Let your fingers do the walking… Remember that Yellow Pages Ad Campaign? Excellent
advice if you’re shopping for auto insurance. Shop around and do it yearly. Don’t just
keep paying the invoice over and over without comparison shopping. Below are a few
suggestions to help you get the best deal available on your automobile insurance policy. 

Insurance agents really have a lot of leeway. They can price match and they can offer
many discounts. There are also many decisions you can make about your policy that will
save you a bundle. For example, if you change your deductible on your collision from a
$50 deductible to a $1000 deductible, you’re inline for a huge premium savings. If you
don’t think you could come up with $1000 out of pocket, then change it to a $500
deductible; you’ll still save a sizable amount on your annual premium payment. 

You can also get more of a savings if you change your comprehensive deductible. Many
people needlessly carry full coverage on their older vehicle. They originally purchased
the vehicle new, paid for full coverage and to this day, continue to pay the same high
rate. Their ten year old vehicle may be worth $1000 or less, yet they continue to pay
$250-$450 every six months (total $500 to $900 dollars a year) to keep full coverage on
their old vehicle. 

However, if they have an accident and totaled their vehicle, the insurance company will
only pay them the wholesale value of the vehicle. The amount they would receive could be
$1000 or less. A vehicle that old just needs the insurance that protects the other person
in case of an accident. 

Another method to save more on your insurance is by combining your vehicles and other
insurance together to get you additional savings. All insurance companies offer a
multi-car discount (if yours doesn’t, it’s time to switch companies). Further, many will
discount more if you have your homeowners or renters policy with them. 

There are a few other discounts that you may not be taking advantage of. It seems obvious,
but make sure you are getting the correct rate for your age. There are discounts for
various ages than can save you lots of money. Check with your agent on this one. Also
alarm systems on your vehicle are usually good for a discount. Additionally, anti-lock
brakes and air bags can also help lower your premiums. 

Don’t just keep paying the invoice when it comes in. Your insurance bill should be an
automatic trigger for you to make a few phone calls to see if you can save even more money
on your auto insurance premiums.