I am a mother of two teen drivers. I am about to get their auto insurance and I’m quite afraid because I know that teen auto insurance are very expensive. What can I do about this?

Maria

Idaho Falls, ID

Hello there Maria. I am a mother of teen drivers too and I exactly understand where you are coming from. But don’t worry that much, you can get low cost teen car insurance and here’s how you can get one:

First, think very carefully about the vehicle you are about to buy for your teen drivers. Remember this rule – the more expensive it would take for insurers to repair and/or replace a certain car the higher your auto insurance rates will be. So for your teen drivers it would be logical to get low valued vehicles for now.

Second, encourage your teen drivers to study more in school. A GPA of 2.0 or B or higher could qualify them for insurance discounts that could give them better teen car insurance rates.

Third, teach your teens the importance of driving their cars less than often. If they have low annual mileage they could get cheaper car insurance rates.

Fourth, enroll them in a defensive driving class. Car insurance companies will also give them lower insurance rates if they have finished a driver’s education course.

Lastly, shop and compare car insurance quotes. One great avenue in finding car insurance quotes would be to use the Internet. Just make sure to get multiple insurance quotes then carefully compare them. You can compare the price, coverages, and the insurance provider’s rating.

I am 16 years old and I am planning on getting my own vehicle. I was wondering what the car insurance rates would be considering I am 16? Is there a way I can lower it?

Trish

Fairfield, CT

Do not be surprised if your car insurance premium is higher than you dad’s. That is because insurers, as a general rule, charge more to those who are more prone to accidents. Nobody’s accusing you of being irresponsible, but statistics has it that young drivers get involved in accidents more frequently than their older counterparts. After choosing the right vehicle, you must also look for the best insurance deal. Spend a few minutes and learn how to save a few or even a hundred dollars on your first car insurance purchase.

‘Cool’ isn’t that cool

Aside from being very expensive to maintain, sports and muscle cars have very costly premiums. You might want to choose an ordinary sedan. After all, everything boils down to mature attitude and safe driving.

Take time to learn more

Enrolling in more advanced driving lessons will chip a few dollars off your premium. Just be sure to pick those programs that are acknowledged by your state. Also, check out if the school you are enrolling for is recognized by your company.

Good achievers are better drivers

If you have excellent academic records, you qualify for another discount benefit. Companies generally grant students with 3.0 or higher GPA a 10% decrease from insurance premiums.

Let them know how far you are from home

Car insurers also offer discounts to students who live away from their homes. Discounts differ from one company to another so be wise enough to compare car insurance quotes before select your insurer.

Join the club

You can get a lower premium when you select the same company that insures your parents. Teens who join as a group acquire additional discounts, too.

Keep the traffic officer away

Keep your traffic record clean and you will pay less on your next payments. So keep that foot light on the gas and stay away from intoxication because your premium increases with every violation you make.

Can you give me some tips on how to lower my car insurance rates? I feel like I am overpaying for my insurances.

Gene

Indianapolis, IN

Car insurence may not be a basic human need but it is indispensable since most of us own cars. It is a basic requirement of the state for you to legally operate your vehicles. Despite being mandatory, some people still don’t purchase them. Times are hard and people barely afford to put food on the table. That is why it seems easy for them to eliminate this expense to allot their money on more important things.

However, car insurance isn’t pricey at all times. Just like purchasing other products, there is always a way to buy better deals at a lower price. Knowing these methods will help you pay for a more affordable insurance and get you out the risk of driving without them.

One method to use is by comparing the prices or quotes from various insurance companies. Check the prices versus the coverage. Seek opinions from other people you can trust. Then make a decision.

Second method is by choosing your car wisely. Always remember insurance companies also base their rates on the type of car you have. Safe cars have lower car insurance rates. For fancy cars, expect higher premiums.

Have you ever heard of bundled services for your internet, phone and cable? People have left their dial-up services to consolidate their services from one provider. The reason behind it: services are cheaper. This is the third method that you can use in order to get lower car insurance rates. Get all your insurances (life, homeowners, renters and car insurance) from one company.

Fourth method is to avoid getting in trouble with your creditors. Ensure that you will always be responsible in paying your debts and maintain low credit balance. Doing so will lower your car insurance rates.

Last but not the least; learn other means to discount your car insurance premium. Do not forget to ask your agents about it.

Are there things I can do to get cheap auto insurance quote?

Mark

Boston, MA

Cheap car insurance is possible. Aside from the fact that you can shop and compare the car insurance rates of different car insurance companies, there are also factors that can be controlled and can help you get cheap car insurance rate. What you need to have is the knowledge which is the controllable and uncontrollable factors.

a. Young adult drivers are more considered as risk drivers because they are more aggressive than any other group of drivers. Because of this, car insurance companies usually charge young adult drivers with higher car insurance premium.

b. Gender is another uncontrollable factor. Statistics shows that female are safer driver than men. Thus, the former group receives cheap car insurance rate.

