Saturday, September 5, 2009

Finding Cheap Car Insurance in a Down Economy

Let's face it, the economy has taken a turn for the worse, and no matter when Wall Street analysts predict an economic u-turn, it can't come soon enough for those of us on Main Street. Consumers tend to think twice before making new purchases in these tough economic times. One thing that savvy consumers should think about shopping for during tough economic times is auto insurance.

Many insiders believe that a recession is one of the best times to shop around for cheap auto insurance. "Insurance brokers are seeing less people walk through their doors looking for insurance, so they're willing to reduce or eliminate the broker fees that they charge" says Melanie Montgomery, an insurance broker in California. Many have found this to be true, as many large insurance agencies have recently started advertising that they are no longer charging broker fees on new policies. For those of us in need of an insurance policy this could be the best time to start comparing rates from different companies that are offering these types of specials.

Another factor to consider when shopping for cheap car insurance these days is the amount of miles that you drive per year. If you've been laid off from work, you aren't commuting everyday therefore your annual miles that you put on your car have gone down dramatically. If you were heading out to dinner twice a week when times where better, chances are you're opting to dine in more often than out.

This also affects the amount of miles driven annually. These are things that should be brought up when shopping for cheap auto insurance, as many companies will charge higher premiums for those who drive more annually than others. To get the lower rates for driving less miles you may have to provide proof that you don't drive as much as you used to. Some documents that insurance companies accept as proof are service slips from oil changes or pictures of your odometer if you drive a newer model vehicle. Make sure to have these ready when you're shopping for auto insurance.

Some folks who have hit hard times have decided to go back to school since they can't find a job. This situation can be an added bonus if you're looking to save money on auto insurance. Many companies offer good student discounts of up to 25%. That's a tremendous discount on your auto insurance. College can be expensive anyway, so it would be very nice to have that extra cash on hand while getting a higher education.

The majority of experts that I've seen on national news shows have been indicating that the economy is bottoming out. This means that the only other way it could go is up. Hopefully this is true but until that time, those of us searching for low cost auto insurance should take advantage of the many options that can save you money on your policy.

Jason Sno is a licensed insurance agent in California. He can help you find cheap car insurance through his website, http://www.buymyinsuranceonline.com

No comments:

 

Bikini Swimwear