Tips To Not Get Cheated While Buying Your Car Insurance Policy

Finding an insurance policy that is right for you can be a daunting process; it gets to be a lot more complicated than most people anticipate—especially if you are trying to ensure that you get the best deal possible. It is easy to fall into the trap of insurance company marketing; they tend to not tell you up front that while you may be saving money each month, your coverage is less than adequate for your needs or wishes. There are many factors that contribute to how your rate will be assessed by an insurance company. For instance, an insurance company will want to consider if the applicant has had any driving infractions, or has had their license suspended or revoked; unfortunately, such violations can be difficult, if not impossible, to expunge from your record in a timely, inexpensive fashion. However, there are other things that one can do to lower insurance rates. Shopping for car insurance is overwhelming, so here are a few tips that will help simplify the process.

Clean driving record will help you

First, and most simply, accidents and infractions look bad on a driving record to insurance companies. This indicates that the likelihood is increased that you will have another violation or another accident, potentially costing them money. Needless to say, you should avoid accidents, tickets, suspensions, or revocations. If you already have accidents on your record, they may take a number of years to “fall off” your record; this time frame is different in various states. This is one of the most typical ways that an insurance company will assess your monthly rate, so keep this in mind before you speed down the highway. While having a “bad driving record” is not optimal, sometimes we must reconcile with past events and do our best to accept that in a matter of time, they may not hinder our opportunities. All we can do is look to the future, and drive safely. Another factor that influences a monthly rate is whether or not you own the car, or are making payments on it. Again, this may not be something that can be changed in the immediate future. However, if you are close to paying off your car, you can look forward to a distinct drop in your insurance rate.

Be responsible and smart

Another thing you will want to consider is that being without car insurance is not a good look to insurance companies; this indicates that you may not have kept up with your past bills, or that you made a poor choice by driving without insurance for a period of time. This alone can increase your rate significantly. For insurance companies, they want to extend lower rates only to individuals who prove that they are loyal customers, do not miss payments, and are responsible drivers. However, it is a business, and they must offer competitive rates to customers in order to achieve higher sales records. It is in this capacity that the consumer has a leg up. You can also ask what kinds of discounts they offer, such as the good student discount or low mileage discount. You may also want to consider bundling home insurance and car insurance to lower your overall payment.

Analyze different insurance quotes

The best thing you can do to find the lowest rate is to shop around. Although it is arduous work, taking the time to look for the absolute best offer will be doing you a huge favor in the long run—after all, insurance companies want your business. One insurance offer may be hundreds of dollars lower than another company’s same offer, so doing research may cost an hour of your time, but it will save you tons of money. Furthermore, if you wish to raise your chances of getting significantly lower rates, you could see what you would be comfortable sacrificing in coverage. Having the lowest coverage for a low rate is not ideal, and if you do happen to be involved in a collision, you will wish you had paid a little more monthly. Additionally, certain cars get better rates than others—so be sure to get an insurance quote before you decide to purchase a new vehicle. In any case, look for the policy, and company, that best fits you.

Jordan Weine
Owner – Bay Diagnostic
Serving Brooklyn Since 1985

For over 37 years Bay Diagnostic has been a Brooklyn staple helping you get back on the road faster than the dealer can. A full-service automotive repair shop in Brooklyn that specializes in scheduled service, preventive maintenance and concierge service. At Bay Diagnostic, you will come to expect what the automotive repair experience should be, fast, easy and reliable. A one stop shop for your vehicle needs.

We proudly service Audi, BMW, Land Rover, Mercedes, Mini, Porsche, Smart Car and Volkswagen vehicles.