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Driving Record – Quite possibly the most important element of determining your premiums, driving record can make or break a policy. Those with various infractions and points on their license will find themselves paying much more than those with a clean driving record. In order to keep your premiums low, one must drive defensively and keep their record spotless.

Age – Those who are younger are seen as higher risks and therefore will be charged more for car insurance. If you are a driver under the age of 25 higher premiums until they are over the cutoff age and their average car insurance payment will be higher.

Gender – Statistically, men are more aggressive behind the wheel and more likely to experience an accident. Because of this fact, males will experience higher rates of premiums than women. Although this is not across the board, in many cases, simply being male will raise your insurance.

Location – Within the United States, the location of the company offering insurance has a lot to do with the price. Many states with lower populations and fewer cars on the road will produce lower premiums and states with higher populations and more cars in the road will find themselves with higher average car insurance payments.

Previous Claims – Those who have filed claims in the past have a large potential of having their premiums increased. Since it costs car insurance company money to pay for damages, they will likely raise premiums as a result. A good way to cut down on costs of premiums is to increase the amount of money you pay for damages to your vehicle which is also known as a deductible.

Company – With so many companies jostling for position in the market, it’s no surprise that different companies will have different average car insurance prices. By shopping around and analyzing each individual company, it becomes possible to save a great deal of money and find the price you want.

Safety Features – Average car insurance prices do factor in discounts offered for added safety features, but many individuals don’t take advantage of this perks a lot of the time. Many companies will give discounts for installing airbags, side impact panels, or GPS. Check with each individual company and see if installing one of these features can end up saving money in the long run.

Vehicle Type – More expensive vehicles will inevitably be more to insure. The average car insurance sot is based on a wide variety of vehicles, so if you are looking to save money, consider insuring a safer vehicle.

Since each of the factors listed above greatly impact the price of car insurance, it becomes incredibly difficult to take the average price of car insurance at face value. Although there are certain aspects that can raise premiums, there are also ways to save money by taking advantage of certain discounts offered by specific companies. Those who are interested in finding out their average payment can do a quick online search that can give one a good idea of what to expect when purchasing new insurance or updating an old policy.

Enter your zip code below to find the best deals on car insurance in your area!

When it comes to calculating an accurate average car insurance price, it’s best to educate yourself and shop around for the best deal. Many individuals, especially those who are purchasing car insurance for the first time will simply jump into the first policy that looks appealing. In order to get the coverage you need for the price you want, the average can be a good indicator, but researching the topic is the only way to truly receive the best price.

See if the company offers a low mileage discount. Many companies will take into consideration the distance driven by the insured. The lower the mileage, the less of a chance that the driver will be involved in a costly accident; this often translates into a lower premium. In order to take advantage of this, it is wise to drive as little as possible. Many companies gauge the discount in intervals and are incredibly meticulous about mileage. Companies will offer a discount for those who drive less than 10,000 miles a year. In order to fit these requirements, find alternate forms of transportation. Carpool, take the bus, or cut back on unnecessary trips when possible.

Maintain good grades. While this may seem like an unrelated topic, one of the demographics with inflated premiums is younger drivers and students. Insurance companies believe their lack of inexperience in driving to be a high risk and will likely charge them more for insurance. Students who maintain a B or better average may qualify for a good student discount in high school and college. The discount generally requires the student to provide the insurance company with proof of GPA annually.

Take more courses. Better drivers receive better premiums. Taking a defensive driving course can allow drivers to qualify for a discount if they’ve proven themselves to be a safe and defensive driver. Many states offer defensive driving courses and a few other certifications that establish them as safe and educated drivers. Each state differs, but almost every state has a defensive driving course in some form or another which will often translate into savings on car insurance.

Be energy efficient. A few low cost auto insurance companies offer drivers discounts for driving hybrids or other energy efficient vehicles. Some companies that embrace the Green Movement will offer whopping discounts for utilize fuel-efficient cars. If you’re thinking about purchasing a new vehicle, check out some of the different companies and see if they offer discounts for energy efficient vehicles before making your decision. The choice to switch to a more environmentally friendly vehicle can not only be better for Mother Earth, but better for your wallet as well.

