June 17, 2009

Discounts That You May Qualify For

In California the law is that everyone who drives must have auto insurance. It’s also true that in the Golden State, many of us are feeling the hurt of the recession. We are all cutting back on our spending but your insurance is something you cannot do without. So what is the solution? Try looking for a good deal. It’s easy to find auto insurance quotes online and the best part is you can usually get a quote for free! Also, if you’re a really smart consumer, you can usually score yourself some deals and discounts you many not know about when it comes to your insurance.

Depending on your California auto insurance provider you can get some discounts on your car insurance based on a number of factors. Mostly, if you’re less likely to get into an accident or less likely to get hurt in an accident, you can get a discount. One of the ways to save is based simply on your driving record. Are you a good driver? Have you been accident-free within the past five years? If you said yes to both of these, then you probably qualify. Often times, this is the biggest discount you can get, up to 25 percent or more off of what your total payment would be. Maybe you got into a little fender bender in the past five years. It is still possible to receive discounts, depending on whether your insurance company provides Accident Forgiveness and what their stipulations are with that. Another way to save on your auto insurance depends on the type of safety equipment in your car. Do you have air bags? Front seat air bags provide a discount and full-front seat air bags might even provide you more. Have anti-lock breaks? Have an anti-theft system or daytime running lights? You guessed it. All of these provide potential for a little extra cash in your pocket.

Often times if you stick with a provider instead of switching, they will reward you with some discounts. Another way to save is if you buy in bulk – if you have multiple cars, put all of them on the same auto insurance and receive more bang for your buck. They consider both of those to be a type of loyalty, and every smart business is good to a loyal customer. And smart companies reward smart people too. If you’re a high school or college student who is enrolled full time, you can receive some discounts if you get a “B” average, usually. If you take some driving courses, like the defensive driver course or driver’s education, you are eligible to save too. Lastly, if you’re a member of the military, you’re probably going to get some form of a discount and it could possibly depend on your rank.

So before locking yourself into an auto insurance plan, explore what discounts are available. Inquire with the insurance company themselves and discuss some ways that you can have your auto insurance lowered. It never hurts to ask.