If You're Not Shopping for New Car Insurance, You’re Missing Out on Up to $700 in Savings
KEY POINTS
- One of the fastest, easiest ways to lower your auto insurance rates is to shop around for new coverage.
- No matter how long you've been with your current insurer, switching can save hundreds a year.
- Auto insurance rates depend on many factors, including how you drive, your credit score, and where you live.
Your location is one of the dozens of factors that go into determining how much you'll pay for auto insurance. For example, the average annual premium for drivers in Michigan is $5,766. In Ohio -- Michigan's neighbor to the south -- drivers pay an average annual premium of $2,238.
That makes Michigan one of the most expensive states to insure a car and Ohio one of the cheapest states. However, if you don't regularly shop around for new car insurance, there's a good chance you're leaving money on the table.
Average annual rates for auto insurance
According to Data Quadrant, auto insurance rates can be broken down by broad regions.
| Region | States included | Average annual premium |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-Atlantic | NY, NJ, MD, WV, VA, DE, PA, DC | $3,327 |
| Midwest | ND, SD, MN, WI, MI, NE, KS, IA, MO, IL, IN, OH, KY | $3,028 |
| Northeast | ME, VT, MA, CT, NH, RI | $2,560 |
| Northwest | WA, MT, OR, ID, WY | $2,247 |
| Southeast | AR, TN, NC, MS, SC, LA, AL, GA, FL | $3,026 |
| Southwest | UT, CO, AZ, NM, OK, TX | $2,982 |
| West | CA, NV | $2,836 |
| Non-Mainland | AK, HI | $1,844 |
As you can see, rates vary widely. For the sake of illustration, we'll use the average national rate of $2,731.
How much you can save
How much you can save by shopping around for new auto insurance varies, depending (again) on where you live and whether you'd like to make any changes to your policy.
A report from the Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel (OPIC) found that Texas residents who had been with the same insurer for eight years before switching car insurance companies shaved 19% off their premiums. If they've been paying the national average of $2,731, that switch amounts to an annual savings of $519.
Multiple ways to save
The best car insurance companies offer a slew of discounts. As you shop, compare prices only after factoring in potential discounts. Here are some of the most dependable ways to slice and dice your auto insurance rates.
Consider a higher deductible
Yes, a higher deductible means having to pay a higher amount if you get into an accident. However, it can also save you a bundle. According to an executive from the Insurance Information Institute, increasing your deductible from $500 to $1,000 can reduce your annual premium by 20% to 25%.
Let's say you've been paying $2,731 with a $500 deductible but raise it to $1,000. A 20% to 25% premium reduction means saving $546 to $683 annually.
Look into usage-based coverage
Some insurers offer usage-based insurance or telematics coverage. To take advantage of the discounts associated with usage-based coverage, you must agree to allow your insurance company to track your driving habits by using telematics technology.
Whether you get a discount (and how steep that discount is) depends on your driving habits. If you're a safe driver, the discounts can be impressive. Nationwide SmartRide® telematics car insurance offers discounts of up to 40%, and State Farm Drive Safe and SaveTM offers discounts of up to 30%.
Bundle
Insurers love it when you purchase more than one policy type from them. For example, if you're a renter, carry your renters insurance and auto coverage through the same insurer. If you own a home, bundle your homeowners and auto insurance. According to Progressive, bundling can save you around 5%.
Keep an eye on your credit score
Studies show that drivers with good credit scores make fewer insurance claims. So insurers base rates, in part, on your credit score (in most states). Using national data, we see that drivers with excellent credit scores pay around half as much as drivers with poor credit scores.
Focus on clean driving
One of the easiest ways to keep your rates low is to drive like your rates depend on it. Statistics from Data Quadrant indicate that having one speeding ticket on your driving record increases your rates by about 10%. A single accident will boost your rate by 19%, and a DUI will add a whopping 37% to your annual premium.
Shopping around for new auto insurance may not sound like your idea of a good time, but consider this: A Consumer Reports national survey found that consumers who switched to a new auto insurance company not only saved money but also reported a higher level of satisfaction. That's a win-win any way you look at it.
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