Car insurance is required if you are planning on driving on the streets and highways of Florida. And it seems as if the costs are always going up, never down. Here are some tips to start to reverse that trend and get you on your way to saving money on your car insurance.
Combine your car insurance with your life insurance, renter’s insurance or homeowners insurance if you can. Putting all of your insurance needs under one roof qualifies you for a discount with many insurance companies.
Keep a good handle on your credit score. Make sure that there are no errors in your report that could be costing you extra in your premiums. And by the same token, make sure that you notify your company if and when your credit score improves. The higher the score, the lower your premiums will be.
You can increase your deductibles in areas that might show a substantial difference in price. Be sure you know where to spend the money and where to save it. If you raise your premium too high in one area to save a few bucks now, you may have to shell out thousands later.
Let your insurance company know if you have changed the amount of time that you are driving your car. If you used to have a two-hour daily commute and now are working close to home, the decreased time on the road will give you some savings. And if you can carpool with someone, it will cut down on your gas expenses as well as your car insurance.
The more protected your vehicle is the lower some of your costs will be. If you keep your car in the garage as opposed to out on the street, this will affect your rate. By the same token, if your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, an alarm system, or a LoJack that will help locate a stolen vehicle, you will realize even more savings.
Pass up some of the extras. You may want to keep the car rental reimbursement, which will certainly come in handy if your car has to go into the shop for repairs due to an accident. But shop around for roadside assistance features. Chances are you may be able to find those services cheaper outside of your insurance company.
You can save up to 10% over a three year period if you are 50 years of age or older. The state of Florida guarantees these savings to anyone who takes a six-hour online safe driving class. The savings from taking this class have been around $100 a year.
And in Florida as is the case almost everywhere, check out and compare companies before you plunk down your hard earned money. The internet has made it even easier to get instant quotes. Just gather all of your information ahead of time so you don’t have to stop and look things up as you go along. You will need the make and model of your car, the mileage and vin number. Be prepared to compare companies and maybe even save a little money.
