Money Saving Tip #1 Raise your deductible. Your "deductible" is the amount you pay when you make a claim before your insurance "kicks in". In other words, if you have a $1,000 claim and a $250 deductible, you pay the first $250 and your insurance company pays the next $750. The disadvantage of raising your deductible is that when you do make a claim, you’ll pay more. The advantage of raising your deductible is that your premium will go down, sometimes by as much as 15% to 30% on your collision and comprehensive insurance.

Money Saving Tip #2 Drop your collision and/or comprehensive insurance on older vehicles. Sometimes it’s just not worth paying for these kinds of insurance – if your car is not worth that much to begin with. That’s because the amount you pay for the deductible plus the amount you pay for the premium may not be more than the value of the car itself. A rule of thumb is that if a car is worth less than $1000, drop these coverages -–but many people are comfortable with higher figures. An auto dealer can help you determine the value of your vehicle.

Money Saving Tip #3 Buy a "lower profile" vehicle. Part of what determines the cost of insurance is the kind of car you own. Some cars are favorite cars for thieves. Some cars are more expensive to repair. Generally, these cars will cost more to insure. To get detailed information on your car – or a car you’re thinking of buying – write the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 1005 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22201 and ask for the Highway Loss Data Chart.

Money Saving Tip #4 Take full advantage of low mileage discounts. Some insurance companies give discounts to people who drive less than a pre-determined number of miles each year. Ask about which companies are currently offering this discount in your area.

Money Saving Tip #5 When you move, consider the cost of insurance. Yes, the cost of insurance varies from place to place, even right here in our own area. When you’re thinking of moving, give us a call and we will tell you about possible differences in insurance costs.

Money Saving Tip #6 Check out automatic seat belt and air bag discounts. You may save money on your insurance if you have automatic seat belts and/or air bags.

Money Saving Tip #7 Check out anti-lock brake discounts. Anti-lock brakes improve steering and stability when you try to stop your car. Call us to see if we can apply this discount to your car.

Money Saving Tip #8 Check out other insurance company discounts. Insurance companies try to reward drivers that they think are good risks. That’s the kind of driver they want. Plus, a lot of companies want drivers who also have other kinds of insurance with them, like homeowners insurance. Call us to review a complete list of discounts that are currently being offered by insurance companies in our areas. They may include things like good grades for students, good driving record, driver’s education, anti-theft devices, more than one car, homeowners with the same company and more.