Unfortunately car accidents can happen to the best of drivers, any
time and anywhere. Not only do you have to deal with medical bills, car
repairs, and the mental trauma of an accident, but many people are also
concerned about what will happen to their car insurance rates.
Fortunately there are some things you can do in order to keep cheap car insurance after a wreck.
First, it is important to understand that there is not a set increase
for premiums after an accident. If and how much your rate will increase
is determined by a Humber of things such as the laws of the state you
live in, the severity of the accident, whether it was your fault, how
much the insurance claim is, if you got a ticket, the type of violation,
and whether the accident was automatically reported to auto insurance
companies. Average insurance increases after an accident are about $300.
The more accidents you've been involved in, the higher your insurance
premium will likely become.
Nowadays many insurance companies offer "accident forgiveness"
policies. If you are enrolled in this type of plan, you might not see a
premium increase if you are involved in a minor accident. Some allow you
one accident, some do a certain amount each year, and some base it on
how many years you've been accident free. You will need to contact your
insurance company to find out if they offer this program and what the
specifics are. These programs will not help you after the fact, but are a
good preventative strategy.
After you've had an accident the best way to get cheap car insurance
is by proving you are a safe driver. You can do this buy taking
driver's education courses and by avoiding any other accidents or
traffic violations. Some insurance companies offer up to 15% off for the
completion of a driver's education class, but again you will need to
contact your insurance company for specifics.
To save the most money make sure you are getting any discounts you
are eligible for and try to make lifestyle changes in order to qualify
for more. Common discounts include those for good credit, safe and
secure vehicles, age, doing well in school, staying under a certain
amount of miles per year, parking in a garage, and living in a rural
area.
Finally, if you cannot get cheap car insurance with your current
provider, shop around. Insurance rates vary across companies - sometimes
by hundreds of dollars. The more car insurance quotes you find the
higher your chances of finding cheap car insurance.
After everything a person goes through in an accident it can be
upsetting to have to worry about car insurance. Over time, if you
maintain a safe driving record, your premiums will start going down
again. Hopefully in the meantime these tips will help you save money.
