Tuesday, March 26, 2024

How To Get Car Insurance For The First Time

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What Kind Of Coverage Do You Plan To Purchase

How to Get CHEAP Car Insurance For First Time and New Drivers! *Useful Tips and Hacks*

There is a wide range of options out there so you need to figure out what particular type of coverage you want. Are you shopping for liability-only car insurance or full coverage, including comprehensive and collision? The type of coverage youre looking into is going to affect what you pay.

As expected, the more additional coverages you ask for, the more expensive the policy. Take a look at this table to see average rates for various types of coverage to get an idea of costs.

  • Vehicle safety feature discount

Who Is Considered A New Driver

Each state sets its own minimum auto insurance requirements, and car insurance for new drivers will look the same as any other drivers policy. While a lack of driving experience doesnt change how much insurance you need, it will impact the price. Here are some examples of people that could be considered new drivers:

  • Teen drivers
  • Older individuals without a driving record
  • People who immigrate to the U.S.

Theres also no specific car insurance policy for new drivers. Youll be expected to purchase at least your states minimum required coverage, which typically includes bodily injury and property damage liability car insurance. Some states also require uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection.

How To Get Cheap Car Insurance For New Drivers

Usually, the best way for young drivers to get cheap car insurance is to stay on their parents policies. Car insurance companies typically offer families several discounts to save money on insurance coverage, including:

  • Safe driving discounts
  • Good student discounts
  • College student and student-away-at-school discounts
  • Defensive driving course discounts

Young drivers cant purchase their own policies unless they own their own cars and no longer have the same permanent address as their parents. Keep in mind that drivers under the age of 25 usually pay much higher rates. Adding a young driver to an insurance policy will still increase your premiums substantially, but the amount will depend on your insurance company, the vehicle and where you live.

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Car Insurance After A Driving Or Coverage Gap

Maybe you spent some time abroad or your license expired because your lifestyle just doesnt require any driving. Without a driving history to check, insurers can still consider you a new driver. And without continuous auto coverage, they can consider you a high-risk driver, which has similar effects on car insurance rates.

Even if you have some driving history to reference, its important to shop around for your next policy since youll likely pay more just for having a gap in coverage. Theres an exception for military deployment from many companies, so be sure to ask if that applies to you.

Since continuous coverage is one of the most important factors insurers consider, some may not accept your application if youve had gaps between policies. If thats the case, you can look for nonstandard insurance companies that specialize in coverage for people having a hard time getting insured.

Get started on Insure.com

What A Car Insurance Policy Does Not Cover

How to Get Car Insurance for the First Time: 6 Tips  Psymbolic

Most car insurance policies don’t cover the loss of personal possessions, such when a thief steals golf clubs, clothing or personal electronics from your vehicle. Your home or tenants insurance usually covers these losses.

Check your home insurance policy to find out if it provides coverage for the theft of personal items from your vehicle.

Read your car insurance policy carefully. Always make sure you understand what it does and does not cover. Keep it in a safe and accessible place. Refer to it when needed.

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Find Cheap First Time Car Insurance In Your Area

These car insurance rates are for a 35-year-old California resident and show the difference in cost between a new driver and an experienced driver.

The insurance quotes for new drivers are considerably higher. Geico is the most expensive, charging our sample driver with no experience $6,339 per year. Geico will charge a new driver $5,101 more for insurance than the same driver with 15 years’ experience. Essentially, inexperienced and first-time drivers will be charged more, regardless of age.

Join An Existing Car Insurance Policy

Keep your rates as low as possible by adding yourself to an existing car insurance policy, assuming you live with other drivers. Their premiums may be higher if youre included, but it will still be cheaper than taking out a policy on your own. As long as youre a member of the same household, you can be added to someone elses policy.

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How Much Is Car Insurance For First

Car insurance prices will depend on your individual situation, the levels of coverage you choose and your insurance company. On the more affordable end of the spectrum, an 18-year-old first-time driver could expect to pay anywhere from roughly $1,771 for state minimum levels of coverage to around $3,309 for full coverage at 100/300/100 levels of liability. That same driver choosing the most expensive coverage could pay anywhere from about $6,575 for minimum coverage to around $12,797 for the full coverage option.

Tip #: Track Renewals

The Best TIPS to get Cheaper Insurance for a First Time Driver!

Once you have bought the right car insurance policy and add-ons, you need to keep a track of the renewals. This is important as timely renewals help in getting a discount on the car insurance premium if no claim is raised against the policy. If you buy car insurance online, it will be easier to track renewals as well.

Equip yourself with the basics we shared above and buying insurance will be effortless each and every time!

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How To Buy Car Insurance For New Cars Online

Heres the step-by-step process to buy new car insurance online via ACKOs website. You can scroll up on this page to the car insurance widget and initiate the following process.

