7 Tips to Help You Save Money on Auto Insurance

Auto insurance is one of those necessary expenses that many people have. You may think there is nothing you can do about the price, but you might be surprised at what you can do to lower your costs. Here are seven tips to help you save more money on your policy.

1. Shop Around

Be willing to compare prices with multiple carriers. However, make sure you are comparing similar policies to know you are getting a good deal. You also want to make sure that the provider you choose has a good reputation and not sacrifice service for price. When you do find a few companies that have the best prices, you need to ask each one about other discounts. The company that seems the cheapest on paper may not be the least expensive once you add in other factors.

2. Combine Policies

It also helps to look at all of your insurance needs. Combining multiple cars or a homeowner's policy and car insurance can result in drastic savings. On the other hand, if you find an auto insurance policy that offers a large reduction in cost, it may be cheaper to use multiple carriers for your needs. For instance, a driver in your household that is considered a high risk may save money going with an insurance company that specializes in such cases. At the same time, you may pay more if you were to use that provider than another company.

3. Drive Less

Ask your provider if you can save money by reporting lower mileage in a year. If you carpool and reduce the amount of driving you do, you may get a discount.

4. Be a Safer Driver

Avoid tickets by following the laws. Also take a safe driving course and you may be rewarded with a reduced premium. Many companies offer special discounts if you have never filed a claim or if you take a defensive driving class.

The safety features on your car or truck can also help lower your insurance premium. For instance, rear cameras, truck bed rails and anti-lock brakes are some of the features that make vehicles safe. Newer models often come with special equipment that older vehicles don't have. In addition, keeping your vehicle in a locked garage reduces the chance of theft and can impact the rate you pay.

5. Raise Your Deductible

Insurance companies reward those who are willing to carry more risk with lower premiums. It is assumed that a person with a higher deductible will be more careful to avoid an accident since he or she has more money involved. Of course, you want to make sure you can afford the deductible if you should ever be in an accident. It's a good idea to keep the money in a savings account to cover it if you should have to file a claim.

6. Improve Your Credit

Check your credit history before you apply for car insurance. Make sure there are no errors that could be lowering your credit rating. If you do not have a great credit score, work on improving it so you can

qualify for better rates. Many experts believe that a person's credit score is directly tied with how likely he or she is to turn in a claim. Having a higher credit score can lower your insurance rates.

7. Change Your Coverage

If you have a brand new car or one you have a loan on, you will probably have to maintain full coverage insurance. However, if your car is older and paid off, it may not be worth it to have that kind of coverage. In fact, you may be paying out more than what you would receive if your vehicle was deemed a complete or total loss.

If your vehicle is not worth covering for damage, consider dropping the collision/comprehensive coverage and just carry liability and medical expense coverage. Since car insurance providers generally only pay out the amount that the car is worth, if you have an older vehicle, you may be better off to put the amount of the premium in a savings account for future need.

There are numerous ways to save money, so take the time to find out the lowest price you can pay and still have great coverage. Make it easier to save money on car insurance by looking for great deals and discounts.

ASA Insurance provides excellent coverage for auto insurance in the Salt Lake City area with the lowest rates to the English and Spanish communities . Affordable rates and superior service for all home, auto and business/commercial insurance needs.