There are many well-known ways to save on car insurance such as raising your deductible, driving safe, and shopping around for the best deals. There are several articles detailing how those tips help you save, and if you’d like to know more, it’s definitely worth looking up. In this article, we’ll be exploring three ways of saving that get less attention but can still reduce your auto insurance rates.
1) Take a Defensive Driving Course
Defensive driving courses help fine-tune skills that prevent accidents and keep drivers safe in emergency situations. They also provide tips for dealing with emotional stress such as road rage while driving.
Many states support these programs by offering incentives such as discounts on auto insurance upon completing a course. Taking a defensive driving course can reduce your car insurance premium by as much as 10% depending on your insurance provider and the state you live in.
If you have some free time and would like to save money, a defensive driving course may be right for you. Just make sure you research what discounts your insurance agency offers for taking these programs and which classes meet their requirements before signing up.
2) Install Anti-Theft Devices
Some auto insurance agencies provide discounts to customers who can show their car has anti-theft devices installed. For example, GEICO offers up to 25% in potential savings to clients with anti-theft devices such as car alarms and car tracking devices.
The amount of discount you will receive for taking these measures varies between different companies, but it can’t hurt to call and ask if your plan provides discounts for taking anti-theft measures. There could be a great deal waiting to be discovered.
Before buying anything, it is important to check how much you’ll save and compare it with the cost of installing an anti-theft device. If the savings outweigh the cost, this method can be a great way to save money while protecting a vehicle you love.
3) Downsize Your Car
Having a big, visually impressive car may seem like an exciting ride. However, there are many costs attached which include increased insurance premiums. Smaller commuter cars are less expensive to insure and have the added benefit of saving on gas, something we can all appreciate as of late.
A growing number of insurance agencies also offer discounts to drivers of environmentally friendly vehicles. For instance, Farmers offers a 5% discount to customers insuring a hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle.
This tip isn’t for everyone, but if you’re an empty nester who no longer needs the minivan or just someone sick of struggling to parallel park, it may be the push that makes it worth trading in the large car for something more economical.
These lesser-known car insurance tips are hidden gems offering significant discounts. Yet, the best tip for saving money on car insurance is to avoid accidents. Stay safe behind the wheel, and I wish you the best of luck lowering your rates.