  • Step 1: Select what will you use your car for.

  • Step 2: Share your PIN code to confirm service availability.

  • Step 3: Select the RTO where your vehicle shall be registered.

  • Step 4: Share car details, mobile number, and expected car delivery date.

  • Step 5: Choose your preferred new car insurance price, plan and make the online payment.

  • Step 6: Download your new car insurance policy.

What Do The Three Numbers Mean In Car Insurance

Liability coverage is usually written as a series of numbers representing the maximum amount in thousands of dollars your insurance could cover in an at-fault accident. These numbers indicate:

Individual Bodily Injury / Total Bodily Injury / Property Damage

For example, a 100/300/50 policy, covers a maximum of:

  • $100,000 in individual bodily injury
  • $300,000 in total bodily injury
  • $ 50,000 of property damage.

Remember, in an at-fault accident:

  • Individual bodily injury is the maximum amount of medical expenses your insurance could cover per person.
  • Total bodily injury is the maximum amount of medical expenses insurance could cover for all injuries combined.
  • Property damage is the maximum amount insurance could cover for property thatâs damaged. Think things like damage to someoneâs car, a broken telephone pole, or damage to a building.

The at-fault driver would be responsible for any damages beyond the maximum limits covered by the insurance policy. Most drivers who donât have a lot of assets like a house or financial savings to protect commonly choose to keep their limits lower. However, itâs important to make sure you have enough coverage to cover damages you cause in the case of an at-fault accident. Talk with an agent to discuss the best coverages and limits for you.

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Car Insurance For The First Time

The elated feeling with the purchase of a new car will remain intact for long if the car is secured with insurance. But, buying the right policy requires basic knowledge of how car insurance works. This could be quite challenging if you are the first time car insurance buyer. Here, we have simplified this challenge and created some tips for buying car insurance for the first time.

To Buy Car Insurance Youll Need:

How to Get Car Insurance for the First Time: 6 Tips  Psymbolic

Vehicle Information:

  • Make, model, and year of your car
  • Your carâs Vehicle Identification Number
  • Mileage on your vehicleâs odometer
  • Any security features your car has, like a car alarm or GPS anti-theft device
  • How many miles youâll be driving the car per year
  • Who, if anyone else, will drive your car at any time

Personal Information:

  • Name and date of birth
  • Address including zip code
  • Age you got your driverâs license
  • Driving history

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Mistakes To Avoid When Getting Car Insurance For The First Time

One of the most common mistakes that drivers make when getting car insurance for the first time is only purchasing the minimum amount of insurance coverage. Although this is a great way to save money on your premium, it can cost you a lot more later on if you get into an accident.

You should also avoid lying about your driving history when getting quotes. Insurance companies will always check your driving record before selling you a policy, which means that you could end up paying more than your original quote if youre not honest.

Finally, make sure you know exactly what youre signing up for. Car insurance can be complicated, but reading the fine print and understanding your policy will make your experience much smoother if you ever need to file a claim.

Tip #: Take The Time To Compare Quotes

Insurance companies can and should give you a quote on the rates and package theyd offer you. You can also calculate quotes on different websites onlineits up to you which route you decide to go in order to garner quotes .

Getting quotes from multiple companies is a great idea because it allows you to see just what kind of value/deals you would be getting at each one. The more information you have, the more peace of mind you can have about making a smart decision that wont have bad repercussions down the road.

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Why Did This Insurance Company Quote Me This Rate

So youve been given a quote. How exactly do insurance companies come up with these numbers?

If youre a young driver, youll expect to pay a pretty high premium. Insurance companies see younger drivers as being reckless drivers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers ages 15-20 had the highest representation in speed related fatal crashes compared to other age groups.

You will notice that as you enter your 20s, you will be paying less than what you did as a teen driver. You have more driving experience under your belt, but your premiums can still be pretty pricey.

Its not just an age thing. If youre older and getting your first car insurance policy, youll be quoted a fairly high rate too. This is because insurance companies like to use driving history as an indicator of how much of a risk youll be.

The more driving experience you have, the lower your premium will be.

Driving experience and age arent the only things that they take into consideration. Things like location, type of car, gender matter as well.

Figure Out How Much Auto Coverage You Need

First Time Car Insurance For New Drivers How to Get the Best Auto Insurance Rate

Figuring out how much coverage you need is one of the most important parts of buying auto insurance.

Generally, it’s a good idea for drivers to get as much liability coverage as they can afford. Adding comprehensive and collision coverage is a good idea, but the amount of insurance you should get depends on your car’s value, too. A typical full-coverage policy includes:

Most insurers offer additional coverage options, like roadside assistance or new car replacement coverage that you can add to your policy .

