There are some monthly bills that are a little harder to swallow than others, with many people putting car insurance near the top of the list. The fact that you may never have to make a claim is often at the root of the agitation you feel, but you need to understand that auto insurance is in place to protect you, as well as all the other drivers on the road. While car insurance is a necessary expense of you plan on driving, it’s not one that has to cost you an absolute fortune. Keep reading to see how you can get your car insured without having to leave your wallet empty every month.
The first thing you need to do is try and ignore all the insurance ads that are sent your way via the TV. Every insurance company that takes the time to advertise will go to great lengths to try and tell you they are the cheapest in town. The reality is they cannot guarantee that without knowing your individual circumstances. What that all boils down to is that you need to take the time to shop each individual place in order to get a number of different quotes. There are even websites that allow you to input your information and then send that not all the different insurance companies in an effort to get you the best rate.
One option that you should consider when looking for a lower monthly rate is opting for a higher deductible. While that means you will have to pay more out of pocket when you make a claim, you have to temper it with the fact that making a claim may actually never be necessary. Going with that higher deductible can means hundreds of extra dollars in your pocket each year, some of which can be set aside in the likelihood that you might need to make some sort of claim. The problem with this option may come when you finance your car, as the lender may demand that you keep the deductible low.
Another major factor in how much you pay each month for car insurance is your credit score. The better your score, the more likely it is you will have a rate that you can live with. Make sure you pay all of your bills on time so that your credit score always stays high. If you have been driving for a while, you will also find that a clean driving record will have a positive effect on your monthly premiums. No tickets for speeding or other infractions will show insurance companies that you are less likely to make a claim in the future, keeping your rates affordable.
A few more ideas that could help you save are by going with a group discount. This will work if you have more than one car in the household, or if you want to combine all of your insurance needs into a single policy. Another good idea, assuming you can afford it, is to pay your annual Ontario car insurance in one go as opposed to monthly. It may seem like a large amount at the time, but it could potentially save you a ton of money.
