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As a Young Driver, How Can I Find Affordable Car Insurance. Are Their Strategies That Work to Keep Auto Insurance Costs Lower?
April 13, 2021
QUICKIE STRATEGIES
- Compare - Compare quotes from multiple companies. The best way to shop for auto insurance is to call an Independent Agency like The Ryan Agencies who represents many companies. Have them quote your insurance with all the companies for which you would qualify, with the same coverage. Unfortunately, not all carriers are going to be interested in insuring young drivers with a short driving history. However, an Independent Agent who will work with you may be your best ally. As a young driver, it may benefit you to request your agent requote your insurance every year or so.
- Buy the Right Car - As a youthful operator (under age 25) the car you insure can make a big difference. Each Make & Model of vehicle come with their own insurance rating factors. Some vehicles that are attractive to young drivers are among the most expensive to insure. There are many good sources for this information but here's two below
- BankRate .com: 10 most and least expensive cars to insure
- AutoByTel .com: Top 20 Cheapest Cars to Insure
- Buy a Beater - This may sound radical, but just starting out, it may make the most sense to find a car that you could drive for a few years that would not require you to carry Comprehensive or Collision. If $500 - $800 per month is the insurance quote range you are given for a late model car there may be better places to put that money to work. Not knowing where you are located, you might be surprised you can find a reliable car for around $5k
- Defensive Driver Course - Defensive Driver courses approved by New York can save up to 10% of your insurance costs for 3 years. The cost of this course is usually less than $40 and can save many times that in the first year alone! Here is a link to an online Defensive Driving class that the Ryan Agencies have obtained reduced costs and it’s fun to take! .
- Deductibles - Proper use of deductibles is key to savings. Carry the highest deductible you can reasonably afford. If you can break even on a higher deductible within five years, it is worth consideration. The average driver has a Comprehensive or Collision claim once every eleven years[1]. Run a quick Deductible Break Even Calculation to help with this decision. You are welcome to use our quick and easy Deductible Break Even Calculator here: DEDUCTIBLE BREAK EVEN CALCULATOR
- Discounts - Review with your agent all of the discounts your insurance company offers. There may be some discounts for which you are eligible that you are not currently receiving. There also may be some additional discounts you could qualify for with a slight change in habits.
- Same Carrier as Parents - If you still live at home, request a quote from the same company that insures other members of your household. If this applies, a Multi-Car discount can amount to as much as 15-20%.
LONG TERM STRATEGIES
- Driving Habits - Watch your driving habits. Driving more defensively can pay dividends in the long run. Keep your claims history and motor vehicle record clean. Combined with other factors, good driving history can significantly reduce your insurance rates.
- Usage Based Discount Programs - Many carriers are offering discounts to people who willingly submit their driving statistics electronically to the carrier. These companies provide a device that plugs into your car's diagnostic port which sends statistics directly to the carrier. If you are a defensive driver, this system could reduce your premiums by up to 30%.
- Credit - Keep building a good credit score. Your credit has a significant impact on what you pay for your insurance. The vast majority of insurance companies use an "Insurance Score" in determining the base rate you pay. Though not the same as a Credit Score, an Insurance Score uses many of the same factors weighted differently. All other things being equal, a good Insurance Score will reflect positively on your insurance score. Pay your bills on time and limit the overuse of credit limits.
Those are some good ways to lower your car insurance. Follow the completion of the multiple strategies above, and because of your age, ask your agent to requote your program every year. I think you'll like the result!
Want to talk over the best strategy for YOU to save money on your car insurance premium? Stop by and see us or feel welcome to give us a call at 607-324-7500
This article may have been originally published at Quora.com.
To see Jeff's Quora.com profile click here.
“Am I covered if I drive someone else’s car?” Or, “Am I covered if someone else drives mine?”
Many don’t realize that the insurance industry is one of the country's most regulated business segments, especially in New York State. The New York State Department of Financial Services (NYS DFS) wields significant control over the insurance business and has a stated goal of protecting consumers.
Most property insurance companies offer Actual Cash Value or Replacement Cost settlement options. Typically, insurance companies will require that you insure the property to the settlement value you choose. If you select Actual Cash Value, the amount you may be required to insure the property for will be less than the corresponding Replacement Value.
In that spirit, the Ryan Agency is sponsoring a Stearns BBQ Dinner pickup at our office on 57 Broadway Mall in Hornell on September 12th from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM.
Today, an individual’s credit history can play a more significant role than any one of those traditional factors. Good Credit Scores lead to a Positive Insurance score. A good Insurance Score greatly influences what someone will pay to insure their vehicles.
Insurance companies offer various discounts for which their policyholders may qualify.
Great Eight number Six (6) suggests taking a look at removing Comprehensive and Collision on Older Vehicles.
By reducing the number of claims in your insurance history, you can significantly affect your rates in the future.
Sometimes, this concept meets with resistance from policyholders. The thought of paying more in the event of a claim is off-putting to some. Even if that means I pay more for my insurance.
OK. Admittedly, this strategy doesn't benefit everyone, but it can be very beneficial for those it does. You may have unique home or auto insurance needs that prevent you from bundling with the same company. Alternatively… you might have a better rate without the bundle discount by splitting up your insurance between multiple carriers.
