Saturday, February 28, 2009

How to Insure Your Car

By Tom Martens

Everybody who drives a car has to maintain car insurance. But how can you choose the right policy at the right price?

First, it's important to be sure what your policy does and does not cover. If the policy does not give you enough liability coverage to protect your income and assets, or if it does not cover your unique driving situations, then you need to tell your agent about your needs and ask him or her for a new quote. While you are legally required to maintain car insurance, you also need to be sure your policy will take care of you in case of a crash or a breakdown. When you are shopping around, having a written record of the quote keeps the agent from attempting to raise your price if you decide to buy their insurance.

If you also insure your home, or you have life insurance, ask about bundling your policies. Bundling means you get all your insurance from the same company. Insurance companies offer significant savings to keep you as their customer for multiple kinds of coverage, and the simplified billing makes budgeting and paying?and making sure you have paid?much easier.

Where you live impacts your insurance rates. Car insurance is more expensive in metro areas than in rural areas, especially if you own an expensive car. More expensive cars require more expensive car insurance. You will also want to check your car?s safety rating. Safer cars are cheaper to insurance, while flashier models cost more.

Ask your insurance provider what discounts are available to you on a car insurance policy. Many providers offer discounts for senior citizens, members of the military, women, multiple cars, multiple drivers and multiple policies. You might also be eligible for a premium discount if you belong to certain organizations, such as the AARP, or a specialty club. If you have a teen driver in the family and the teen is a good student, ask your insurance provider if they have good student discounts. Good students are viewed as responsible, which helps lower the risk in the eyes of the insurance provider. Your teen could also enroll in a basic or defensive driving course to help lower their insurance premium rates.

Finally, always shop around. Get several quotes on your car insurance. It's always possible that another provider could offer you better coverage at a lower premium. Insurance companies make comparison shopping easier than it used to be, especially over the Internet. You can do your research and find out the discount programs you may qualify for, the safety information on your vehicle, and the risk assessment of your neighborhood. Going to your agent armed with knowledge makes it much more likely you will get the best possible rate.

No matter what your auto insurance needs, always deal with professional, licensed insurance brokers. They can go over your situation and tailor a policy to your precise needs, as well as answer all your questions.

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