Although there are uncontrollable factors, there are also controllable factors. Here is the list.

a. If you drive in rural areas, there is a greater probability that you will receive lower car insurance premium than those who drive in urban areas. There is a higher chance that collision and stolen cars happen in urban areas and thus the premium offered is higher to compensate for the risk. If it is feasible in your situation, move from urban area to rural area.

b. Good driving record creates good impression to car insurance companies that you are a responsible driver. In this case, they may offer cheap car insurance or discounts. Poor driving record means you have moving violation or even a single speeding ticket.

c. Sports cars are usually charged with higher auto insurance rate. This type of car poses high risk to car insurance companies because it can be driven in ways that can cause traffic accidents and crashes. If you have an old car, it will be better to stick with it.

d. There is a correlation between risk and occupation. If you work as a pizza delivery guy, there is a higher chance of being involved in an accident because you drive more often.

e. Poor credit history or no credit history at all can also increase your car insurance premium.

Factors like driving experience, business use of cars and the mileage that you drive and safety features can also affect your car insurance premium.

I am just wondering how a car insurance company determines how much premiums they are going to charge you?

James

Montgomery AL

The answer depends on the personal and vehicle information you will give to them together with your current driving status.

First off, your personal information which includes your age, gender, marital status and how long have you have been driving affect your car insurance rate. These are the first set of question you are required to answer if ever you need to ask for a quote. Drivers who are females or are married will usually acquire cheaper car insurance rates. Drivers who are first time drivers or are aged 16 to 20 will surely have an expensive quote. Most drivers who have been driving for a long time with minimal or no accident at all can be eligible for a good driver discount or if not, they will be rewarded with a lowered insurance rate.

Second set or group is all about your cars information you are trying to insure. Car information includes its year, make and model. Car insurance companies also ask what will be the primary use of your vehicle and sometimes they even ask if it’s already paid in full or if it’s still being paid through financing. They might also ask how many miles you have driven in a span of one year in order for them to know if they should give you cheaper rates or if they can provide you discounts.

Other factors that can affect your car insurance quote include security and safety features installed in your car. Some examples of these features are car alarms, airbags or anti-lock brakes. These features can greatly lower your premiums to a minimum. Another factor that has an effect on your premium is the place where you park your car overnight. Having it parked in a safe garage can reduce your premiums because there is a lesser chance of your auto being vandalized or there is a lesser chance of it being stolen.

They said car insurance rate is getting lower over the years, well I dont think so. I think I am paying more for my insurance. You see, I do not have a job right now but I definitely need a car. So, where can I get this cheap car insurance company?

Rick

Houston TX

It has been said that car insurance rates in the US have dropped in the past few years. But in reality, auto owners are still paying $300 or more on their monthly premiums. With the current economy US is having, many citizens are on a tight budget. With that said, everyone is finding a way to ease the financial burden and one way to save money is through vehicle insurance.

If you want to save on car insurance, you need to shop around. The internet is a perfect place to find the best vehicle insurance rate. There are lots of car insurance website who will be happy to offer a quote for free. This can be an advantage for every auto owner since premiums can differ by hundreds of dollars from company to company and of course, that’s for the same coverage. Aside from the truth that you are saving in terms of money, you can also save on time and energy since you don’t have to go out of your house and you can acquire quotes from a single provider in less than 5 minutes.

There are also car insurance comparison site that can give multiple insurance quotes from different cheap car insurance companies. This is a much faster way to gather quote but the only downside of this is, sometimes, the quotes that are shown is limited to five car insurance provider. Combining these two ways of acquiring quotes has a high success rate of finding the best rates so be sure you do both.

But it doesn’t just stop there, you might find the best rate but for security reasons you have to do background check on the cheap car insurance company that you might possibly choose. There’s a lot of scammer out there who sell auto insurance coverage that’s fake. There might also be a chance that they are legit but when it comes to filing claims, they will make you wait for months and you’ll end up clueless. It’s easy to tell if a car insurance carrier is capable of paying claims, visit your states insurance department and see if there are any complaints against them. You can also visit websites of various organizations that rates car insurence company by its performance and financial standing.

How can I reduce my car insurance cost. I’m thinking of canceling my policy because I cant afford the high insurance rate. Please help.

Mark

Boston MA

Most people find it vital to have auto insurance, while some people tend to have it because it’s mandated by law. For whatever reason, it is important that we can save on it and not overspend on it. So, here are some tips that will surely reduce your vehicle insurance premiums in no time.

Having a clean driving record has its advantages. Car insurance companies almost always charge safe drivers with cheap vehicle insurance premiums. Sometimes, instead of being offered with cheap rates, some vehicle insurance company gives discounts ranging from 10 to 15 percent.

It is also important to consider the cost of car insurance before you go out and purchase a car. There are certain cars that cost more to insure. Usually, if the car you’re trying to insure is expensive to repair or its vehicle parts cost expensive in the market, you will be charged with a high premiums. Another factor to consider when buying a car is its safety and security rating. Most car insurance companies have data or records that can tell if a auto has a high theft rating or if a certain vehicle lacks safety devices which will surely result in higher premiums.

