If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to trim your bills, whether it be for electricity in Phoenix, groceries in Chandler, Scottsdale home insurance, or anything else, you’re not alone. One of the most-often overlooked opportunities to save money has to do with auto insurance in Phoenix and the surrounding areas – in fact, there’s a good chance that you’re overpaying on your coverage.
But, how do you know if you are?
You always need to make sure, first and foremost, that you maintain the state minimum coverage amounts for Arizona when it comes to car insurance. These minimums are:
- Property damage liability coverage: $10,000
- Bodily injury liability coverage: $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage: $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident
- Underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage: $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident
*Special note: If you have an auto insurance policy in Arizona with a comprehensive deductible, ask your agent if you are eligible for a benefit known as the safety glass non-deductible option. If you are eligible and need repairs on your safety glass on covered vehicles, you will save money by not being required to pay a deductible.
Aside from electing to just meet these bare minimum requirements, there are also several other things you can do to lower the amount you pay for auto insurance in Scottsdale or Phoenix. Keep in mind that the more coverage you have, the more you’ll pay for that coverage – however, you also need to be sure that you are comfortable with the amount of financial protection you select, should you need that protection in the event of a collision or accident.
You should also always obtain at least a few quotes from different insurance providers so you can make an informed decision that will suit your needs (and your budget) best. Following are some tips to follow to lower your car insurance in Phoenix:
Lower Your Auto Insurance Premiums
Keep Your Credit Score Up
Many people don’t realize that having bad credit can cost you more when it comes to insurance policies. Companies use credit-based insurance scores (CBISs) to determine how risky a person might be to insure. People with low credit scores are considered more likely to file claims than those with higher scores. It’s logical: people who don’t have the money to pay their bills will need more help managing car repairs after an accident.
Combine Your Insurance Plans
Almost all Arizona insurance companies offer multiple lines of insurance coverage, including auto insurance in Phoenix, home insurance in Phoenix, business insurance, and many others. If you keep your home insurance and auto insurance with the same company, you’ll enjoy a sizable multi-line discount that can save you hundreds of dollars in a year’s time, for example.
Assess What You Own
It’s a bad idea to select a plan when purchasing car insurance and then never changing it. Older cars usually aren’t going to need as much insurance coverage, so if you never consider reducing your coverage as the car ages, your premiums won’t ever decrease, either. Consider this: If you have a vehicle that is six, eight, or eleven years old, would you really repair it after a major accident, or would you instead purchase a new one to replace it? If you own your car and are making no monthly payments on it anymore, you may want to eliminate collision coverage to avoid paying to protect a car that will soon be replaced anyway.
Seek Out Discounts You May Not Know About
The best insurance companies in AZ offer many ways to earn discounts on car insurance premiums, some of which you may not have even known existed. For example, student drivers who maintain good grades often qualify for lowered rates, as do drivers who the company considers to be “safe” – that is, has had no major accidents, tickets, or violations, etc. In addition, if your vehicle has various safety and anti-theft equipment installed, that will save you some money on premiums as well. Be sure to ask your agent if drivers are offered discounts for safe driving monitoring and defensive driving course completion, if you are interested.
With rates for auto insurance in Scottsdale, Phoenix, and the entire country in general increasing as time goes on, you owe it to yourself to find discounts to save you some of that money. Be sure to compare quotes and coverages, plans and discounts from a handful of insurance companies, as people often pay more for the company name than for better coverage.Contact us today for help finding the best insurance coverage for your needs, and start keeping more of your hard-earned money where it belongs – with you!