Is there anything at all that you can do to save money on the high cost of car insurance? There are actually some things you can do to pay less on automobile insurance in Missouri. Check out the following money saving tips.
Acquaint yourself with all of the details of the six forms of insurance coverage. Then find out what the minimum coverage is that you must have on your vehicle to drive in the State of Missouri. You only have to carry bodily injury and property damage in your state. The state has set minimums that are required by you may want to choose a higher level as well as other types of coverage. Knowing ahead of time exactly what your insurance needs are will help you get the best rate without paying for coverage you really don’t need.
Shop around – that is the number one way to save on your car insurance. Once you know what your car insurance needs are you can start getting as many quotes as you can. Premiums are going to vary from company to company for the same coverage so it is important to find one that has the best rates and provides good customer service.
There are plenty of online sites that will take your information and put them into their database and will match you up with the companies that are going to give you the best coverage for your money. This works best when you know ahead of time what coverage you need and what you don’t. If you are still not sure it is best to speak directly with an insurance agent who can guide you in the right direction.
Changing your deductible can lower your rate considerable. If you raise your out-of-pocket deductible from $250 to $500 you could realize savings up to 10 percent annually. If you are paying $1,200 per year you could save around $120 just with that one modification.
If an older vehicle is valued around $2,000 or less, you may want to reconsider keeping the collision coverage on it. If you have a vehicle that is still being financed you must keep this coverage, but if your car is paid off, it may be cheaper in the long run to remove it from your policy.
Bring all of your insurance policies to one company. Many insurance companies give discounts to their customers who use them for all of their insurance needs – car, life, homeowners, rental and health.
See if your insurance company offers any discounts for low mileage, safe driving, being a good student, attending defensive driving classes or even for having a safer car. Newer cars have factory installed air bags and some newer ones are installing passenger side air bags. Keyless entry and pre-installed alarm systems also help cut down on liability and will result in lower rates.
And finally, if in doubt, ask. An insurance professional is on top of all of the latest criteria in determining rates and can tell you where you can save some bucks.
