The cost of car insurance is up by more than 20% on average between last year and this year. If you’ve noticed your car insurance bills ticking up over time, you’re not alone. Luckily, there are several ways to find cheaper car insurance, and many of them involve nothing more than spending a little time on the phone or the internet.
Keep reading for the best ways to save when you insure your vehicle.
1. Shop around for coverage
Different auto insurance companies have different rates and weigh risk differently, so it’s a great idea to shop around for your coverage. It’s not the most exciting way to spend an afternoon, but if you plug your personal information into the websites for a few insurers, you may find cheaper coverage than you have now.
You could also work with an insurance broker who can put together different quotes for you. This is what I did when I was looking for home and auto coverage after buying a house earlier this year (more about bundling coverage below).
2. Ask about discounts
Just about every auto insurer offers a slate of discounts based on various factors. Drivers could save money for belonging to certain professional organizations, not driving a lot of miles, taking a defensive driving course, or being a good student (if they’re still in school). The only way to know what you qualify for is to ask, so if you haven’t explored your insurer’s discount menu yet, make it a priority.
3. Improve your credit
Insurers have found a correlation between credit scores and the likelihood of drivers filing claims, so in most states, they are allowed to check drivers’ credit scores and use it to set premium prices. Boosting your credit score may save you money — research from The Motley Fool Ascent found that drivers with good credit paid an average of less than half of what drivers with bad credit paid in 2023.
4. Raise your deductible
Your deductible is the amount of money you must pay when you file a claim, before your insurer picks up the rest of the tab. If you’re willing to put more money aside for your deductible, you can lower the cost of your premiums.
Just be sure you have the money ready at all times — a good way to approach this is to put the cash you’re saving on premiums into a high-yield savings account, so you’ll be set if you need to file a claim.
5. Pay upfront
If you can afford to pay for six months or a year of coverage all at once, it could save you money. Forbes Advisor notes that the best insurance companies offer discounts of 6% to 14% for paying in full. You might consider putting aside money throughout the year to make a big premium payment in one go.
6. Bundle coverage
Got multiple parts of your life you need coverage for — like a car, a home (either one you own or a rental), and another vehicle (like a boat or motorcycle)? Drivers in need of more than one policy could save money by getting them all from the same company.
Bundling coverage could result in savings of 5% or more. Plus, it could simplify your life to deal with just one insurance company.
7. Take advantage of telematics
Finally, you might consider looking into telematics car insurance. Drivers who sign up have their behavior behind the wheel monitored via a mobile app or an in-car device, and may be able to enjoy lower rates depending on whether they demonstrate safe driving skills.
Approach with caution, however — if your driving habits are less than ideal, you may end up paying more for coverage. Personally, I have confidence in my driving skills, but I’m uncomfortable with being monitored by an auto insurer, so I won’t be using this means of saving money.
Take some time to explore a few of these ways to save money on your vital car insurance coverage. The money you save could go toward your emergency fund, paying off debt, or even something more fun — like the new car you’re saving up to buy.
Based in New York, Stephen Freeman is a Senior Editor at Trending Insurance News. Previously he has worked for Forbes and The Huffington Post. Steven is a graduate of Risk Management at the University of New York.