Whether you are stuck in traffic on the “405” or cruising down the “PCH” on a delightful summer’s day, the State of California requires that you have auto insurance on the vehicle that you are driving. Driving without a license can result in stiff financial penalties or fines, the possible suspension of your driving privileges, or, worse yet, incarceration behind bars. Although a state government may mandate that you have insurance, it cannot, however, prevent you from finding an inexpensive policy or employing many of the tips available for reducing the monthly premium for the coverage that you now have.
During these tough economic times, everyone is looking for ways to improve the household budget situation. One major line item in that budget happens to be insurance, and it would behoove us all to review our current policies and scan the Internet for ways to reduce its cost impact. In today’s world, cheap insurance can be had without sacrificing quality of coverage or customer support. Many large and reputable firms have used technology to reduce their costs, and, since this field is highly competitive, most companies are passing along a hefty portion of these cost savings to you, the ultimate consumer, in the form of lower monthly premiums.
The California DMV is very specific about your financial responsibilities and what might happen if you do not have insurance that meets their requirements. Your vehicle registration will be suspended when:
- The DMV is notified that a policy has been cancelled and a replacement policy has not been submitted within 45 days.
- Insurance information is not submitted to DMV within 30 days of the issuance of a registration card upon initial registration or transfer of ownership.
- The registration is obtained by providing false evidence of insurance.
Proof of insurance must be in your car, typically an insurance card provided by your insurer. As for coverage, your lender will require Collision and Comprehensive coverage to protect his collateral, but California has established minimums for Liability insurance as follows:
- $15,000 for injury/death to one person.
- $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person.
- $5,000 for damage to property.
Within these guidelines, it is still possible to find cheap auto insurance rates or make changes to your existing policy to save money. Maintaining a good driving record will always keep premiums at low levels, but to make changes going forward, the first thing to do is to read your policy details, get acquainted with how it is priced, and become familiar with the details of this topic. After this preparatory phase is behind you, here is a list of the five primary actions that you can take to reduce your overall auto insurance premiums:
1) Comparison Shop: There are many excellent services on the Internet that will equip you with several California insurance quotes in minutes. Quotes will vary by company, so it is best to get three or more to compare at the outset. If you are thinking about buying a new car, the time to get quotes is before, not after you buy it. For each company, do a little independent research on each for financial stability (try http://www.ambest.com or http://www.standardandpoors.com/ ) and check consumer magazines for ratings on customer service and favorable customer testimonials or unfavorable complaints;
2) Modify Deductibles: These deductibles determine how much you will have to pay in the event of an accident. In most cases, if you set aside savings for an emergency and raise your collision deductibles from $200 to the $500 or $1,000 range, then you might be able to save anywhere from 10% to 40% of your total premium. Do the math to see if this tactic works for you. Ask for revised quotes if you have to do so – your time equals money in this regard;
3) Delete Unnecessary Coverage: If you are driving an older car that you own outright, you may not need any comprehensive or collision coverage, depending on the car’s value. You will also want to check your other policies, especially health and life insurance. Many times you may find that you have duplicate coverage. Why pay twice for the same thing? Delete and save;
4) Loyalty Discounts: Insurance companies like to cross sell you their other coverage policies, as well, and they are willing to give you discounts if you also buy life, homeowners’, and health insurance from them. There may also be rewards for the amount of time that you have been with them as well;
5) Other Discounts: Be sure to ask your agent for any other discounts or ways to reduce your premiums. You may also want “Accident Forgiveness” coverage to prevent higher premiums after your first accident. If you don’t ask, you don’t get!
- Guest contribution provided by: Cheap Insurance 1-2-3