PURSUE THOSE AUTO INSURANCE DISCOUNTS

One way to avoid paying too much for your personal automobile insurance is to assure you are getting all the discounts you deserve. The following are discounts you should inquire about. Some may not be available in all states and from all insurers, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. These discounts may significantly affect your insurance premium.

• “Defensive Driving Discount.” This discount can save you 10 percent on most of the major coverages under your auto policy, such as liability, medical payments, and collision coverage. Defensive driving courses can cost as little as $20 and last as few as 5 or 6 hours. However, the discount normally applies for 3 years. For example, if your auto insurance premium is $100 per month, the premium is $3,600 for 3 years. If liability, collision, and medical payments or personal injury protection coverage constitute 85 percent of this $3,600 premium, the resulting premium subject to this discount is $3,060. In this scenario, the actual premium savings would be $306 (10 percent of $3,060) for that 3-year period. To get the true savings, you must deduct the cost of the defensive driving class. If the cost is $26, the savings in this example would be reduced to $280. If you spend 6 hours taking the class, you are earning $47 per hour in savings—not an unproductive way to spend a Saturday!


• “Good Student Discount.” Statistics show that good students tend to be more reliable and mature than students with marginal grades, leading to better driving decisions. Therefore, many states allow a 5 to 10 percent discount if your student driver makes good grades, usually an overall “A” or “B” average in high school or college. If your child has to pay his or her own automobile insurance, this will be another motivator for him or her to make good grades.


• “Home/Car Discount.” Many insurers offer discounts of 10 percent or more if they provide both your homeowners and personal automobile insurance. This can lower your costs on both policies.


• “Auto Safety Features.” Most insurers recognize that owners with cars containing safety features may have fewer accidents and reduced injuries. Many insurers encourage drivers to purchase cars with antilock brakes by giving small discounts for these safety features. Other insurers give discounts for vehicles with airbags and daytime running lights.


• “Auto Club and Professional Organizations.” Some insurance companies offer auto insurance discounts if you are a member of AAA or similar organizations.


• “Multicar.” Many insurance companies provide generous discounts up to 15 percent if you have multiple cars on your policy. This reduces the insurance company’s administrative costs, on a per-vehicle basis, in issuing the policy.


• “Long-Term Customer.” More insurance companies are offering discounts of 5 to 10 percent if you stay with them at least 5 years.


• “Claims-Free Customer.” If you have been insured with the same insurance company for at least 3 years and have not experienced any losses, inquire about a claims-free customer discount. These discounts help insurers retain customers with excellent driving records.

STEPS TO TAKE AFTER AN AUTO ACCIDENT

While we certainly hope that you are never involved in an auto accident, we realize that they do happen. That's the reason we're in business; that's the reason you trusted us to find the right auto insurance for you. If you are ever involved in an accident, the following suggestions will help the claim process move ahead smoothly.
Please print this out and keep a copy in your glove box.

1. Make sure that everyone is unhurt -- in your car and any others involved. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. Even if you think your injuries are minor, it is probably a good idea to have them checked out -- either at the hospital or with your family doctor. A seemingly minor injury could turn out to be more serious.

2. Call the police. They can help defuse a difficult situation and also ascertain who is at fault. Make sure that police on the scene get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all other involved parties. Ask for a copy of the police report from the officer.

3. If you happen to have a camera with you -- or a cell phone that is camera ready -- take some photos of the vehicles involved, the general area where the accident occurred, and skid marks.

4. If possible, safely move the cars out of the way of traffic.

5. Do not admit or discuss liability with anyone other than staff at our office or your insurer.

6. Get the following information about everyone involved in the
accident: name, address, driver's license number, license plate number, description of car, e-mail address, all phone numbers (home, work, and cell), and auto insurance information. Also obtain contact information from any witnesses to the accident.

7. Report the accident immediately to our office. (ADD PHONE NUMBER HERE).

8. While the details are still fresh in your mind, write your own account of the accident. Be sure to make note of anything the other involved parties said about their injuries or as to how they may have contributed to or avoided the accident.