Look into getting a multi-policy discount. Insurance companies are businesses that appreciate loyal customers as much as the next. Aside from car insurance, many companies offer insurance for other vehicles as well. Individuals with motorcycles or boats can take advantage of these different areas of insurance and receive a discount from the company on all forms of coverage.

Switch to higher deductibles. The amount of money paid out of the driver’s pockets in the event of a collision, a deductable can decrease premiums. Drivers can save as much as 15-20% on their annual insurance on Comprehensive and Collision premiums by choosing a $500 or $1000 deductible. These advantages are especially useful on newer cars.
Enter your zip code below to find the best deals on car insurance in your area!

Buy gap insurance. This costs a little more annually, but can cover loan payments on new vehicles. In the event that a driver damages their car beyond repair while still financing the vehicle, gap insurance will cover the loss of a new car that’s worth less than your outstanding balance. This is used to compensate for the instant plunge in value of a vehicle once it’s been purchased.

Don’t let your policy lapse. You could pay 25% more for a new policy when you’re ready to buy one. Some insurers offer a transfer discount for people in these situations. Make sure to renew your policy in plenty of time so you won’t lose your old benefits and be subject to more signup fees.

You probably remember the decision process you went through before you purchased your car. You may have read reviews by the major car magazines, read independent reviews on forums, asked your friends with previous experiences, talked to dealers, etc. The important thing is that you went out there and asked questions, and found the car that appealed to you, and fit your budget. It is a wonder that many Americans simply accept the first quote supplied to them by the insurance agency that they have always used.

Now, finding low cost car insurance online does not have to be a particularly difficult process, but it will require some diligence, and some understanding of how insurance works, and what affects the premiums that you pay. Most experts would agree that the best thing you can do is to get quotes from multiple agencies on an apples-to-apples basis, and see who quotes the best rate. We have a great tool that allows you to enter your zip code and find local providers in your area. Give it a shot!

Hopefully, you’ve followed my advice and have a couple of quotes in hand. The rates can really vary, so make sure to get multiple quotes. Remember, getting affordable car insurance doesn’t have to be difficult, it just requires a little more work than your average Joe is willing to put in – don’t be that guy. Keep in the back of your mind, that each additional quote you find has the potential to save your hundreds of hours per year. It doesn’t take more than twenty minutes to get a quote from even the most difficult site, which means that you should be able to get three quotes in an hour. Even if getting an additional quote only saves you an average of $10, you’re making $30/hour by doing the additional research. Not bad, right!?

Before we move on, another important point to make is that just because you’ve heard of a big name agency like Geico or State Farm doesn’t mean that the lesser known names you haven’t heard of are bad, or should be avoided. The big companies will always stress that you should go with a name you trust, but remember that smaller companies just don’t have the same marketing budget. They could easily counter with arguments like, “more personal service,” and “locally owned.” These compelling points make the value of a name brand less significant, and should remind you to consider quotes from all agencies before making your decision.

Now, back to our research. With a few quotes, you can start taking a look at ways to tinker with the options you’ve selected. Think about the type of coverage you need, and if it really is the best fit for your situation, and what your situation might look like in the near future. Do you really need comprehensive and collision? Can you reduce the number of miles that you drive in a given year. Are any life-changing events on your horizon, such as getting married? Will you be moving to a different city, or state any time soon? All of these affect your insurance rates. Over the coming weeks, we will be addressing several of these questions. We will take a look at car insurance rates in various parts of the country. We will take a look at rates by age and gender. And we will also be looking at how much you might pay to insure several different types of vehicles.
Enter your zip code below to find the best deals on car insurance in your area!

In the meantime, remember that changing your insurance provider is not a scary thing. In fact, believe it or not, these companies are in the business of making it a very easy process! If you are willing to put in a little extra work, you, too, can find cheap car insurance. You probably have friends that pay significantly less than you do, and I bet you’re jealous. Who wants to pay $200, or even $100 per month just to insure their car? Not me, and I took the necessary steps to find car insurance that fit within my budget. If you’re willing to put in the extra time to do your research, I can personally guarantee that it will pay off in the end. My last piece of advice is to stop reading! Get some quotes by entering your zip code below, and start reducing that monthly bill! Good luck, and come back soon for more helpful tips.