You're tired of paying through the nose for your auto insurance policy, but you still want coverage that fully protects you in case of an accident. Full coverage auto insurance gives you the peace of mind that you're insured for liability, collision, and comprehensive claims, but it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Believe it or not, there are ways to find cheap full-coverage auto insurance if you know where to look. In this article, we'll show you some insider tips to compare rates and save hundreds on your policy so you get the coverage you need without the huge premiums. By the time you finish reading, you'll be well on your way to finding affordable full-coverage car insurance.
Compare Auto Insurance Quotes Online
Comparing auto insurance quotes online is the best way to find the cheapest full coverage insurance. Rather than calling different companies one by one, you can visit their websites or an insurance aggregator site and get instant quotes for the coverage you need.
Check out sites like Geico, Progressive, Liberty Mutual, and State Farm. They allow you to adjust coverage amounts for liability, comprehensive, and collision insurance so you can build the right policy for your needs and budget.
Be specific when entering information like your vehicle make, model, year, mileage, and VIN number. The more accurate the details, the more precise the quotes. Also enter your personal info, address, and driving history. Quotes are free, so get as many as you can!
Compare the quotes carefully based on coverage, deductibles, and premiums. Higher coverage means higher premiums, so make sure you understand the differences between minimum liability and full coverage. Consider raising deductibles to lower premiums, but only if you can afford to pay more out of pocket in case of a claim.
Check each company’s discounts and see which ones you may qualify for, like safe driver, student, anti-theft device, or bundling with other policies. This can potentially lower your premiums by hundreds per year.
Once you find a competitive quote with an insurer you trust, you can go ahead and purchase the policy on their website or through an agent. Be sure to re-check quotes at renewal time to get the best ongoing rate. Shopping around is the key to finding cheap full-coverage auto insurance. With some time and patience, you'll be saving money in no time!
Raise Your Deductibles to Lower Premiums
Raising your deductibles is one of the easiest ways to lower your premiums. The higher your deductibles, the less risk for your insurance company and the lower your rates.
For example, increasing your deductibles from $500 to $1,000 can save you up to 15% on your premiums. Go up to $2,000 deductibles and you're looking at savings of up to 30% or more. The more you're willing to pay out of pocket in the event of a claim, the bigger the discount.
Of course, make sure you can afford the higher deductibles. No sense in saving on premiums if you can't pay the deductible in an emergency. One tip is to put money aside each month towards your deductible fund in case you need to use it.
You may be able to lower other coverage limits as well to reduce premiums but be very careful. Liability coverage, for example, should remain high. It covers the other driver's costs if you're at fault in an accident. You don't want to put your assets at risk to save a few bucks.
Comprehensive and collision coverage are also good, especially if you have an expensive or new vehicle. But you can likely raise the deductibles on these optional coverages for additional savings.
In the end, finding the right balance between coverage and cost is key. Make changes slowly and check how much each impacts your premium before making the final decision. With some time and patience, you'll find cheap full-coverage auto insurance that protects you and your budget.
Drop Unnecessary Coverage Like Roadside Assistance
Dropping unnecessary coverage like roadside assistance from your auto insurance policy is an easy way to lower your premiums. Roadside assistance covers things like towing, flat tire changes, fuel delivery, and lockout services. While convenient, it’s really not essential and you can save 10-15% off your total premium by removing this coverage.
If your car is reliable and you have a separate emergency roadside service like AAA, you probably don’t need this through your auto insurer. You can always add it back later if needed. Some other types of optional coverage to consider dropping include:
- Rental car reimbursement - Only useful if you don’t have a separate credit card that provides rental car insurance. You can save 5-10% by removing this.
- Comprehensive and collision - If you drive an older vehicle that’s not worth much, it may not make sense to pay for these coverages. Dropping them can lower your premiums by 20% or more. But if your car is newer or leased, you’ll want to keep them.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist - While important coverage, you can lower your premiums by 5-15% by reducing the limits or removing this coverage altogether, especially if you live in a state with fewer uninsured drivers. But do so carefully, as it provides protection if an at-fault driver lacks enough insurance.
- Medical payments - Covers medical bills for you and your passengers after an accident. Rarely used and removing it can save you 3-8% off your total premium. Health insurance typically covers auto-related medical costs anyway.
