If you live in California, you know the cost of living isn’t cheap. Food, housing, and transportation are necessary for even the most basic existence, and you soon find ways to fit the things you need into your budget. After the sticker shock fades a little, you finally get a pretty good job, a decent apartment and scrape together some cash to get a car. One thing you might not have budgeted for: expensive auto insurance.
Auto insurance isn’t something you can just do without, even if you wanted to. Like most other states, California requires drivers to carry auto insurance in order to drive legally – and you want to drive legally for your own protection and that of others. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to find affordable auto insurance in California (or anywhere else) when you are on a tight budget.
Auto Insurance Rates Can Vary Widely
Different insurance companies will offer different rates for the same coverages, so it’s important to shop around and see which company will offer you the lowest rate for the same coverage. Each insurer has its own rate tables and may offer various discounts. Ask to be sure you are getting every discount you qualify for. Some lesser known discounts include those for students with good grades, taking a safe driving course, and membership in a professional organization.
Here are some other ways to save money on your auto insurance:
–A clean driving record is one of the best ways to keep auto insurance rates low. Document any incidents so that you can prove that it wasn’t your fault and keep your driving record clean.
–Be sure to get your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance from the same company to get a multi-policy discount.
–Go paperless for a small discount.
–In some cases, you can allow the insurer to install a tracker in your vehicle to keep tabs on your driving habits. You may be able to get up to a 15 percent discount if you have safe driving habits as determined by the tracker.
–Lower coverage amounts to save money on your premiums. Be sure to meet minimum coverage requirements (more about those in part 2 of this series).
Every little bit that you can save means more money for the other things you need and want to buy. You can call around to different insurance companies to check out their rates, but an easier way is to use the internet to get this information. Although every insurer has a website, you can visit AIS Auto Insurance and save a lot of time; you’ll get quotes from multiple insurance carriers for easy comparison. Get an auto insurance quote from AIS today to see how much you can save.
The information in this article was obtained from various sources. This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements, nor is it intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. The definitions, terms and coverage in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.
