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Steps To Take Before Searching For Auto Insurance

30 November 2016 by Herman Mills

There are many different factors that your auto insurance company will look at to determine what kinds of rates you deserve. Here are some things that you can do before requesting insurance rates to help keep your costs low.

Take a Look at Your Driving Record

Before you look for insurance rates, know that your insurance company will want to make sure your driving record is clean. You might want to take a look to review any traffic violations or parking tickets with outstanding actions on them. Try to resolve any issues on your record before you apply for auto insurance. And it will give you an opportunity to make sure there are no errors in your driving record. If your driving record does have some blemishes on it, consider whether a corrective driving school could help you lower your insurance rates and be safer on the road. A new driver program at driving school like AAA Driving Academy is helpful if you have fewer than 3 years on your driving record. 

Improve Your Credit

Some auto insurance companies will want to take a look at your credit before awarding you their lowest rates. In this case, it pays to look at your credit score and see what can be done to improve it in the short-term. While there are no immediate fixes for poor credit, there are things that you can do to get your credit scores trending in the right direction, such as consolidating your debt or paying off smaller debts.

Review Your Car's Safety Coverage

Sometimes, it can be worthwhile to spend the money on vehicle upgrades in order to lower your insurance premiums for the long haul. For example, anti-lock braking systems are one thing that many insurers ask about as a way to assess how safe the car will be in the face of a collision. Another question may be whether the car has side airbags; these can help to reduce the medical bill payouts that your insurer has to make. And if you plan on getting comprehensive auto insurance, your insurance company might want to know if you have any anti-theft devices installed.

Research Low-Cost Insurance in Your Area

It's tempting to go with one of the big name insurers with high advertising budgets. But in doing so, you might miss out on some great deals. Do some research to see which companies offer insurance in your area along with their average premiums. You might be surprised to see who comes out on top.

Renew Your Professional Organization Memberships

Finally, your insurance premiums might see a discount when you are an active member of certain organizations, such as an alumni group or a professional organization. Check with your insurer to see if any of your groups would make you eligible for lower rates.

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