Car Insurance Costs: Smoothening The Uphill Struggle
One of the most annoying things in a life of driving is the insurance cost. It is expensive when you start out because you are a liability on the road, and costs can mount up from there. If you’re lucky your insurance can decrease over the years. But if you get caught in an accident that wasn’t your fault, or you pick up a very nasty dangerous driving habit (which we’ve all done at some point) or running late for work that one time got you in a big pile of trouble, the costs are very difficult to get back down, and we feel powerless to do anything about it. But here are some things you can do to fight back and to get your costs down!
Argue Your Ticket!
If you fight the ticket you got, it may feel like a bit of an uphill battle. But there can be factors that would make a judge or council a bit more sympathetic if you were in a circumstance that caused you to park somewhere prohibited and got a traffic ticket. Or if you were speeding and it was because you needed to get to the hospital, or if your speedometer wasn’t calibrated properly and so it showed the wrong speed. There is no harm in trying to fight the cause if it means a few less points on your license and a cheaper insurance premium over the year.
Act On The Matter Quick!
You may get a ticket for a minor offense like a broken tail light or anything considered minor, like a parking violation. If you contest your ticket as soon as possible, it may mean that it won’t make it onto your license at all, and so the insurance companies won’t see it, and you’ve saved yourself some money!
Get On Course!
Going on a driver safety course is a good way to get rid of points on your license. It may be boring and a waste of time, but if it saves you insurance costs then you can suck it up! These will only help with minor offenses, but if you have a major offense like a DUI, it may be a bit more difficult. You are able to request an expungement from your record after three years in certain states if you didn’t have your license suspended, which will be handy when insurance companies look over your last four or five years of driving history.
Do Your Research!
Look at what insurance companies will benefit you the most. If you’ve been able to pay your parking tickets on time, it is unlikely your premium will be affected, and some companies overlook first time violations for speeding, but others may charge an additional 30%. So, depending on your own driving history, you may have to look for a lenient company. Having one DUI on your record could add thousands of dollars onto your premium over a period of three to five years. There are ways around these issues, but being savvy over your costs isn’t a replacement for safe driving.