4 Ways to Lower Your Auto Insurance Costs

Insurance FoldersThere are a slew of ways to reduce your auto insurance costs besides being a good driver—all you have to do is ask.

“Some discounts are to encourage customers to buy with the company and some discounts are because the risk to the insurance company is reduced,” says David Thompson of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents. However, he says if you want the discount, you have to ask for it.

Safety Equipment Discounts

These days most new cars come standard with safety features that not only protect the drivers in an accident, but can save on auto insurance.

According to the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, drivers can get discounts if their cars are equipped with anti-theft devices, anti-lock brakes and/or passive restraint systems like airbags.

Other safety features that can yield savings include traction control and daytime running lights. And the savings add up: At AllState, airbags and motorized seatbelts can slash up to 30% off a bill, anti-lock brakes can get a 10% discount and an anti-theft device can save up to 10%.

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Covered by homeowners insurance? Don’t be so sure

dont-be-so-sure-insurance You’ve no doubt noticed that premiums have gotten pretty pricey. Rates have climbed 69% over the past decade to an average of $1,000 a year.

What you may not realize is that you could be facing another vast expense. Insurers have also been quietly hiking deductibles, scaling back basic coverage, and adding new restrictions.

Coverage now varies widely among carriers, but that’s not always clear when you’re shopping around, says Daniel Schwarcz, a University of Minnesota professor who has studied hundreds of policies.

“Consumers shop almost entirely on price and reputation,” notes Schwarcz, and exclusion clauses are often written in legalese and buried in a policy that runs dozens of pages. Moreover, comparison shopping is difficult, since consumers rarely get a copy of the policy before they buy.

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