Don’t Waste Your Money: Auto insurance prices increasing

(WHTM)– Have you checked the price of your auto insurance lately? Even if you have a perfect driving record, its probably up sharply the past two years, and one woman says she can’t afford it.

Kimberly Miller had a clean driving record for more than a decade. “I can’t remember the last time I had a speeding ticket,” she said.

But like so many other people, rates on her Chevy Equinox have gone “up and up and up. Every six months it’s gone up.” From $188 to $210 a month.

Michael Barry says it’s due to a combo of the soaring cost of auto parts and labor rates. “Years ago, you’d have a rear end collision, and it might be $1,000,” Barry said. “But now that same collision might result in the broken rear view camera. Now all of a sudden, it’s a couple of $1,000.”

So what can you do?

• Compare companies, at a site like the Zebra, or Nerdwallet
• Then ask your current insurer if they will match
• Older car? Consider dropping collision coverage

And for your next car, consider one cheaper to insure, like a Toyota Camry or Rav-4, or Honda CRV, Honda Odyssey minivan, Subaru Forester.

As for now, Miller says will just have to find the money.

“You’d have thought that loyalty would mean lower rates,” she said. “The only thing I get is first in the line to call.”

So check around and compare prices but before you switch, ask your company what they can do to help, that way you don’t waste your money.