I Can’t Pay Car Insurance

Depending on where you live, the vehicle that you drive, and many other factors, you may easily pay between $1,000 to $2,000 per year or more on car insurance. You can pay the year off upfront in some cases, but many drivers prefer to pay it on a monthly basis.

Therefore, it may be a regular component in your budget, and you may have determined that your current premium is not affordable.

Insurance rates can adjust each time your policy renews. Some insurance rates increase because the driver has had incidents reported on their driving record recently, but rates can also rise for many other reasons.

Regardless of the reason why your auto insurance premium is higher, you may be stressed out by the fact that it is no longer affordable for your budget.

Looking for more affordable auto insurance rates? Enter your ZIP code above and compare at least three to four policies today!

Understanding the Legal Need for Car Insurance Coverage

The thought of canceling your car insurance policy altogether may have crossed your mind, but this is not advisable. Your state law, as well as your auto lender, may require you to maintain different types of coverage.

Without proper insurance, you may face substantial penalties and expose yourself to financial loss or liability.

– How Much Coverage Is Needed?

One of the most significant factors that affect the cost of your car insurance premium is the coverage that you purchase. Auto insurance types and limits vary, and you have considerable flexibility to adjust these based on your needs to control the cost.

Liability coverage is required by law in most states, and this coverage helps you to pay for expenses that you cause to others while driving your car.

Auto lenders typically want lien holders to have insurance that pays for the driver’s own costs. Therefore, many auto lenders require drivers to purchase collision or comprehensive insurance.

Minimum coverage limits may be established by the state and by auto lenders, and buying the minimum coverage required will help you to keep rates as low as possible. Increasing limits may not be a financial possibility if you are shopping for coverage on a tight budget.

However, when funds are available, consider the possibility of increasing limits to enjoy the maximum protection that your coverage can provide.

Determining Why Your Insurance Rates May Be Too High

Each driver has a unique budget that they are working with when buying new auto insurance. A premium that may be affordable for some individuals may be unaffordable for other drivers.

However, if your rates have increased or if they seem higher than they should be, it is important to learn more about the factors that may be causing your insurance rates to be high.

These factors play a direct role in your auto insurance rates:

• Your age
• Your gender
• Details about the vehicle being insured
• Your driving record
• The zip code of your residence
• How many miles you drive each year

Each insurance company reviews these factors in different ways. With this in mind, your rates may be substantially more affordable with another provider.

Requesting online quotes is a convenient way to identify providers with lower rates.

– How Claims Affect Insurance Rates

Insurance companies review your claims history when you apply for coverage and when your existing policy renews. Providers typically consider claims history from the last three to five years, but this varies by individual companies.

Older incidents may have much less significant on rates if you have an otherwise clean history within the last year or two. However, if you have multiple accidents or costly accidents in recent years, your rates can increase substantially.

– How Your Driving Record Affects Insurance Rates

Your driving record includes your accident history as well as traffic citations. Parking tickets and non-moving violations are not considered by most insurance companies when they are determining car insurance rates.

However, speeding tickets, running red lights, driving while intoxicated charges, and other factors are reviewed and play a direct role on insurance costs.

If you want to lower your insurance rates in the future when you are comparing rates, focus your attention on improving your safety behind the wheel.

Finding Excellent Ways to Save Money on Car Insurance

If your goal is to save money on car insurance, shopping around to find the lowest rate possible may benefit you.

Requesting online quotes from reputable auto insurance providers is fast and easy, and you can repeat this shopping process every six months to ensure that you always have an affordable rate.

When you are shopping for coverage, focus your attention on the discounts and deductible amount to maximize your savings. (For more information, read our “What is a car insurance deductible and how does it work?“).

– Auto Insurance Discounts

Most car insurance companies offer drivers at least a few discounts that can help you reduce your premium amount. While many providers take the initiative to locate discounts that you may qualify for, it may be beneficial to inquire about discounts as well.

A few of the discounts that you may commonly find through many insurance companies include:

• A safe driver discount
• A good student discount
• A senior citizen or retiree discount
• A low mileage discount
• A bundled policies discount

– Insurance Deductible Adjustments

Regardless of the coverage types and limits you choose or the discounts that you qualify for, adjusting your auto insurance deductible can directly reduce your auto insurance premium.

A higher deductible amount can reduce the premium a moderate amount in most cases, and you can request quotes from your insurer for different deductible amounts.

A higher deductible can result in an immediate reduction in your premium, and most providers allow you to make changes to the deductible at any time.

If you are concerned about the cost of your auto insurance policy, you understandably need to find an effective way to save money so that your premium is affordable.

Otherwise, you may need to cancel coverage and stop driving your car as needed until your financial situation improves.

By using some of these money-saving ideas, you may be able to find a more affordable auto insurance premium.

Looking to save on auto insurance? Enter your ZIP code below and start comparison shopping today!