|
When you are trying to secure the cheapest car insurance quote online it will be necessary to work out a strategy and write it all down before even firing up your computer. You will have to note all of the factors that could help you to get the cheapest auto insurance rates, and those that work to prevent you from being successful.
The internet is certainly a great help to getting the best insuring agreement since it will enable you to compare a large number of companies, and the first step after compiling your lists will be to choose the companies that you will request for the online quotation. However, we are getting ahead of ourselves here, so let’s have a look at what factors affect the price of your car insurance.
These are in no particular order, and they will all have an effect to a greater or lesser degree, but if you want cheap car insurance you will have to take them all into account. First think of what options you need – not the options you want, but those that you need. Thus, you won’t get the cheapest insurance you can get if your opt for collision and comprehensive. These are fine to provide coverage for damage if you have an expensive new car, but are likely wasted money if your car is older and your insurance company is more likely to total than to repair.
These are decisions only you can make, based upon your potential losses in the event of a collision, or the various factors involved in comprehensive cover such as theft, vandalism or being hit by a falling tree or roof tile. Keep in mind that these are expensive auto coverage options, and balance your decision on that. A similar option is person injury coverage that covers your medical expenses in the event of you being injured in an accident, no matter who causes it. Again that is a matter for you to decide, although the cheapest car insurance quote online will generally include none of these three.
Uninsured or underinsured driver cover is mandatory in some states, so you might not have the option of giving these a miss, but if your car is not too expensive then you have to balance that against the likelihood of you being hit by an uninsured driver. Again, you won’t be including this for the cheapest possible automobile insurance policy, but then again you might think the cover worth it. That again is your choice.
These are the main options, and then we come to the factors that can reduce your policy price. Note down those that apply, and include them in your quotation form, if possible. No claims for a few years will help to reduce the cost, but don’t exaggerate the period because if you have an accident it will be investigated and if you are being untruthful, or have made genuine error, your insurance will be invalid! However, inform the auto insurer if you have made no claims for a few years.
If you have added any safety or security features to your car you should also mention these since they will also possibly result in a reduction, although any customization might mean an increase so don’t volunteer any information on that unless asked. Find out if your employer has a staff discount arrangement with their company insurer, and some breakdown services also offer discount auto insurance to their members. Other factors that can help you get the cheapest car insurance quote online include your driving experience and capability: take an advanced or defensive drivers course and you will have your insurance price reduced.
Check out if the insurers offer discounts to specific types of employment: teachers for example sometimes get a discount, and also if you live in certain zip codes you can often get discounts. Tell the auto insurance companies if your car is garaged each night, and if you never drive to work that’s another factor that can help you. There are others, so make a list of them all and then get online and start looking for the auto insurance companies.
Choose about dozen mixing up some well known names, a few local companies and perhaps one or two brokers. Online comparison sites might be useful in helping you make up your list of companies, and once you have the list fill in their online forms with as close to the same information as the forms allow. You are comparing multiple insurance quotes at this stage, so the information provided to each should be the same.
Now choose your lowest three or four and telephone them. Let them know that you have lower quotes, so can they reduce their price? Mention all the factors in your list that have not already been given on the online forms, and then take a note of the cheapest car insurance quote that each finishes up with. Finally, call them again and offer to increase whatever deductible you have chosen – you should have started low on the form with a view to increasing the deductible here. That will give you a further reduction.
Compare the four and you should now have the cheapest car insurance quote online possible for the information you have provided. You could try to get the cheapest two to drop their price further by telling each the other’s quote and you will now have done everything possible to get the cheapest possible quote.
|
