Shopping and comparing car insurance quotes? Smart. You’re on your way to saving big bucks. That’s because drivers who regularly compare car insurance quotes typically save hundreds of dollars on their premium – more than $500 on average, according to insurance.com’s RateWatch for Car Insurance.
Here’s a secret. Car insurance comparison shoppers who save the most – both money and time – know that accurate information equals accurate quotes. They provide the best information possible to get the best quote available and to spend the shortest amount of time shopping.
You can do the same thing, and insurance.com can help. The following checklist will help you gather the information you need to fill out your comparison shopping form fast and get up to four great car insurance comparison quotes in minutes.
Most of this stuff you’ve got in your head.
You: Name, address, date of birth.Living situation: Do you rent or own your home, how long you’ve lived in your current location.Social Security Number: Though this is optional – we know a lot of drivers don’t like to share this – car insurance companies need this to retrieve your credit score. You can get a quote without providing your social security number, but you may not be able to get a final rate (check out Guesstimate vs. Quote vs. Rate for more information). And your credit could affect that rate, both good (a lower rate than you expected) and bad (a higher rate than you were quoted).Gather up your owner’s manuals.
Make, model and year: Be specific for each vehicle. Is your 2009 Honda CR-V an EX, LX and SE? This typically refers to the vehicle’s trim – LX (luxury), EX (extra) and SE (special edition). Don’t report an EX vehicle as an LX vehicle. You might lose a couple dollars in savings.Safety features: To take advantage of possible discounts, know the safety features of each vehicle, like anti-lock brakes and the type of anti-theft devices (passive, active, audible and so forth).Average miles driven: Tally up how many miles you drive a year, too. Less mileage could mean greater savings.Are you a safe driver? Have you been for the last five years?
Motor Vehicle Record: When you request a final rate after comparing car insurance quotes, the insurance company will pull your motor vehicle record or MVR. The number of claims and violations on your record will affect your rate. And the company will look at your driving record for the past five years. That’s right. Five years. So providing the most accurate driving record information possible during the quoting process will generate a quote closer to your final rate.Claims amount paid: Have an accident that was your fault? Know how much your insurance company paid in claims – to you and the other driver, if applicable. Consider this the nitty-gritty, because it will affect your final rate.Two final items to consider before you compare quotes.
Current Policy Information: Dig through your files and pull out your current auto insurance policy. When you first compare car insurance quotes, you want to compare against your present policy. Knowing how much coverage you have – including deductibles, uninsured motorists, medical payments – allows you to compare apples to apples.How You’ll Pay: Finally, consider how you’ll pay for your new car insurance policy – and be ready if get a great rate. Rates change daily, so you will want to buy as soon as you find what you’re looking for. Most companies will accept a credit or debit card and may accept just your first month’s balance to bind your policy. But if you want to save even more on your car insurance quotes, pay in full. You’ll save a few bucks by not paying processing fees for monthly installments.
View the original article here
Filed under insurance by on Jan 20th, 2011. Comment. 
“Shop around,” he says.
And the other four?
“Shop around, shop around, shop around and shop around,” he says. “For the life of me, I don’t understand why people don’t shop around more. When people get different car insurance quotes, they save money. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people who have shopped around say, ‘I can’t believe I saved a couple hundred bucks.’”
Hageli is the director of personal lines policy at the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, so he knows what he’s talking about. He also practices what he preaches. He gets at least three quotes for auto insurance once a year — and even then he considers himself lazy.
“I should be getting quotes on auto insurance every six months,” he says.
Why you should compare car insurance quotes
The Insurance Information Institute also recommends that you compare car insurance quotes from at least three companies, and other experts recommend that you also sample different types of companies, from those who only sell policies over the phone or the Internet to those who maintain offices with agents representing their company. It might also pay to contact an independent agent who sells policies for several different companies.
Another option: Check with your state’s insurance department. Some provide price comparisons from major auto insurance companies.
Hageli advises that you check your credit report for errors and have them corrected before seeking cheap car insurance quotes. Your insurance risk profile is largely based on your credit history, so erroneous credit activity can cost you.
He also recommends you check your C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) report, which is a record of claims that you’ve filed for a vehicle or home. Your credit report is available for free at annualcreditreport.com, and your C.L.U.E. report is available from LexisNexis. You have a right to a free C.L.U.E. report every 12 months.
Buy the right vehicle to save on car insurance
Even before you purchase a vehicle, check out how much it’s going to cost more in comprehensive and collision coverage. Expensive cars cost more to insure because they cost more to repair or replace. Convertibles and sports cars also typically cost more to insure.
On the other end of the spectrum, minivans and medium-sized SUVs are often among the cheapest vehicles to insure.