Another way to lower the cost of premiums is to increase it’s deductible. Having a ample deductible will result in cheap premiums. Though you’d probably pay more in an event of a vehicle accident before your vehicle insurance kicks in, this is a better way to spend money rather than having a low deductible that will result in high insurance premiums monthly.

You can also try to eliminate some car insurance coverage once your vehicle reaches a certain age. For example, you might want to drop the collision coverage if you have been driving it for more than four years. You can also drop collision coverage to save money if you have a clean driving record.

I have a ticket in my driving record. I was just wondering if I can find an insurance company online that will not raise my car insurance with the ticket?

Carl

Baltimore MD

Thank you for asking Carl.

Usually car insurance providers will not quote you expensive car insurance rates, or increase your rates if you already have an insurance policy in file. Generally traffic violations as well as your driving record are being considered as a rating factor when determining your car insurance rate.

Your motor vehicle record (MVR) is used to by auto insurance company to know what type of risk you are as a motorist and so as the risk the motorist is putting the insurance company under to insure them and the automobile they drive. Convictions such as DUI and DWI on a motorist’s driving record shows that the motorist drives recklessly or poorly that is why they are usually given high car insurance rates than the others.

There are various insurance providers that will not increase your auto insurance rates if it is your first minor ticket but it is likely that if you have a safe driver discount it will be removed from your policy. So your car insurance rates will increase a bit. You can get a quote from various comparison website online, just like what you see above, that will help you get a quote from multiple insurance companies all at the same time. This will let you see how each violation can affect your insurance rate.

How can I get cheap auto insurance?

Claire

Los Angeles CA

Get to have a better list of auto insurance prices by shopping around. Each auto insurance company might have different rules in rating your auto insurance premiums and the price difference could be highly significant among them. It is only with quote shopping that you would be able to identify which company is offering the best deal for your auto insurance.

After shopping around, choose to buy your cheap auto insurance policy on the web. Most insurers provide good discounts to those who prefer to purchase their coverage online. The reason behind is that you are helping the company save on their operational expenses that would have cost them when doing office transactions. Such savings is passed on to you in the form of discount when you buy online.

Maintain a good credit rating. Most insurance companies are adopting credit scoring techniques that help them identify who are eligible for a decreased premium rate. By keeping a good credit standing of your auto insurance in Wisconsin, you get the chance to avoid any possible charges on your premiums for having a bad credit score.

Pay your auto insurance in Wisconsin all in one go. If your finances allow, you can save a good amount of money when you pay all your premiums in one go rather than paying in installments with interest charges on top of it. In some insurance companies, they can give you a small discount for doing this.

Finally, the most common advise given to any motorist who wants to lower down their auto insurance costs is to keep a clean driving record at all times. You can avoid being charged of higher car insurance rates when you have few or preferably no traffic infractions. A speeding fine is not only the financial penalty that will cost you. You can also expect to have an increase on your insurance premiums. This may be easier said that done but it pays a lot to be a safe driver.

Im planning to buy a new car..not just any car, its a sports car! I know a lot of people are telling me that it would cost me a lot on my sports car insurance but I would like to know more about it. Why is it expensive? Can I do anything to make it cheap?

George

New York NY

When we think of cars, we think of the model and new car models are usually expensive. But before you buy this type of car, you should also note that these type or cars are charged with expensive sports car insurance premium. The reason behind this is because its parts are expensive and the cost of repairing the car is also costly. On the other hand, sports car insurance can also cost you high insurance premium. SUVs or sports utility car are usually driven in such a way that can cause traffic accidents and crashes. Because of this risk to car insurance companies, they charge these cars with high car insurance rate. There are cases however when an SUV is cost more to insure than another type of SUV. This is because car insurance companies also consider the following factors when they rate car insurance premium.

a. There are certain models that are likely to be stolen, involved in traffic accident and to be vandalized. In this regard, car insurance companies charge those cars with high car insurance rates.

b. New model of cars or expensive type of cars usually also have expensive parts and are costly to repair. Thus, the risk involved is passed on to the car insurance rate charged to customers.

Highway Loss Data provides information on the amount of money that car insurance companies paid out on the average because of collision, injury, theft claims for different types of motor vehicles. Therefore, there will be cases when an SUV is more expensive to insure than an expensive car because the former is more attractive to thieves and be stolen. Aside from the statistics provided by Highway Loss Data, car insurance companies also consider their own claims experience. For example, if a certain model of SUV has more claims than the other model, the model with more claims will likely receive higher sports car insurance rate.

You may be able to get price reduction on the cost of car insurance if you install safety features in your car and by taking defensive driver class to get a discount.

So if you are thinking of buying sports car or high performance car, think. But if you can afford it, well, enjoy the ride!