
2004 Main Street, PO Box 392, West Point, Virginia 23181
(804)843-2520 (888)843-2520 www.baylandsfcu.org
Auto
Insurance: You'd Better Shop Around
|
The Insurance Information Institute offers these suggestions
to help you save money on auto insurance:
- Comparison shop--Surf the Internet, ask your friends, or
call your state insurance department for names of companies to contact
for fair prices and personal service.
- Ask for a higher deductible--A deductible is the amount
of money you pay when making a claim. Carrying higher deductibles can reduce
premium costs substantially. For example, increasing your deductible from
$200 to $500 could reduce your collision and comprehensive costs by 15%
to 30%.
- Drop collision and/or comprehensive coverage on older cars--If
your vehicle is worth less than $1,000, you'll probably pay more for coverage
than you'd collect on a claim. Ask a loan officer at BayLands Federal Credit
Union to tell you the value of your vehicle.
- Buy a "low-profile" car--Explore insurance costs
before you buy a new or used vehicle. Vehicles that are expensive to repair
or that have a high theft rate generally have higher insurance costs. Check
out the Highway Loss Data Institute's list of injury, collision, and theft
losses at www.carsafety.org.
- Take advantage of low-mileage discounts--Some companies
offer discounts to motorists who drive fewer than a certain number of miles
each year.
- Ask about discounts for automatic seat belts or air bags.
- Ask about anti-lock brakes--Anti-lock brakes improve steering
control when you brake, reducing accidents. Some states, including Florida,
New Jersey, and New York, require insurers to give discounts for vehicles
equipped with these brakes. Some companies provide this discount nationwide.
- Inquire about other discounts--Some companies offer discounts
for insuring multiple vehicles, having no accidents in three years, being
a driver older than age 50, taking driver training courses, or using anti-theft
devices. And find out if your teen driver qualifies for a good-student
discount.
Copyright 1999 Credit Union National Association,
Inc. Information subject to change without notice.
For use with members of a single credit union. All other rights reserved.