affordable car insurance

Who among us does not want to obtain a discount on our auto insurance, getting the best possible coverage for the lowest possible premium. It is not an impossible task, provided you arm yourself with the right information.

Discounts on your auto insurance premiums depend on the state you live in, the type of car you drive and the type of policy you carry. Before you go any further, verify through your state insurance department that the discount auto insurance company of your choice is registered to do business in your state. No discount auto insurance policy will do you any good if your company is not authorized to operate in your place of residence.

With an existing homeowners insurance policy you could secure a discount on your auto insurance by bundling the policies together. Perhaps you have a life insurance policy with the same company, or more than one car. A lot of insurance companies discount auto insurance on multiple car coverage or a combination of auto and life insurance. It could be worth the time it takes to look into this option.

You will earn a discount on your auto insurance if you have maintained a safe driving record without accidents or moving violations within a certain number of years before applying for your policy. Defensive driving classes also carry weight with insurers; some states grant you a discount on your auto insurance if you are over the age of 55 and have recently taken a defensive driving course. Discounts also apply if your car is equipped with certain safety devices. These devices include airbags and factory installed motorized seat belts, anti lock brakes and anti theft devices.

Demographics also plays a part in discount auto insurance. Seniors aged 65 or older may be eligible for a discount in their personal injury protection premium. Retired drivers aged 55 or older may qualify for discount auto insurance so long as they are not employed full time. The good student discount is another great source of savings. You could qualify if you are or have an unmarried student driver under the age of 25 who also carries a good grade point average. Parents with a child under the age of 21 who is attending a school at least 100 miles from home can also obtain discount auto insurance.

One last point: be very aware of your credit record. Insurance companies almost always use your score as a factor when deciding whether to issue you a policy.

Do you need to save money on your auto insurance? Discount auto insurance can save you hundreds of dollars a year. Here are some discounts you can get without sacrificing coverage:

• Discounts for being a safe driver. If you have had no accidents or moving violations in the last few years, you may be eligible for a safe driver discount. You may also get a discount for taking a defensive driving or accident prevention class. If another driver on your policy does not qualify for a safe driver discount, but you do, you may want to find out how much the savings would be and consider putting the other driver on another policy.

• Discounts for safety features. Many insurance agencies offer discounts for cars with safety features like airbags, automatic seatbelts, anti lock brakes, and anti theft devices.

• Infrequent driving discounts. If you drive under a certain number of miles per year (say, 5,000), you may be eligible for a discount because you do not expose yourself to as many chances for accidents. You may also pay a higher premium for driving to work, so consider taking public transportation if the difference in the premiums is high enough.

• Discounts for taking out multiple policies with the same lender. If you have another type of insurance, like homeowner’s insurance, getting your auto insurance at the same agency could get you a considerable discount. Insuring multiple cars with the same lender can also drop your rates.

• Club discounts. Many clubs and other membership organizations arrange for a discount, often about 3%, with particular agents or agencies. Look through the membership information of all the organizations you belong to to discover whether they have arranged a discount. If they do not, consider joining AAA. AAA has arranged a 3% discount at a wide array of agencies that offer discount auto insurance, and on top of all the regular benefits AAA gives its members, the annual fee is likely to be less than the amount you save on insurance because of the AAA discount.

• Discounts for loyalty. If you stay with the same insurance agency for several years, you may be eligible for a long term policyholder discount.

Buying discount auto insurance doesn’t have to mean sacrificing much needed coverage for the sake of your wallet. You can knock well over 30% off your auto insurance premiums just by driving safely, owning a safe car, and bundling your insurance policies, and you can drive your premiums even lower by belonging to the right clubs and staying with your lender for a few years. As you get quotes for discount auto insurance, make certain the agent signs you up for all the discounts you are eligible for. You may be surprised to see how much money you can save with the right discounts.

Car makers in the United States are in dire straights. Both Chrysler and General Motors have been in Washington DC to request government loans to help them get back on their feet. Without a loan, they risk going bankrupt and laying off thousands of workers. The long term shock waves could affect car dealership, car accessory manufacturers and auto shops. Despite strong indications over the years that the American auto makers should shift focus to more energy efficient and smaller cars, their slow response to change left them behind foreign competitors. Recent economic developments hit the already struggling GM hard. In addition, consumers are now more reluctant to jump into auto loans, financing and new car purchases.

GM is undertaking various incentives to entice consumers into buying from them. The company is offering big cash rebates for customers and has expanded its employee discounts. One program even allows dealers and current and retired employees to offer employee discounts to friends and family. Some credit unions have joined forces with GM to provide auto loans at lower rates. The partnership is called “Invest in America.” It will offer lower interest rates on auto loans and significant discounts on the retail prices of GM cars. It is estimated that the venture will offer $10 billion in auto loans to consumers. The deals and auto loans will begin in the Midwest, and are anticipated to expand to the rest of the country. Additional auto loans and great deals may abound in 2009, as speculation circulates that the other two big auto makers are discussing a similar deals with credit unions.

Time will tell if offering consumers discounts and great rates on auto loans will be enough to give American car companies the boost in sales they need. The major U.S. car manufacturers are hoping that a combination of boost in sales, modifications to their business strategies and a loan from the government will be enough to help them out of troubled waters. The once almighty big three auto manufacturers are now analyzing the business models of foreign car companies to chart a course ahead. The crises these companies are confronting will cause them to change or disappear. Hopefully it is not the latter, as the affects would be devastating to so many associated businesses and workers.