Check for car insurance discounts

10 Tips to Ensure You Have the Best Coverage for Your Car

Many people start each New Year with a variety of meaningful changes or plans to make “this year” better than the last. Some of these plans might involve better diets, lifestyle changes, read more, exercise more, journal more, spend more time with our family, and greater focus on how to be more fiscally responsible.

It’s hard to argue with being more responsible with where you spend your hard earned dollars. Insurance costs to protect our vehicles can be a large expenditure for many people. It makes sense to complete an annual review where and how these controllable dollars are spent.

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts, which handles more insurance-related collision repair work than any other body shop network in North America, offers a few tips to help ensure your auto insurance premium dollars are spent in the most effective manner possible.

If you have a clean driving record with no accidents and no violations in the last three years you should qualify for a significant “safe driver” discount. If you don’t see a discount of this type on your declarations page that comes with your renewal, check with your agent or insurance provider.
If you have good or very good credit you may qualify for additional discounts. Check with your agent or insurance provider.
If you have your auto and homeowner policies with the same insurance company you probably qualify for another type of discount. Check with your agent or insurance provider.
If you have young drivers on your policy who are good students, usually a B average or higher, you may qualify for additional discounts. There are also discounts available for participating in safe driving programs. Check with our agent or insurance provider for availability.
If your current vehicles have special accident avoidance systems you may qualify for additional discounts.
If you own vehicle(s) whose combination of age, miles and current physical condition has deteriorated to a point of lower value it could be time to consider self-insuring these vehicles. This means removing collision and comprehensive coverage. This action requires careful consideration and should definitely include consultation with your agent or insurance provider.
Changing the amount of your collision and or comprehensive deductibles can also be an option to control your premium costs. Selecting a higher deductible for either coverage will lower your premium. But it’s important to understand this move will increase your financial exposure should an accident occur.
Some insurance companies are offering installed driving performance monitors that provide you a discount on your insurance for safe driving. Check with your insurance agent on availability.
If you have moved, taken a new job or married or divorced during the past year, it can impact your car insurance. Be sure to update your policies accordingly.
A final tip to every insurance consumer would be to make sure you have a “what if I have an accident kit” in your glove box. This kit should contain a pencil, a pad of paper to write down accidents details and witness contact information, your agent’s contact information, your current insurance card, a disposable camera, and emergency contact information with names and numbers of people identified as the people to call in case you’re injured.
“Making your car insurance resolutions at the beginning of the year can deliver savings all year long,” said Dan Young, senior vice president of insurance relations for CARSTAR. “And, you can rest assured that you have the best coverage for your vehicle and family.”