When you have moving violations, accidents, or other marks on your driving record, you can typically expect to pay more for car insurance coverage. In fact, after one at-fault accident, auto insurance rates typically go up an average of 31%. If you've recently experienced a rate hike due to your driving record, you're probably looking for cheap auto insurance coverage to offset some of that premium increase.
In addition to shopping around and finding the right carrier to insure you, there are some other steps you may be able to take to save on your coverage when your driving record isn't perfect.
Temporarily Increase Your Deductible
One option to consider is setting up a temporary increase on your policy deductible, which will result in an immediate decrease in your monthly payments without affecting your coverage types or amounts in the process. The important thing to remember, of course, is that increasing your deductible means you'll have to pay more out of your own pocket if you have another claim. For this reason, it is only recommended that you increase your deductible temporarily and to keep it at an amount you can comfortably afford.
Take a Safe-Driving Course
Some auto insurance companies will actually "forgive" marks on your driving record (even accidents) if you enroll in and complete an approved safe-driving course or defensive-driving course. Yes, you will need to pay some money up-front to take the class, but the savings can quickly offset those costs and then some. Likewise, some states will even offer forgiveness for points on your driver's license if you complete one of these courses — so it's worth looking into.
Scrutinize Your Credit Report
Your driving record isn't the only thing that's taken into consideration when calculating your policy premium. Your credit score can also play a major role. With this in mind, it's a good idea to review your credit report every year and to dispute any errors that you may find right away. By having mistakes corrected on your credit report, you should see a subsequent boost in your credit score that can save you some money on your car insurance coverage.
Finding affordable car insurance coverage with a bad driving record isn't always easy, but the good news is that many car insurance carriers will work with you. That, combined with these tips, can help you spend as little as possible on the coverage you need.
Share16 February 2021
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