Recovering From The Cost Of High-Risk Auto Insurance? 3 Proactive Steps To Getting Lower Premium Rates
Involvement in automobile accidents or the accumulation of too many traffic violations will often show up in your monthly budget as uncomfortably high auto insurance premiums. In fact, drivers who find that high-risk auto insurance policies are their only option can pay significantly more to cover their vehicles than those with few or no traffic tickets or accidents on their driving record. If a recent traffic ticket or automobile accident has just caused you to be newly classified as high-risk, you may still have some options for reducing the amount of your monthly car insurance premiums.
Consider driving a car that qualifies for cheaper coverage
Since automobile insurance premium amounts are partially based on the vehicle you drive, opting to drive a car that will be much cheaper to insure can be helpful in reducing the cost of high-risk car insurance coverage. Vehicles are generally cheaper to insure when they:
- are not considered high-performance or sports models
- are not on the list of vehicles most likely to be stolen
- are more generic models with lower to mid-range purchase and resale values
Selling or trading a higher risk vehicle and replacing it with one that will be less costly to insure can be a relatively quick way to reduce high-risk auto insurance premiums. As a bonus, these less expensive cars may also offer less costly maintenance, operating, and repair costs.
If you choose to pay cash for a vehicle, you may also want to consider carrying only liability coverage, instead of full coverage, as a way to save money on auto insurance costs. When considering this option, however, always take time to understand the differences and how they can affect you if you are involved in another accident.
Bundle car insurance with other policies to earn discounts
If you also have additional insurance coverage, such as policies to protect your home, health, or life, taking time to explore the potential savings available for bundling this coverage can be helpful in reducing the cost of high-risk auto insurance.
It can also be helpful to ask your insurance provider whether any discounts may be available for successfully completing a safe or defensive driver training course.
Shop competing insurance brokers and companies to find better rates
Automobile insurance is a highly competitive industry, so it makes sense to shop for coverage much like you shop for the best price and value when replacing an appliance for your home. In addition to contacting companies other than the one you currently use, take time to seek out insurance brokers, as well. Like mortgage brokers, insurance brokers are able to search through hundreds of insurance companies to find the best rates for your particular situation.
For auto insurance quotes, contact an auto insurance company near you today.