Car insurance discounts for safety features can help reduce your premium, so consider buying a vehicle with the following features:
Anti-lock brakes Side air bags Automatic safety belts Daytime running lights Anti-theft devices such as alarms and global positioning systemsMaintain a good driving and credit records
If you’re shopping around for an automobile insurance policy, be aware that a new company will likely check your driving record and see whether you’ve had any recent speeding tickets or other activity that signals higher risk. Your existing company may not be aware of those tickets and may not check for them if you’re just renewing a policy.
In general, though, your history of tickets, accidents and any incidents of driving while intoxicated will have a big impact on your insurance premiums, so stay on the straight and narrow. Consider not filing claims for small events that might trigger future premium increases.
You can also ask your existing insurer to rerun your credit report if you think your history has improved, Hageli said. Most insurers won’t raise your rates if your score has worsened.
In addition, if you park in a covered garage or a locked parking lot, mention that when getting auto insurance quotes. These perks reduce the chances your insurer will have to pay a theft claim, which could reduce your car insurance rates.
Reduce some of your coverage
If you own your car outright and it’s an older model, you can save money by dropping collision or comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage pays for repairs to your car if you have an accident, and it’s not required by law. One rule of thumb: If the car is worth less than 10 times your premium, collision insurance may not be worth the expense.
If you don’t want to be saddled with the full repair bills in the event of an accident, you can still lower your rates by increasing your deductible, which is the amount you have to pay before your auto insurance kicks in.
The Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services recommends that you compare the medical coverage in your auto insurance to your health insurance so that you’re not duplicating coverage.
Poke around for obscure discounts
Come right out and ask your insurance agent about any other discounts for which you might be eligible. Find out about consolidating your auto and home insurance policies with one insurer in order to get a multiline discount. Here are some other ways to save:
Find out if you can save money by taking a defensive driving course. When a son or daughter goes away to college and stops driving, make sure your auto insurer knows. Some insurers offer lower rates to particular professions or members of certain groups, such as alumni of certain universities or affiliation groups. If you carpool or ride your bike to work, find out if you qualify for a low-mileage discount.Although you are looking for ways to save money, you may not want to shop on price alone. Before switching from a respected company that’s been prompt, fair and reliable over the years to a new company, seek feedback from friends who have had auto insurance coverage with the new company to find out what their experience has been.
Filed under insurance by on Jan 17th, 2011. Comment.
There are a number of reasons to shop for car insurance quotes online.
So before you renew your current car insurance policy – and before you spend hours shopping for car insurance quotes by calling or visiting every car insurance company individually – go to insurance.com and get 5 important benefits when you shop and compare car insurance quotes.
Drivers who regularly shop for car insurance know comparing car insurance quotes is one of the quickest ways to discover big savings. In fact, drivers at insurance.com save more than $500 on average, according to insurance.com’s RateWatch for Car Insurance.
Why do drivers save so much? Because car insurance companies choose to treat groups of people differently. As events in a driver’s life changes, even non-car insurance related events such as a birthday, insurance companies will often move a driver into a different group and thus change the rates they charge. Additionally, Insurance companies are constantly changing their rates to be more competitive. So car insurance rates change daily and fluctuate like the stock market. The average rates this month could be cheaper next month.
So save money, lots of money by shopping and comparing quotes online each time you need to renew your car insurance policy.
Shopping and comparing car insurance quotes the traditional way is time consuming. It requires providing the same information over and over – for each insurance company you want to shop – whether online, by phone or through a local agent. And the only way to compare quotes side by side is to write it all down, keep track of the info, and then spread it all out on the dining room table. The entire process could take hours, even days.
That process takes about 10 minutes at insurance.com. Fill out one form one time and you’ll get up to four car insurance quotes to compare side by side from more than a dozen top-rated car insurance companies. It’s completely free and easy to do.
Life moves fast for most people. Finding time to do anything can be a challenge. Thankfully, comparing car insurance quotes online is a task you can do when it’s most convenient for you. Sites like insurance.com allow you to shop, compare quotes and purchase a policy 24 hours a day, seven days a week online. And the extended call center hours at insurance.com means greater access to expert, licensed agents.
The information you provide is evaluated differently by each car insurance company – and no two companies look at the same driver the same way. Car insurance companies package and price policies differently. Not only will you get different rates or discounts sometimes for the same price you can get free towing or a free rental package.
When you comparison shop for car insurance you get the best policy for the best rates for you.
Found the policy you like? Buy it. Insurance.com’s car insurance quotes and rates are real, direct from the rate engines of each insurer. You can safely and securely purchase a policy as soon as you’re ready. You’ll get temporary insurance cards and help canceling your existing policy, so you’re on the road and on to savings even faster.
Be prepared. Other car insurance comparison sites may not offer real rates and most can’t sell you a car insurance policy. You’ll have to go to the insurance company directly or work with an agent to get the policy you want. Those extra steps can be time consuming.
Filed under insurance by on Jan 15th, 2011. Comment.