Compare auto insurance is a critical decision for all car owners.
This decision making is true regardless if your zip code is in Orange County California, or Los Angeles.
There are many rating factors to consider when comparing rates online. This only makes the process even that more difficult. It shouldn’t be however.
Choosing the correct auto insurance policy can sometimes be a difficult task.
You want an insurance policy that covers your requirements and is cost effective.
Prior to buying auto insurance, you must do your homework and be aware of the exact parameters you are looking for in your policy.
Here are some helpful tips about vehicle insurance coverage.
You should always check the possible insurance rates if you are purchasing a new vehicle.
You can contact your current insurance company.
Another way to check rates is to use online resources for information about which vehicles have lower premiums.
If you’re in the market for a new or previously owned vehicle, insurance rate info could be a big factor in your choice.
You can save on your insurance policy by choosing a model with a very good safety rating.
Vehicle Safety
The good news is there are platforms out there that assist with the safety of each vehicle.
For example, if you are purchasing a 2017 FORD F150 for example, you can always contact the manufacture for their safety rating.
They will provide this valuable information to you.
Another approach to finding how safe your vehicle is, is through, NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings.
This organization helps consumers or people looking to make smart decisions regarding safety and vehicle buying.
If you already purchased the vehicle, it is still good to know where your vehicle stands in the safety scale.
This can help you determine what steps you will make when making commutes out of the normal routine.
If a vehicle is not considered safe as an example, but you have one in the garage that is, then when your ready for that long family road trip, you know which vehicle you will be riding in.
So, as you can see, small decisions can lead into instrumental life choices.
So, decide wisely, on all levels.
What is Safety Ratings for Vehicle Purchasing?
The NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings is a great tool for any new auto buyer or current buyer.
It can help you determine the long term cost of your auto insurance as well.
This is because, insurance and safety go hand in hand as you can imagine.
This is because, safer vehicles on the roads of the United States, allow for a safer experience.
There of course other factors that can play into the role of safety, but are not necessary to discuss in this article.
Just make mental note, that there is a tool for your use, for both insurance savings and car safety.
Check them out prior to buying a car.
Most of us our too excited to remember all the small details that go into car buying, but these small details can save you tons of money on your premium in the long run.
Proactive
So, being proactive and knowing before you buy, holds true to most things in life.
You always want to make sure you are setting yourself up for success and not failure.
The foundation to your policy is the starting point in this process. This is why it is so important that you understand before the purchase.
There are many ways, tactics, discounts that can lower your rate or current premium.
Some of these depend on your driving habits, while others depend on the type of vehicle you buy.
Other rating factors can also depend on the amount of miles you drive total per year.
California Driving
Obviously, the more time you spend on the roads of California, the more risk you are exposing yourself too.
If you haven’t driven in Southern California yet, then you wouldn’t understand.
California driving is unlike many other States.
Depending on the county you are driving in and the time of year, you can be placing yourself to many risks.
Insurance companies obviously know this, and why they charge more premium for certain areas or territories.
Tourist Activity
If you are driving in an area where there are a lot tourists, then you are also opening yourself up to exposure.
For example, let’s say you live in a beach city.
During peak season, which is usually the summer months, tourism can triple the population in most cases.
In this doubling or tripling of population, so does the increase of risk and exposure.
If you also factor in the fact that tourist who do not know where they are driving too, in most cases, there is another dangerous factor lurking.
What is Distracted Driving?
Great question, because unfortunately it exists, and causes loss and destruction each year to many families.
Think about driving, now think about anything that takes away your attention from actually driving.
This is a good start to find all the things and gadgets that take our minds and other senses from the most important task at hand, driving.
Obviously, as we drive more and more, gain the experience of the highways and open roads, our confidence grows.
Sometimes we might make bad decisions, and start to do other things in the vehicle while we are driving.
We are all guilty, for the most part of doing this. It is just human nature and behavior.
Of course, we do not want to generalize or lump all people into these large categories. but for illustration and demonstration purposes, we will.
What is Mental Fatigue and Driving?
Another factor that can effect the outcome of your driving skills is, mental fatigue.
You know what this is if you have driven for long periods of time, or just were mentally burned out from some outside stressor, this would effect your driving path.
Or worse, let mental fatigue or driving of long hours, take us off our driving path.
Ask any long haul trucker if they have experienced mental fatigue over the course of their employment.
The most common occurrence among this population group.
Truck Insurance Companies, understand this, and rate accordingly.
This is because, drivers who do long haul for the most part, drive outside of their state zone.
They are usually traveling interstate, or between state lines, which makes this travel journey long and tiring.
Research has provided the mental deterioration of driving while tired, and for obviously reasons you can see why.
We will not go into he medical background of this phenomena, but understanding that one exist, helps show the importance of this science and study.
Insurance Driving Statistics
Astonishing numbers, according to National Center for Statistics and Analysis in 2015 alone, 3,477 people were killed in a motor vehicle crash that involved a driver who was distracted.
