Why Are You Being Ripped Off on Auto Insurance?

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Reports show that most Americans are being ripped off on their auto insurance premiums. Working in the insurance industry, it’s awful to hear about people paying more than they should for auto insurance. One of the worst parts is that most people don’t know that they are paying too much.

Americans are settling for awful rates, and they are being taken advantage of by insurance companies. This is a problem that must be fixed, but it will never be fixed if we continue to settle for overpriced rates. Below, I will teach you how you can make sure that you are not being taken advantage of and that you are doing all that you can to receive affordable and accurate rates.

Ask Around

Ask your friends, family members, and co-workers how much they are paying on auto insurance. If you see huge discrepancies in how much they are paying and how much you are paying, then don’t be afraid to dig deep to find out why that is. Ask the right questions. Find out who they use and for what vehicle type.

Their company may end up being your company. I had a friend who was paying hundreds less than I was on insurance even though I had a better driving history than he did. I was shocked, so I asked him, “What insurance company do you use?” I went on to find out that he was using a new local company in the area that I have never heard of.

If I would have never asked, I would have never known and my insurance rate would have never lowered. Don’t be afraid to ask questions in life to get what you need. Asking the right questions ended up saving me an extra $60 a month.

Compare Insurance Rates

Rates differ for every driver. Finding auto insurance rates that fit your budget becomes easier when you start comparing. There are hundreds of insurance providers in the United States. Knowing this, it is not wise to not compare insurance rates before choosing an insurance provider. I know many people who didn’t want to take the time to call other providers, and that cost them a lot of money a month.

There is nothing wrong with telling an insurance agent that you want to look elsewhere before making a decision. When you are on the phone with an insurance agent, they don’t want you to look somewhere else because they know that you might find a better rate. This is why we must stand our ground and stop being afraid to say how we truly feel. It takes only a couple of minutes to get an insurance quote.

Before making a decision, make sure that you get at least 5 quotes. The smartest shoppers all have one thing in common:  they compare rates. I remember that, when looking for an insurance provider for my vehicle, I received a quote for $300+ from Liberty Mutual.

I then went to get a quote from GEICO, and I received a quote that was more than half of the Liberty Mutual quote. There are many companies that do free online comparisons. All that you will need to do is fill in basic information about yourself and your vehicle and you will get quotes instantly.

Remove Coverages That You Don’t Need 

There are so many insurance coverages that you don’t need that your insurance company is making you pay for. It is imperative that you ask them what can be removed. Some coverages that you might not need include rental car insurance and roadside assistance.

Also, there is a good chance that you might not need full coverage. If you are still making payments on your vehicle, then you are going to need full coverage. However, if your vehicle is already paid off then you will be able to get liability only, which is the cheaper option.

Take Advantage of Driving Less 

Are you one of those people that drive less than the national average? If so, then you should take advantage of a pay-per-mile insurance provider such as Metromile. Metromile is an insurance provider that is based on how much you drive. On average, Metromile policyholders save over $1,000 a year on auto insurance. You can save so much by just shopping around.

Bottom Line 

Most drivers are being ripped off on auto insurance because they do not do their research. Make sure that you call more than one company so that you can compare rates. It is always best to compare rates online because most insurance providers provide discounts for online quotes. Look for a company that has a lot of insurance discounts. For example, GEICO offers a 5-year accident-free discount for good drivers. Good students can save up to 25% with State Farm’s good student discount. Make sure that you look around and ask as many questions as you possibly can.

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