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Monday, November 24, 2008

Saving on American Auto Insurance Rates

By Thomas Kielez

The cost of American auto insurance policies varies not only from insurance company to insurance company but also from policy to policy within the same company, so it pays to do a little research and to understand the how the insurance industry works before buying auto insurance. You can get a lot of answers to your questions by contacting insurance companies directly by phone or online. You can also get information about different American auto insurance providers from your State Insurance Department.

In the United States, as in other countries, auto insurance is designed to protect drivers from loss and financial liability in case of an accident or theft of a vehicle. One of the first considerations when comparing auto insurance providers is the company's financial stability. There are several ratings companies that provide information on the financial strength of insurance companies, including companies such as A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. Consumer magazines that are focused on cars and trucks may also have information about insurance provider assets and financial strength.

Some insurance companies sell policies through independent insurance agents. These independent agents represent several different companies and can provide a lot of good information about multiple providers. Other companies have their own branches throughout the country that are manned by their employees. While others simply market their policies on line or over the phone exclusively.

You will want to consider the quality of service and claims handling in addition to comparing rates when choosing an auto insurance provider. It's best if you can talk to people, such as friends and neighbors, who have experience with a company to find out how well they treat their customers. You can also usually find out if a company has had complaints filed against it at your State Insurance Department.

When it comes to getting the best rates on your auto insurance policy, raising the deductible is one of the first considerations. A deductible, which is the amount that you would pay out of pocket if you were in an accident, reduces the risk to the insurance company of having to pay a claim for a small accident. The higher the deductible you are willing to pay out of pocket, the lower your insurance rates. You do have to pay this out of pocket though, so you would want to make sure you have access to an amount equal to your deductible.

Another way to save on car insurance is by dropping collision and comprehensive coverage on older vehicles that are paid off. A good rule of thumb is that if the vehicle is worth less than 10 times the premium you should consider dropping full coverage and switch to a more limited policy.

Although it is not always true, in many cases you can save on auto insurance by working with the same company that provides other insurance for you, such as home owners insurance. This is not always the case but it is worth checking in to.

In addition to the vehicle and your driving record, insurance companies may also consider your credit history when setting your premiums. If you have a poor credit history you will usually end up paying more for your insurance. You can improve your scores by paying off any overdue accounts, making all payments on time and correcting any mistakes on your record that may be lowering your credit scores.

Some employers and associations may have access to group insurance programs that may provide a savings for you. Check with any groups you are a member of to see if they have a program available.

Other discounts you may be able to find include: discounts to drivers that have not had any recent accidents or moving violations, participants in defensive driving courses, good student discounts for driving age children or children who are away from home at college without a car.

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