When most people buy auto insurance, they choose all or most of the top six types of coverage. These include the state mandatory bodily injury and property damage liability, plus one or more of the following:
- Personal injury liability in case you’re injured and can’t work
- Collision coverage for damage you cause to your own car
- Comprehensive coverage for damage not caused by a collision
- Uninsured or under-insured motorist coverage in case the other drive has insufficient or no auto insurance
However, along with these standard types of auto insurance coverage, many insurance companies offer discounts based on a variety of factors.
Take Advantage of Auto Insurance Rebates
The Insurance Information Institute (III) offers a number of tips on how to select the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicle. In addition, they offer a long list of potential discounts your carrier may offer, including:
- Safe driver discount
- Antitheft devices
- Multiple policies with the same insurance company
- College students living away from home
- Defensive driving courses (such as the one offered by AARP)
- Drivers’ education courses
- Good credit record
- Higher deductibles
- Low annual mileage
- Long-time customer
- Multiple vehicles
- Accident free for three years
- No moving violations in three years
- Student driver with good grades
It is important that when you purchase auto insurance that you review all your options with your insurance company. Your agent can advise you whether you are eligible for any of these discounts.
Don’t Shop for Price Alone
Keep in mind auto insurance isn’t just about the rebates or finding the lowest premiums possible. It’s more about having the right coverage at the right price. That means you need to balance coverage and cost. The best thing to do is to shop around and:
Ask those you know – friends, family, co-workers – what they like about their auto insurance carrier
- Conduct research on insurance companies to find out those that get the best feedback from their customers (try checking with the Better Business Bureau and your state insurance department)
- Choose an agent that listens, answers your questions completely, and returns your calls in a timely manner
- Look for a carrier that offers good service when it comes to filing a claim, getting appraisals of repair costs, getting access to a rental car (if necessary), and dealing with the actual repair process and settlement
- Read the fine print before you sign to determine that you have the coverage you need (you may want to ask about additional items such as accident forgiveness, new car replacement, or roadside assistance)
- Make sure you are aware of any exclusions (such as certain drivers or if you have overlapping policies)
An inexpensive policy could mean you’re not really getting the amount of coverage you need. Read your policy carefully, ask questions, and get quotes before you decide. For more information about Scottsdale auto insurance, contact us.