[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]1. Add an additional driver to the policy: Initially you may think that this measure should increase your premium, right? Not the case. When you add another driver to your policy, you may actually lower your car insurance rates rather than raise them. For example, a client’s boyfriend is a mature driver with a squeaky clean driving record. In fact, he has never been in an accident and hasn’t had any moving violations in over ten years. By adding him to her policy, her annual premiums were reduced by around $200 a year.

2. Sign up for Progressive Snapshot: Progressive is one of my favorite car insurance companies out there. One little known secret about their offerings is a clever little gadget known as Snapshot. Snapshot is a small electronic device that you plug into your vehicle’s on board diagnostic port. After allowing snapshot to monitor your driving habits over the course of a few months, safer drivers will save up to 30% on their auto insurance forever! The discount will never go away! Even better, drivers that are not deemed discount worthy by the device will not have any premium increase. They will simply keep on paying what they were before.

3. Pay annually, not monthly: Monthly installments on your car insurance almost always include “installment fees” above and beyond your calculated rate. If you have the money to pay all at once do it! Your savings could be in the hundreds for doing so.

4. Buy from a broker, not a one-company agent: Unlike agents that only offer one company’s products, brokers have the ability to shop multiple companies for you. This saves you time and money. How can you know you are getting the best rates when your agent only offers you his company’s product? Additionally, by their very definitions brokers work for you, agents don’t. Your best interests will always be better served by a broker rather than an agent.

5. Consider a higher deductible: Do you really need a $250 or $500 deductible on your car insurance? Consider raising your deductible to $1,000. Car insurance companies reward these customers with lower premiums because you are telling the car insurance company that you are willing to assume some of the risk on your own. As long as you are a safe driver, the savings from this higher deductible will allow you to save your own money in the event you ever need to meet your deductible on a claim.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]