Reader’s Question:

Will you be charged a an expensive car insurance premium if you have never had insurance before? What can I do to get cheaper car insurance for first time insurance buyers?

John

Honolulu, HI

You have probably been told that insurance policies are very expensive nowadays. But you don’t have to turn back and forget about getting insurance. Aside from being required by law, it might come in handy.

Compare Quotes, Policies, and Reputation

While policies are indeed very expensive, you still have many choices to save since competition in the insurance industry is very healthy. Insurance companies want to beat each other in terms of rates, coverage, and services offered. Try to compare their rates in relation to the quality of services they offer. You may also want to find out about the way they deal with their customers; some companies might be too aggressive while some don’t make their policies clear. Ask some friends or check out online forums to get the most excellent services that you definitely deserve.

Driving Courses and Academic Records

Since it is your first time to purchase insurance, it is presumable that you are young. Younger drivers are charged more but you can acquire discounts if you have enrolled in defensive driving courses. This can save you up to 10%.

You can also get more discounts of you have outstanding academic records. An average of B or a 3.0 GPA will trim 10-25% off your insurance rates. Companies vary on the discounts they offer regarding academic performance so find the best quotes available.

Choose the Right Car

Sports car may make you look great, but they can make you poorer. Not only do they have sky-high sticker prices, they are also very expensive to insure. It is best to select cars which are cheaper to maintain. You may also install additional safety features such as laminated windshields and tire pressure monitors. The safety features and crashworthiness of your car are part of the evaluation.

Register as a Group

If there are still uninsured people in the neighborhood, ask them to tag along. Car insurance companies give group discounts. Or you can just ask your parents to include you in their policy instead of having your own.