Image courtesy of Timo Newton-Syms
Being a vehicle owner can be frustrating at times, especially given the rising costs involved. Many families seem to be struggling to stay on the road and it can be a worrying time for parents that have so many outgoings to contend with on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis. If this sounds familiar and you want to take decisive action to cut the cost of being a motorist then read on for information on how to go about getting a cheaper car insurance quote and making life a little bit easier in general.
Log on and start saving
Where would parents be without the Internet? It’s transformed our lives in so many ways and made shopping for things like car insurance painless and pretty easy on the pocket as well. Ringing around the major insurance companies is time consuming and incredibly dull, so spare yourself the inconvenience and instead log on to a price comparison website to get the best cover at an affordable price. Fill out your details and within a few clicks you’ll have quotes from a whole range of different companies to mull over. Some price comparison websites claim to save drivers hundreds of dollars every year when it comes to renewal time. Can you imagine the difference a couple of hundred dollars extra would make annually? That’s money you could be spending on the kids or stashing away in a savings account for them for when they’re older. Loyalty is also a good bargaining tool, so if you renew with the same insurer make sure you’re getting a fair price for your policy.
Do your bit
Car insurance quotes can be made even cheaper by addressing the issue of security, raising your deductibles and, of course, staying out of trouble and being a responsible driver. If you roam around in an older car then it may be worth checking to see what difference getting an immobilizer fitted will make. Almost as important as having an alarm or immobilizer is making sure you use it. Offering to pay a higher deductible in the event of needing to make a claim can also lower the price of insurance, although be realistic about what you could feasibly afford to pay if there was some sort of incident further down the line. It also pays to be sensible behind the wheel as it reduces the likelihood of being involved in an accident. Avoid harsh accelerating and braking as it has an impact on fuel consumption and keep tires inflated to the correct levels at all times as well. Another useful tip to reduce the amount you spend on petrol is to car share as much as possible with other parents, families, relatives or work colleagues.
Downsize if needs be
If money is particularly tight then it might be a sign that’s it time to trade in your pride and joy for something a little smaller that’s cheaper to buy, cheaper to run and cheaper to insure. As long as there’s enough space for a buggy in the trunk and a child seat or two in the back, does it really matter if you’re driving around in a top-of-the-range motor? Of course not! There are also plenty of bargains available in the used car market. Households with more than one car should also think seriously about getting rid of one vehicle altogether. Although it may seem like it’s essential to have a couple of cars, there are bound to be ways you can cope, especially when you think that doing this could save you and your family thousands of dollars every year.