Each state has minimum car insurance coverage requirements. Your states minimums are a starting point for determining coverage, but theyre too low to sufficiently cover you in the event of a major accident.

Genius tip

We recommend drivers have at least $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $100,000 in property damage liability coverage in order to be fully protected. Comprehensive and collision coverage are optional, but they can be valuable protection for your car.

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What Happens If I Need Help

State Farm offers a number of options to connect with your agent and a customer service representative. One of the easiest options is to download the free State Farm mobile app. You can use it to access a copy of your insurance policy, report a claim, pay your bill and contact your agent. Search for “State Farm mobile app” either through iTunes or Google Play.

Get The Right Amount Of Coverage

If you buy more car insurance coverage than you need, you’ll be paying extra for protection you’ll never use. That means one way to save money on car insurance is to only buy as much as is necessary for your situation. However, car insurance has many different types of coverage below, we’ve provided a brief cheat sheet to guide you on how much of each type of insurance to buy.

Type of coverage

As a first-time driver, you want to get car insurance that protects your net worth. You can certainly get more coverage for extra protection, but this will raise your insurance costs. To determine your net worth, add up your assets and subtract your debts. If your net worth is less than the minimum requirements for your particular state, and you’re looking for the cheapest policy possible, you should consider purchasing minimum liability coverage.

While new drivers can compare car insurance online, an insurer will typically suggest certain levels of coverage.

It’s important to understand the different types of coverage, requirements and how much car insurance you really need. Otherwise, you’re paying out of pocket for unnecessary expenses.

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Ways To Lower Car Insurance Costs

Estimated annual car insurance premiums range from $926 to $2,551, according market data and research portal Statista. Although you might not live in a state with cheap insurance premiums, you can check with your insurance agent to see if the company offers special discounts, such as a break for being in the military or for being a good driver.

A few other ways you can lower your car insurance costs include:

  • Clean up your driving record. One way to improve your driving record is to take a defensive driving course. Additionally, depending on your state, you can take the course to get an insurance premium deduction. Once you improve your driving record, you can keep your insurance costs low by driving safely and avoiding car accident claims.

  • Qualify for a discount. You might qualify for a discount if youre getting insurance coverage for a newer vehicle or being added to a policy with multiple vehicles. Other reasons you might qualify include being a good student, being claim-free for a certain number of years or belonging to an auto club like AAA.

  • Earn a loyalty discount. Some companies, such as USAA, offer a discount for being a loyal customer. Even though youre first-time car insurance buyer, consider choosing a company you can stay with so you can lower your car insurance costs over time.

  • Cynthia Measom contributed to the reporting for this article.

    Buy Online Over The Phone Or In Person

    Buying Auto Insurance For The First Time? Some Tips

    There are three ways to get car insurance: online, over the phone or in person. All come with advantages and disadvantages.

    Buying auto insurance online is a good option if you dont want to deal with an agent, you want quotes fast or you want to get quotes on your own time, for instance. That said, if you buy insurance online, you wont be able to ask questions about your unique situation and get the advice of an expert.

    Getting car insurance over the phone, on the other hand, is great for people who want to talk with an agent, but dont want to go through the hassle of going into an agency office.

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    Who Needs New Driver Insurance

    Although there isnt a special kind of insurance called “new driver insurance,” auto insurers generally categorize the following types of people as new drivers:

    • Teen drivers who just received a drivers license.

    • Older drivers who have never driven.

    • Immigrants and foreign nationals.

    • Drivers of any age with a gap in driving or insurance coverage.

    Insurance rates for new or first-time drivers are usually higher than rates for more experienced drivers. Because new drivers are seen as a bigger risk to insure, car insurance companies charge them higher rates.

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    How To Buy Car Insurance For The First Time

    There are many things that you need to know for first-time car insurance buyers. Your rates depend on many factors, including your age, where you live, your driving experience, and even your marital status.

    You have to choose between getting full coverage including comprehensive and collision coverage — or just carrying liability coverage. Comprehensive and collision coverage is a good idea unless you have a vehicle that isnt worth much and isnt worth repairing if its damaged.

    You also need coverage beyond liability insurance if you have a car loan.

    If you’ve got a loan on your vehicle, your lender is going to require you to have those kinds of coverages, Passmore says.

    Also, you have to find a company that suits your needs. Whether you’re looking for minimal coverage, want collision and comprehensive protection or would like roadside assistance, there are companies with insurance policies tailored to meet your requirements. Once you’ve narrowed all these options based on what they offer and their prices, its easier to make an informed decision about which one provides the best value for you.

    Here’s what to consider when buying your first insurance policy whether it’s a new car or an old vehicle:

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