Driving on the highway can be deceptive in that drivers feel uncompromisingly safe and secure in their cars. But like all moving objects, a car cannot defy the laws of momentum if it strikes another vehicle or a stationary object.
Autos are essentially made out of plastic and steel, both very pliable materials. A car will suffer damage and possibly harm its occupants if the auto accident is severe enough. That’s exactly why it is so important to buy a safe car.
Another important reason to buy a safe car is that auto insurance companies offer a lower premium and additional discounts for safety measures including airbags and daytime running lights.
Auto Insurance: Car Crashworthiness
Car buyers who would like to save money on their auto insurance should point their web browser to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The IIHS provides information on vehicle ratings and the safest cars to buy. Auto insurance considers these safe cars less of a risk, which may translate into lower premiums.
Auto Insurance: Car Design
Though sport utility vehicles (SUVs) have become increasingly popular, smaller SUVs are more prone to rollovers due to their higher profiles. Smaller sports cars are also generally higher to insure because of a higher risk of car damage and personal injury.
Auto Insurance: Passive Restraint Systems
Passive restraint systems help to keep car occupants in their seats during an auto accident. They also help protect occupants against injury due to hitting their head on the steering wheel or windshield; whiplash; and other injuries.
Passive restraint systems include front and side airbags, seatbelts, and head restraints. Nearly all auto insurance companies offer drivers discounts for airbags.
Auto Insurance: Antilock Brakes
Antilock brakes prevent a car’s braking system from locking when the driver suddenly steps on the brake pedal with force. This safety feature is meant to prevent the car from going out of control in an auto accident.
Drivers who first experience antilock braking systems are typically startled by the loud “hammering” noise and the shaking of the car. However, this is simply the antilock braking system automatically pumping the brakes every few seconds to keep the car stable in an auto accident.
In and of themselves, antilock brakes do not prevent auto accidents. However, they do prevent the car from going out of control, skidding off the highway, or rolling over. Thus, many auto insurance companies provide a discount for new cars with antilock brakes.
Auto Insurance: Daytime Running Lights
Just as its name implies, the daytime running lights safety feature is meant to increase car visibility on the road by automatically shining the car’s headlights when driving during the day. Many auto insurance companies offer a discount for daytime running lights.
Auto Insurance: The Bottom Line on Buying a Safe Car
When looking to buy a new car, examining its safety features is an important factor in the decision-making process. Drivers who buy a new car with vehicle crashworthiness, safe design, restraint systems, antilock brakes, and daytime running lights may enjoy lower auto insurance premiums.
How to Build a Car Insurance Policy
There are several coverage options to consider, similar to Canadian games, when choosing your ideal car insurance policy. In most places, liability coverage is the only mandatory insurance, as it covers others when you cause damage or injury. But optional coverages, such as collision and comprehensive insurance should be considered, and there are certain techniques that can help you save money on your monthly premiums.
How to Build a Car Insurance Policy: the Basics
The first thing you should do when looking into auto insurance is shop around for free online quotes. These can be found at the websites of all of the major insurers, and likely, quoted premiums will vary from agency to agency. Once you have found some favorable quotes, consider your deductible. Raising the deductible value (the amount that you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in upon a claim) is one sure way to lower monthly premiums, however, doing so will not save you money if you are involved in accidents, and end up having to issue money for your deductible.
Search basic quotes with different deductible values at different agencies to get a feel for how the deductible value can affect your monthly premium rate, and how rates vary between agencies. Make a note of which auto insurance agencies offered you the cheapest car insurance quotes. Then, consider extra coverage options.
Optional Coverage for your Auto Insurance Policy: Collision Insurance
Collision auto insurance should be considered if your car is of high value, or if you are particularly fond of it. This coverage protects your vehicle when you cause damages to it, but if you have a low valued car, then paying each month to cover it with this optional insurance is probably not worth the cost, as the payout upon a claim is generally up to the value of your car, after you have paid the deductible. Consider whether or not collision coverage should be part of the car insurance policy that you are building.
Optional Coverage: Comprehensive Auto Insurance
Comprehensive insurance pays for repairs to your car sustained by unexpected events, such as theft, vandalism, floods, hail, and so called “Acts of God,” such as falling trees. Contact the agencies that offered you the cheapest car insurance quotes online to find out how much this type of coverage will cost, as it varies from area to area. In places where inclement weather is commonplace, or where the crime rate is high, comprehensive insurance is usually a costlier addition to your monthly premium rate, as damages by whether and theft are more likely in such areas.
Search for Insurance Agency Incentives and Benefits
Get an idea of how much your ideal policy, utilizing your preferred types of coverage, costs from different insurers. Then consider which insurers offer driver rewards and benefits, such as safe driver discounts and accident forgiveness. If you think you might be eligible for these incentives upon setting up a policy, strongly consider the agencies that offer them. If the agencies that offered benefits for which you might qualify are the same ones that provided you with cheap auto insurance quotes online according to your specifics, then you might be able to set up a great policy.
Consider all of the above options and strategies when building your ideal insurance policy. Remember to get quotes for policies with varying coverage options to see how to best save money and cover your car.