandates that you purchase at least the minimum auto insurance package, not only to protect yourself when driving, but to protect other drivers on the road. This leads some people to make hasty decisions with their coverage. Find out what you need to know about auto insurance by reading these tips.
If you are driving into Canada or Mexico, many people don't realize that your American car insurance won't cover you in a foreign country. You will need to purchase auto insurance ahead of time online, or in the border town or city where you will be crossing over into either Canada or Mexico.
Auto insurance rates change rapidly and are very competitive, so the most aggressive way to make sure you are getting the best deal on auto insurance is to compare rates frequently. It is recommended you shop your current rate around approximately twice a year, to be sure you are continuing to get the best deal around.
When choosing an auto insurance policy, look into the quality of the company. The company that holds your policy should be able to back it up. It is good to know if the company that holds your policy will be around to take care of any claims you may have.
In order to save money, consider switching from a monthly payment plan to a yearly or semi-annual payment plan. If you're currently paying premiums by the month, you may be paying extra for the additional handling required to process your monthly payments. If you can afford to pay your premiums up front for a year, for example, you may gain significant savings.
Pay a yearly sum for your automobile insurance. Some companies charge a little more to put their customers on a monthly billing plan. If you are able to pay off the bill in one lump sum for the year, you could save some money and you will have one less bill to worry about.
If your son or daughter is sharing the family car and moves away to college or makes the honor roll, this means you could get a discount on your insurance. Make sure you notify your insurance right away if this happens. You should also let them know once your son or daughter is done with college.
You should be talking to your insurance agents before you even decide on a car. This is because the insurance should influence which models of car you are looking at. Some cars have a surcharge that will increase your policy price, but others come with discounts. See which options come with a discount and then consider if these cars would suit you.
Be a good and defensive driver. Avoid text messaging or any other distractions that may cause you to have an accident. If you have an accident that is your fault, it will cause your car insurance rates to go up and you will pay more for your car insurance indefinitely.
You should not let your insurance coverage lapse. If you are not able to pay for your insurance policy in full, you should call and talk to an agent. If you allow the policy to lapse it is very possible that you will not have coverage should an accident take place. That is a big risk that can be avoided by making a simple phone call.
If you are going to be late on an auto insurance payment, call your agent. Your agent should be able to help you get an extension, or reschedule a payment, so that your credit rating does not go down. If you miss payments and lose coverage, you could be at a higher rate for a year or more.
Check crash test ratings for any new car you plan on buying. This will have a substantial impact on your insurance rates. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety issues a list each year with about 60 of its top picks for the safest cars in each class. These cars will cost you much less in auto insurance.
As you see with the information above, there are many ways you can save and many ways to cut back on insurance so that you're not becoming a victim of the insurance company. You can't be without coverage here; you need to get some type of insurance. So remember to use these tips when you need to purchase a package.
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