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Car Insurance Tips
Tips on reducing your car insurance premium.
There is a very good chance that you are paying too much for your car insurance so why not review your policy for potential savings. Get a quote online now and let Chill.ie search the market to find the best policy to suit your needs.
Consider having more than one policy with the same insurer - you may get offered a discount if your house insurance is also with them.
Second family car - If your spouse or partner also has a car, there
may be a discount. It is referred to as second car on the motor quotation. Try putting
your partner's car details here to see if it reduces the premium.
Named driver experience if you don't have a 5 year no claims bonus
The maximum no claims bonus is 5 years. If you don't have a policy in your own name for this length of time, previous claims free driving as a named driver on another policy can give you the additional discounts needed. Named driving on a company car, spouse's car or a parent's car all qualify.
Penalty Points
Discounts are available to Irish licence holders who have two or less penalty points. Your driving licence number is required to avail of this discount.
Named Drivers
Try quoting with your spouse/partner as well as yourself on your car. Some insurers may quote a lower premium than with only you driving.
Young female drivers should request quotes with a parent driving also as sometimes
the premium may be lower than with yourself only.
Size of car
The engine size of a car and whether it is a petrol or diesel models effects the premium.
Security
If your car has an alarm or an immobiliser, your premium may be reduced.
Excess
Change the excess you are prepared to pay on any claim to reduce the premium.
Mileage
Check your mileage to make sure you are not paying extra for miles you are not covering in your car.
Optional Extras
Only select to have a protected no claims bonus if you really need it, as it may increase your premium.
Parking Location
Keep your car parked in a locked garage overnight if you can - this can help reduce the premium.
You can save on car insurance in four ways:
- Make sure to avail of all discounts you qualify for.
- Keep your driver's record clean and up-to-date.
- Adjust your coverage to assume more risk.
- Make sure to use Chill.ie for the best comparative rates available.
What discounts can I qualify for?
These fall into a number of categories:
- Low-risk occupations
- Professional organizations
- Combined coverage
- Discounts for safety features
- More risk assumed by driver
- Discounts for senior citizens
Low-Risk Occupations
Insurance is a numbers game. Adjustors collect information about what types of people get into accidents. Over the years they see a trend. You never know unless you ask - and unless you shop around. Not all insurance companies are the same.
Combined and Renewal Discounts
A big source of savings is to insure your cars with the same company that insures
your house. Make sure you ask if combined coverage is available. This will lower
your payments on your car insurance and make your homeowner's policy cheaper too.
It's also important to make sure you are getting a "renewal" discount
that many car insurance companies offer. This is a discount given to people who
have been with the same insurance company for an extended period of time.
Discounts for Car Safety Features
Auto safety features will also lower your payments. Heading the list of money saving safety features is antilock brakes.
Assume More Risk
Two powerful ways to bring your coverage down is to assume a higher risk. This is
done in two ways. The most dramatic reduction can be realized by dropping your collision
insurance on an older car. If the car is worth less than $2,000, you'll probably
spend more insuring it than it is worth. The whole idea of driving an older car
is to save money, so why not get what is coming to you?
Higher Deductible
Another way to redesign your policy - and save money in the process - is to ask for a higher deductible. The deductible is the amount of money you have to pay before your insurance company begins paying the rest. In other words, you pay for the little dings and bumps and let your insurance company pay for the heavy hits.
Insurance tips for your car:
- The less powerful the engine on your car, the lower your insurance premium will be.
- If your car is an import the premium is likely to be higher.
- Often (but not always) modifications made to cars, such as supercharging the engine, will force your insurance premium up.
- The more secure your car is the lower your premium will be.
- Value your car right - over/undervaluing your car can affect your premium.
Insurance tips for you:
- Be a careful driver - it may seem obvious but the less risks you take, and the fewer times you get a speeding ticket, then the lower your premium will be.
- Add a woman driver to your policy - if you're a man, adding a female partner to your car insurance policy may reduce your premium.
- Get your job right - if you have two jobs, make sure it's the one you spend the most time at that's the main one. Your occupation can greatly affect your premium.
- Is there a test you can do to help reduce this?
Tips to consider when applying for a policy:
- Make sure to give accurate mileage details - an overestimate will give a higher premium.
- Have fewer named drivers - if you don't add drivers to your policy then your premium will be lower.
- Volunteer some excess - voluntary excess will lead to a discount on your insurance premium as you are agreeing to pay a certain amount in the event you make a claim.
- No claims bonus amount- get it right, and make sure you have proof of it.
- Be honest - this may not save you money but will stop you being blacklisted by car insurance companies in the future.
In the event of a motoring accident
Note the registration of the vehicles involved. If there is damage to any other vehicles or property exchange names and addresses with any person having reasonable grounds for asking and ask the other party for the insurance details. Do not admit liability for the accident.
Elstwell Ltd trading as Chill is regulated by the Financial Regulator.
