Many consumers are tightening their budgets, reevaluating their financial goals, and trying to reduce unnecessary expenditures. Auto insurance is one thing in the budget that cannot be eliminated. When it seems like you can’t shell out the money for your auto insurance; dropping it may appear to be a good idea, but that ends up being a bad decision for many reasons. You are setting yourself up for some serious problems which may result in irrevocable damage. There are both long and short term consequences. For awhile, you might think you are getting away with something by avoiding any collisions. Even if this is the case, you are by no means off the hook. At best, you will make it until it is time to renew your license tags. To purchase your tags, you must provide proof of insurance. Auto insurance companies will want to know who you are currently insured with, and they do verify it. If you are dishonest about being currently insured, it will be discovered and you will see a major change in premium. For a minimum of six months, you will have to pay inflated rates at amounts that are simply unreasonable. Troubles will only escalate if you are involved in a collision. You will be stuck paying for medical expenses, repairs, etc. not just for yourself, but for everyone involved. If you get pulled over, police always require your insurance documents. If you can’t provide these for the officer, you will probably get a costly ticket and you could even get your driver’s license suspended. Points will show up on your record which will cause your rates to go up even further. After all these possible consequences, you will wish you had just paid the premium when you had the chance. Maybe you believe that you can’t afford auto insurance, when in reality, you can’t afford not to have it!

There are a number of ways to achieve more affordable auto insurance, beginning with everyday behaviors and choices. For example; the premium will be higher if you have a luxury model that is expensive to repair. The age, model, safety record, and features of a car are all factored in when we provide quotes. If your car has antilock brakes or a built in alarm system, it can help reduce your premium. If you are in a high theft city or drive a car frequently targeted for theft, your costs are likely to go up. Slow down. Speeding tickets are another item that will make your premiums increase. You can explore modifying some of the components of your policy as well. Adjusting your deductible is an example. If you increase your deductible, it will lower your premium; however, it is important to be confident that you can cover the cost of that deductible should you need to rely on your policy. Many insurance companies offer discounts if you purchase multiple policies (such as homeowners and auto) with them. You may also get a reduction in premium when you sign up for automatic bill paying agreements. If you are interested in trying to lower your auto insurance premiums, we can look at altering components of your policy. We want to help you make smart decisions that will cut costs, while still providing the protection you need.

- Bryce Arnett