Are you one of those drivers who picks an insurance agent, chooses a policy, and never changes it? If so, you could be losing out on a lot of potential savings. Taking the following steps will help you negotiate lower auto insurance rates for you and your family.
Make Sure You Have Enough Coverage
When you first purchased your vehicle, you very likely insured that vehicle with your local insurance agent. One mistake many drivers make is not knowing what their policy covers when the car is actually in an accident. Before you try to have your rates lowered, you need to make sure you are paying for enough coverage in the event of an accident. Determining whether you have enough coverage can be tricky, but taking a look over your driving history can help you decide If you have an appropriate level of coverage for your personal driving habits.
Make Sure to Ask the Right Questions
Next, prepare a list of questions to ask the insurance agent. You first need to be honest about why you are getting in touch with them. Tell them what you are currently paying on your auto policy and that you are interested in switching to a new company with better rates.
Next, ask about how much you could save if you were to insure both your vehicle and your home. If you can get a significant discount, you may want to consider moving your homeowner's coverage there as well. Other things you need to ask about are whether or not there is a pre-payment discount, employee discounts, student discounts, and discounts for certain safety features that your car may have.
You can also ask about the benefits you would receive with that company. Services like roadside assistance, for instance, may be something that you have to pay for separately. However, if a company offers you a single premium that covers these additional services, you may be able to benefit from extra convenience and savings.
Shop Around At Other Agencies
Once you know what type of coverage you have, it's time to shop around some of the different agencies that are available to you. There are many ways to go about this. If there are local offices in your area, you can simply stop by and ask for the information you need to make an informed decision. Most insurance agents also have websites you can look at to get their policies and rate information without volunteering any information. You can also call the office on the phone. Many people prefer this to visiting in person or using the websites for a few reasons.
First, they can have a list of questions, current policy information, and everything else right in front of them as they ask their questions. In addition, talking to a real person who works at the agency may lead to additional deals that aren't offered on the website.
Changing your auto insurance can be a pain, but it can also save you a significant amount of money in the long run. Be sure to speak to an insurance agent when you contact these companies in order to get the most accurate information possible.
