Before providing some solutions to the rising cost of auto insurance,
it’s important to understand why auto premiums can go up, even in
the absence of a claim. When costs associated with auto repairs, labor,
medical costs, fraud and theft continue to rise, insurers have to do more
with the premiums collected. And who pays for these increases? We do.
Examples of increases that directly or indirectly affect auto premiums include:
- Between 1994 and 1998, the average
per diem hospital room costs in Ohio rose by 25.1%.
- According to a study released in January, 2000 by the Insurance Research
Council, crashes, as measured by property damage claims, decreased 17%
from 1980–1998. During the same period, bodily injury claims
resulting from crashes rose 33%.
- Ohio’s auto repair hourly rate rose 17% between 1996 and 2000.
Cutting your costs
Here are some ways to save on your auto insurance without sacrificing your insurance needs.
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Comparison shop. Check with several insurance companies and agents before making a final decision. Chances are that you’ll find differences in service as well as premiums. Service should be a major factor when making an insurance decision. Also ask questions regarding their claims handling process; how long they’ve been in business; and their financial stability or rating. Ask friends and family for recommendations and surf the net for company information.
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Raise your deductibles. You can reduce your premiums if you shoulder more of the risk. By increasing your deductible, you are responsible for small losses, not your insurer. Increasing your deductibles from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision and comprehensive premiums by 15–30%
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Choose the right car. Before buying a car, ask your insurer how premiums for the vehicle you want compare with similar models. Premiums are higher for most luxury, sport and four-wheel drive models because of repair costs and auto theft experience. Check the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s web brochure, “Injury, Collision and Theft Losses” at (www.highwaysafety.org).
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Contact the Ohio Department of Insurance for a free auto insurance shoppers’ guide. It provides all types of information, including average auto premiums by company. Call 1-800-686-1526 for a copy or download it from www.ohioinsurance.gov.
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Eliminate collision and comprehensive coverages. This is especially true as your car gets older and depreciates in value. A general rule is to eliminate these coverages if your car is worth less than $1,000, because it may cost more to insure it than what you’d collect after a crash. Check with an auto dealer, bank or look up your vehicle’s value in Kelley’s Blue Book (www.kbb.com). Keep your auto liability coverage intact.
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Ask about discounts. Most insurance companies offer a multiple car discount or a discount if you also carry homeowners or another type of insurance with them. Some give a discount to students with good grades, and others allow a credit if a young driver is away at school more than 100 miles with or without a car, depending on the location. Some companies provide discounts for airbags, daytime running lights and factory-installed antitheft devices. Seniors completing a state-approved defensive driver course are also eligible for discounts. (Click here for a list of state-approved programs.)
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Eliminate duplication of coverages. Some auto medical expense coverages may duplicate insurance provided by your employer. If you belong to an auto club that provides towing services or it’s provided by the auto manufacturer, you don’t need policy coverage.
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Reduce your daily driving. Statistics show that the farther you drive, the more likely you are to be involved in an accident—and the more you’ll pay for insurance. Some companies offer discounts to those driving fewer than a predetermined number of miles annually.
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Drive defensively. An at-fault accident or major traffic violation can increase premiums by as much as 40%. In some cases it can place you in a high-risk category. Some companies reward policyholders for remaining accident-free for a certain period of time.
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Double-check how and where you park. Often the cost of vandalism and auto theft is overlooked, which invariably costs us all. Always lock your car and park under street lights.
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Avoid filing excessive or fraudulent claims. The more claims you file, especially small ones that you can pay for yourself, the greater the likelihood that your premiums will reflect this. Padding insurance claims reflects on the premiums we all pay.