Reader’s Question:

I just got my license and this is my first time to get auto insurance. Im on my own so I will not be added to my parent’s insurance. What do I need to know. Please help!

Helen

Boston MA

If you are a new driver, you need to know the basic things about the auto insurance policy. There are factors that affect car insurance premium. Since you are a new driver, car insurance companies will usually offer higher auto insurance premium than the standard auto insurance rate. If you think you need cheap new driver car insurance premium, rates should not the only thing that you need to consider. Here are some of the things that you need to know.

a. Consider the amount of new driver car insurance rates that you want to buy. These may depend on different factors. You can consult your car insurance agent to evaluate your needs. The least amount that you need is your state’s minimum required liability. There are additional coverages such as comprehensive and collision coverage that will protect your car in case of collision or if it has been stolen or vandalized.

b. Once you know the coverage that you need, you can now shop for new driver car insurance rates from different car insurance companies. This is the basic step to finding cheap car insurance. When you shop, don’t forget to consider the coverage. Cheap new driver car insurance rates seem attractive but this may also mean fewer benefits and features. Furthermore, also consider the financial strength of the company and those with excellent customer service. These are the things that matters in the long-run.

c. Because a policy is a legal contract, make sure that you understand what is indicated. If there are things that you don’t understand, clarify with your agent.

Here’s the information that you will find in the policy.

• Name of the person covered in the policy
• The limitations and exclusions that will apply
• The coverage period
• The amount included in the coverage
• The amount of premium on the coverage
• Process when you file a claim or report a loss

d. When you have your new driver car insurance policy, monitor and update it periodically.

e. Do not forget to shop around for cheap car insurance. You can find comparison websites just like you see above wherein you can compare various companies with just putting your information once as opposed to getting quotes for each insurance companies which will take a lot of time.