Donavan Insurance Group: 10 Tips to Save on Car Insurance

Donavan Insurance Group 10 Tips to Save on Car InsuranceCar insurance is one of the costliest purchases that consumers hope to never use. While it’salways important to buy the right coverage, it costs a lot more to insure a brand-new carthan a five-, seven-, or nine-year-old model you are replacing. Here are 10 helpful tips onhow to keep your premiums in line without taking on unnecessary risks.Do an Annual Rate CheckIf you’ve been with the same insurer a long time, it might be tough to beat its rates,especially if you haven’t had any claims lately. In fact, a 2014 survey by the ConsumerReports National Research Center found that only 10 percent of 19,000ConsumerReports.org subscribers who compared premiums found that they would savemoney by switching insurers.Pick a Top-Rated InsurerSaving money isn’t simply a matter of finding the lowest premium. Some insurers havelower premiums, but end up costing you more in the end by lowballing loss estimates,

hassling the repair shop to cut corners, and forcing you to pay extra for original-equipmentreplacement parts. They might even unfairly jack up your premiums after an accident.Set the Right DeductibleA higher deductible reduces your premium because you pay more out of pocket if you havea claim. Hiking your deductible from $200 to $500 can cut your premium on collision by 15to 30 percent. Go to $1,000 and you could save 40 percent. If you have a good drivingrecord and haven’t had an at-fault accident in years, if ever, opting for a higher deductibleon collision might be a good bet. Just make sure you can afford to pay that cost if your luckruns out.Review All of Your CoverageYour liability coverage pays for bodily injury and property damage that you cause inaccidents. Don’t get caught short by reducing your liability limits to the state minimums.Buying more coverage might seem like an odd way to save, but the benefit comes if youhave a costly claim, which can put your life’s savings at risk.Take Advantage of DiscountsCar insurers offer a whole range of modest but worthwhile discounts that are essentiallybased on a low-risk lifestyle. Here are some to ask your insurer about if they don’t mentionthem to you first:• Students with good grades.• New drivers who have taken a driver-training course.• Older drivers who have taken a refresher course.• Any driver who takes a defensive-driving course.• Members of affinity groups, such as college alumni and certain occupations andprofessions.• Anti-theft and safety equipment.Multiple-Policy HoldersInsurers also offer fairly hefty auto discounts if you also buy your home-owners, renters, orlife-insurance policy from them. But be sure you check out total costs both ways: premiumsfrom different insurers compared with single-insurer packages.Manage Teenage-Driver RiskAdding a teenager to your policy can hike your costs by 50 to 100 percent. Make sure yourchild takes a safe-driving course before getting a license. Make it a rule that unsafe drivingwill mean loss of driving privileges.Maintain a Good Credit Score

Most states allow insurance companies to use your credit score as a factor in setting yourpremiums. Ask your insurance company if it does that. But regularly check and correctcredit-reporting errors anyhow. If your finances have been adversely affected by therecession, military deployment, divorce, job loss, death of a family member, or medicalproblems, ask your insurer for an exception.Report Reduced MileageA major cost component in auto in-surance is miles driven per year. The average is about12,000. But if you’re driving a lot less than usual for some reason, like a job change orretirement, let your insurer know. Your reduced driving could cut 5 to 10 percent off yourpremiums.Choose Your Car ShrewdlyVehicle damage is the biggest cost component for auto insurers, so premiums will vary byauto model. When comparing models, ask your insurer for premium quotes on the differentmodels under consideration.Our mission is to protect and enhance the financial resources of our clients, thus ensuringtheir security and quality of life, by providing sound professional management service.Donavan Insurance Group Services Inc. was established in 1986 as an independentinsurance agency with a reputation for Superior Service. Donna Martin-Boseker, who hasbeen in this industry since 1976, had previously worked in the agency when it was knownas Domex Insurance. She purchased the business in 1986 and renamed it DonavanInsurance Services Inc. We represent the best interests of our clients and tailor solutionsfor their specific insurance needs. We offer a broad portfolio of insurance carriers withhighly competitive rates. Our coverages include all forms of business and personalinsurance.