Every dollar you can save on unnecessary coverage adds up, so evaluate each part of your policy to see what’s truly essential for your needs. Dropping or reducing non-essential types of coverage is an easy way to lower your auto insurance costs without sacrificing the coverage you really need. Shop around at different insurers too, and you’ll be well on your way to finding the cheapest full-coverage auto insurance for your budget.
Bundle Your Auto Policy With Home or Life Insurance
Bundling your auto insurance policy with other policies like home or life insurance is one of the best ways to lower your premiums and get cheap full-coverage auto insurance. Insurance companies offer bundled discounts because having multiple policies with them reduces their risk. The more policies you bundle, the bigger the discount.
Bundling with home insurance can save up to 30% off your auto premiums. Since you're already paying for home insurance, why not bundle your auto policy with the same company to lower your rates? Most major insurance providers like State Farm, Geico, and Allstate offer home and auto bundle discounts.
Bundling with a life insurance policy is another way to save on full-coverage car insurance. While the discounts may be slightly lower, around 10-15%, every dollar counts when you're trying to lower your premiums. The insurance company sees you as a lower risk since you have multiple policies with them, so they pass on some of the savings to you.
To get the best bundle discounts:
- Choose the same insurance company for all your policies. The more policies you have with one company, the bigger your savings.
- Increase your coverage limits or add additional properties to increase your bundle discount. For example, raise your home coverage to $500,000 to get a bigger discount on your auto.
- Ask about other discounts in addition to the bundle discount. You may also qualify for safe driver, multi-vehicle, or loyalty discounts to lower your rates even more.
- Shop around at different companies to compare bundle discount rates. While bundling with your current provider is convenient, you may find lower premiums with a different company.
- Review your policies together with each renewal to make sure you're still getting the best rates. Companies change their discounts and rates often, so bundling that saved you money last year may not be the most affordable option now.
Bundling your auto insurance is an easy way to save hundreds each year on full coverage premiums. Take advantage of the discounts offered by insurance companies and you'll be well on your way to cheap, comprehensive coverage.
Maintain a Good Driving Record to Qualify for Discounts
Maintaining a clean driving record is one of the best ways to qualify for auto insurance discounts and lower your premiums. Insurance companies view safe drivers as less risky to insure, rewarding them with lower rates.
Check Your Driving Record
Request a copy of your official driving record or motor vehicle report from your state DMV. Review it to make sure there are no errors. Double-check that any tickets or accidents on your record are correct. If you find mistakes, contact the court or DMV to dispute them. The fewer violations and accidents on your record, the lower your rates can be.
Obey Traffic Laws
Follow all traffic signs and signals, adhere to speed limits, and avoid any risky driving behavior. Getting ticketed for traffic violations like speeding, running red lights, or reckless driving can negatively impact your premiums. Multiple infractions can increase your rates by 20-50% or more, depending on their severity.
Maintain Continuous Coverage
Having a lapse in auto insurance coverage, even for just a short period, is seen as a big risk by companies and can significantly increase your rates. They view those with gaps in coverage as more likely to file claims. Do your best to keep continuous coverage to qualify for the best rates. If there is a lapse, consider a non-standard or high-risk insurer until you can re-qualify for a standard policy.
Review Discounts You Qualify For
Once you have a clean record and continuous coverage, you'll likely qualify for safe driver discounts and loyalty or longtime customer discounts from most standard insurers. These can reduce your premiums by up to 30% or more. Be sure to ask about all discounts you may be eligible for to get the maximum savings, including bundling with other policies like home or life insurance.
Keeping a spotless driving record and maintaining continuous coverage are two of the best ways to find cheap full-coverage auto insurance with standard insurers at the lowest rates you qualify for. Take the time to check your records, follow all traffic laws, and review available discounts to get the maximum savings on your premiums.
Conclusion
So there you have it - a few tricks to help you land cheap full-coverage car insurance. Shop around, compare quotes from multiple companies, increase your deductibles, bundle with other policies, maintain a good driving record, and look for discounts. It may take a bit of effort, but saving hundreds each year makes it worthwhile. Who knows, you might even find a policy you love. At the end of the day, finding affordable coverage means you can spend your hard-earned money on the important things in life - like road trips with friends, weekend getaways with family, and all the little moments that make you happy. So start searching today and get ready to hit the open road with confidence knowing you've got the coverage you need at a price you can afford. The adventure awaits!
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