This does not include the other 391,000 that were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.
Interesting enough, during the daylight hours, an approximate 660,000 drivers were on cell phones while driving their vehicle.
As you can imagine, this has the potential for a lot of death and injury on the United States Highways and roads.
Teen drivers were reported to have the largest age group of distracted driving fatal crashes.
Teen Car Insurance premiums will reflect this statistical information, and ultimately can be seen in premium amounts.
Examples of distracting driving:
This is the undeniable factor or distracted drivers. You see them in your own backyard, or highways, so why not on vacation.
The unfortunate part in this example, its the increase in the tourism that increases the risk of insurance premium in certain demographics in the United States.
For obvious reasons, since distracted or unfamiliar drivers, can pose a threat to the safety of the streets for the locals.
This is for the simple observation, that the locals know where they are going.
This dose not discount the fact that locals, do in fact make up a proportion of loss and accidents.
also susceptible to distracting driving behaviors that can cause a possible accident or loss.
More Traffic?
More people, equals more traffic and more increase of loss or accident.
Now you can understand why certain areas will pay higher premiums versus less densely populated areas, even for certain times of the year.
If you do live in a highly populated area, then you are looking for ways or discounts to offset the higher premiums.
Usually, a look at your annual mileage is a good start.
If you have a direct auto insurance policy, you most likely have access to some form of electronic communication with your insurance company.
This has become pretty common place in the auto insurance marketplace, especially in 2018.
This is because, you, the policy holder, want direct policy access and information in case you need to provide a 3rd party with it.
So, if you do not drive the standard 12-15 thousand miles annually, you need to review your policy with your insurance broker or agent.
They can see if you qualify for the lowered car insurance premium.
You may qualify if you need to lower your car mileage.
This is because, you now use your mileage by using public transportation or joining a carpool.
Car Insurance companies like to see policy holders who responsibility, and by lowering your mileage in a responsible fashion, like carpool, is one of them.
This is because it also helps on a larger scale with the environmental impact in government and within the international community.
like when their policy holders show responsibility, keeping your mileage low is something they really appreciate.
What is an Auto Policy Review?
Letting your agent know, that you frequently use mass transit or ride in carpools, can be a great way to lower your insurance costs.
Before you buy additions for your car, ask yourself if you really require them
It is nice to have a nice stereo and heated seats, but they are not really necessary.
If you do and your car is destroyed, your policy may not cover it.
Make certain that property damage liability coverage is included in your policy.
This covers any damage your car may have created during an auto accident. It’s technically required in all states, except for three.
When you’re in a bad accident, the property damage can be expensive.
Therefore, by having a high amount of coverage in this area, you may actually save money.
Ask for an list of what insurance coverage discounts your company may have.
Find out about all discounts to ensure that you are saving money.
Even though you may have received a menu of discounts from one company, do not expect the next one to offer the same.
Sometimes, we feel as though the discounts we are receiving are across the board.
We only learn after comparing insurance rates or switching coverage entirely.
This is because each company has a specialty market that can provide over the top savings on certain areas of coverage.
This is why it is beneficial to understand the type or program of coverage you are in search of.
Military Insurance
For example, if you are in the military, you will want to make sure when you are comparing rates, that this discount is available.
Usually carriers that specialize in military coverage and discounts, also specialize in the service to these men and women who have served our country.
If you are in the service or retired from it, make sure you are inquiring whether or not you are getting this saving.
This one discount in some cases, can offset other rating factors that are hindering you from low rates.
Get informed on the different kinds of car insurance, and make sure you have enough to keep you covered in any type of situation.
You are going to need liability insurance if someone gets injured or there is property damage in an accident where you are at fault so that you don’t have to pay damages out-of-pocket.
It will also be important to obtain uninsured motorist coverage, as well as coverage for things such as fire damage or harm caused by natural disasters.
If you want to switch to a different auto insurance company, make sure you have a new policy in place before you cancel the one you have.
Accidents happen all the time, and being without auto insurance even for short time is a gamble.
Before you make your final buying decision, you should do a good amount of research to help you get the best insurance available for the least amount of money.
If you have enough information, you should be able to find good auto insurance at a fair price.
If you want to ensure you get the right car insurance, apply this article’s advice.
Insurance Blueprint
So, now that you have a good blueprint into the savings surrounding your policy options, write them down.
Look at them carefully and add anything that you are missing into the boxes later. Start with this format when calling around for quotes.
This way you are well prepared, know the questions to ask and won’t get deterred from the real mission, saving you money.
After you have gone through the quoting process, write these figures down.
Call back a day or so, or even a week if you can. Then you can see if that quote was accurate or not.
Insurance Rate Change?
If the rate changes in a day or so, then you know you were never really given an accurate rate.
This is more of bait and switch tactic and should be avoided at all cost.
So, the more you know, the better you are off in saving down the line. Ask questions when you compare car insurance rates.
Don’t be shy in understanding the basics, because this is where you lay out your groundwork.
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