The Motley Fool's Fiscal Fitness Boot Camp is in session! Every weekday this month, we'll walk you through a fresh money-saving/money-making tip as we work toward finding $2,000 in savings you didn't know you had.
Last week, we honed our negotiation chops by talking our way into better deals on cable TV and credit card interest rates. Today's Fiscal Fitness task will be a breeze in comparison: Get ready to make a phone call that could shave as much as $500 off your car insurance premiums.
Scoring better rates on car insurance is simply a matter of asking the right questions and being willing to take on a bit of the insurer's risk.
Up your deductible and pocket $328
If your current deductible is anywhere south of $500, you're probably paying a premium for your coverage, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Simply increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce the cost of collision and comprehensive coverage by 15% to 30%. How does that translate into actual dollars-and-cents savings? Well, with the average annual premium around $820, that one move could put $123 to $246 back in your pocket. Increase your deductible to $1,000, and we're talking 40% or more in savings on your premium, or $328-plus.
Remember, the higher your deductible, the more money you will pay out-of-pocket before your coverage will kick in. Still, given the hair-trigger temper of insurers these days -- dropping customers like last-minute prom dates at the first sign of trouble -- paying for small claims with the money you save on premiums is a prudent move. The cleaner your record, the better your rates.
If you already have a high deductible, don't click away just yet. There are plenty of other ways to cut the costs of insuring your automobiles.
Drive less and save!
High gas prices got a lot of people in the public-transportation habit. If you've stuck with it -- or for some other reason are driving less -- Mother Earth isn't the only one showing her appreciation.
According to a SmartMoney survey of major auto insurers, driving fewer than 7,500 miles annually can earn you discounts of 10% to 34% on your premium from insurers like State Farm and Progressive
Every little bit helps: A 10% discount means $82 off the average annual cost of coverage.
Brag to the sales rep for even more savings
As long as you're on the horn chatting up the insurance company rep, inquire about other potential discounts. The Insurance Information Institute has a checklist of discounts that can lower your insurance costs, including:
- Insuring more than one car.
- No accidents in three years.
- No moving violations in three years.
- Drivers over 50-55 years of age.
- Taking a driver training course.
- Taking a defensive driving course (see "More ways to save" below for details).
- Having a car with an antitheft device.
- Having a car with safety features such as air bags, antilock brakes or daytime running lights.
- Being a student with good grades.
- Combining your auto and homeowners coverage with the same company.
- Having college students away from home.
- Being a longtime customer.
The list may seem long, but the savings can stack up significantly. For example, combining your homeowners and auto coverage is often worth a 10% to 20% discount. Young drivers who are students acing their classes could get a 25% break. Parents who shipped Junior to college at least 100 miles away could cut their costs by as much as 40%. Given how much insurers like Allstate
More ways to save ...
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Use your connections: Look closely and you may find extra discounts in places you wouldn't expect. Berkshire Hathaway's
(NYSE:BRK-A) (NYSE:BRK-B) GEICO unit gives discounts to members of a number of organizations and associations -- including Berkshire shareholders. Alumni associations and other groups often negotiate better rates for members by delivering volume business. So inquire. -
Go to driving school: Taking a defensive driving course can nab you a break on your car insurance premiums. For those 50 or older, the AARP's Driver Safety Online Course makes it easy to earn class credit. But be sure to first check with your insurance agent or customer service rep to find out if your insurer offers deals for schooled drivers (and if an online course is kosher with your state laws). A defensive driving course can result in an additional 10% discount.
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Stop paying for out-of-date coverage: If it's been awhile since you reviewed your policy, do that now. Make sure you're not paying to insure a child who is no longer on your policy, or that you're not still paying for the value of your car when it was new. According to III.org, dropping collision and comprehensive coverage accounts for 40% or more of the cost of your premium. Since it covers only replacement value, consider dropping it if any claim payment would not amount to much more than your premiums minus your deductible.
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Consider the car you drive: What car you own can have a big impact on insurance costs. Check out Insure.com's list of most- and least-expensive cars to insure based on average annual premiums. Drive a Nissan (OTC: NSANY.PK) GT-R? Prepare to shell out more than $2,500 to insure your ride. Sports cars from Ford
(NYSE:F) and Toyota's(NYSE:TM) Lexus division also show up on the high-cost list. In contrast, zipping around town in a Hyundai Santa Fe will cost you just over $800 to cover -- around 67% less a year. - Comparison shop -- but carefully: Before you switch, consider the cost of losing any loyalty or good-driver discounts you've earned. Also be aware that getting a full-fledged quote for coverage may appear on your credit record and your insurance record. If you decide to shop around and want to compare the majors with some locals, go to the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America website or InsWeb.com to find someone local to give you a quote. If you're serious about switching, first look into the insurer's consumer complaint record, which you can do at your state's department of insurance via the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website.
Tune in throughout the month for the latest installments of our Fiscal Fitness Boot Camp, as we stay on course to produce at least $2,000 of savings for you.
