BUYING INSURANCE CAN BE CONFUSING. HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR PREMIUMS WHILE STILL GETTING THE COVERAGE YOU NEED.

• SHOP AROUND, AND DO IT REGULARLY. INSURANCE IS A COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY, AND INSURERS CHANGE THEIR RATES OVER TIME. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE BEST DEAL YOU CAN GET EACH AND EVERY YEAR.
• PUT MULTIPLE VEHICLES ON THE SAME POLICY. MANY INSURERS OFFER FAMILY DISCOUNTS FOR INSURING MULTIPLE VEHICLES ON THE SAME POLICY.
• CHECK OUT DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSES. SOME INSURERS PROVIDE DISCOUNTS IF DRIVERS BRUSH UP THEIR SKILLS.
• BUY VEHICLES WITH SAFETY DEVICES. SOME INSURERS PROVIDE DISCOUNTS FOR AIRBAGS AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKES BECAUSE STATISTICS SHOW THEY HELP MITIGATE THE OCCURRENCE OF CRASHES AND/OR THE SEVERITY OF INJURIES.
• CHECK ON SECURITY SAVINGS. ALARMS OR ANTI-THEFT DEVICES MAY QUALIFY FOR INSURANCE DISCOUNTS.
• STAY ON THE GOOD SIDE OF THE LAW. INSURERS LOOK TO SEE IF YOU HAVE A BLEMISH-FREE DRIVING RECORD AND REWARD YOU WITH LOWER PREMIUMS IF YOU DO.
• ASSESS YOUR DEDUCTIBLE. RAISING IT TO $500 CAN RESULT IN A LOWER INSURANCE PREMIUM. JUST BE SURE YOU CAN AFFORD THAT $500 DEDUCTIBLE IF YOU'RE IN A CRASH.
• TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WHEN POSSIBLE. TAKING THE BUS OR TRAIN, OR EVEN CARPOOLING, LOWERS THE ANNUAL MILEAGE ON YOUR VEHICLE AND CAN RESULT IN A LOWER INSURANCE PREMIUM.

COMMON MISTAKES
THE EXCITEMENT OF BUYING A NEW CAR CAN OFTEN LEAD TO MISTAKES WHEN INSURING IT. IT PAYS TO BE JUST AS PRUDENT WHEN BUYING INSURANCE AS YOU ARE WHEN BUYING THE CAR. DON'T MAKE THESE COMMON INSURANCE SHOPPING MISTAKES:

• NOT SHOPPING FOR THE BEST PRICE. DON'T SIMPLY CHOOSE THE FIRST CARRIER YOU CONTACT. THIS MAY BE CONVENIENT AND SAVE YOU TIME, BUT IT MAY ALSO COST YOU MONEY.
• BUYING A CAR BEFORE CHECKING TO SEE WHAT IT COSTS TO INSURE. MANY PEOPLE DISCOVER THE CAR OF THEIR DREAMS IS SIMPLY TOO EXPENSIVE TO INSURE. THEY CONSEQUENTLY END UP SELLING IT SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE.
• NOT READING YOUR POLICY UNTIL YOU'VE ALREADY PURCHASED IT. IT PAYS TO UNDERSTAND YOUR POLICY AND WHAT IT COVERS. KNOW YOUR LIMITS BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY NEED THEM.
• CHOOSING LIMITS THAT ARE TOO LOW. DON'T LEAVE YOURSELF EXPOSED TO A LAWSUIT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY COST YOU EVERYTHING YOU HAVE—CAR, HOUSE, POSSESSIONS, SAVINGS, ETC.
• ENDING UP WITH A POLICY THAT DOESN'T COVER ALL THE DRIVERS IN THE HOUSEHOLD. IT CAN BE A COSTLY MISTAKE TO LEAVE A FAMILY MEMBER OFF YOUR POLICY. IF SOMEONE HAS AN ACCIDENT AND ISN'T COVERED, YOU'RE STILL RESPONSIBLE.
• NOT GETTING A MULTI-POLICY DISCOUNT. HAVING YOUR HOMEOWNER'S POLICY WITH THE SAME CARRIER SAVES MONEY. IF POSSIBLE, USE A SINGLE CARRIER.