Simple Ways To Lower Auto Insurance Rates In Georgia
Reader question:
I get so mixed up with my auto insurance. I have so many bills to pay each month and I just don’t have time to figure out how to lower my premium. What can I do?
Jack in Atlanta Georgia
Thank you for asking, Jack.
You know, there is actually a way that you can kill two bird with one stone, and lower the stress of multiple bills while also lowering your auto insurance premium. This is pretty simple to do, and might take a few minutes of your time, but it will be extremely valuable in your future.
The key to a cheap, stress less, Atlanta Georgia auto insurance rate is to
- Combine, combine, combine!
The first thing you need to do, Jack, if look at each of the insurance companies that you are with, not just your auto insurance company. What kind of insurance do they offer? Many companies will offer life, home owner’s, and auto insurance, while some will only offer one kind of insurance. If you have the latter type holding your policies, then you need to ditch them and find a company that offers more.
Once you have decided on a good auto insurance company that also offers other types of insurance, you should buy all of your insurance policies through them. Not only will you essentially consolidate your insurance bills, making them easier to keep track of, but you will also lower your premium through the multiple policy discount that most companies offer.
- Join, join, join!
You don’t have to go it alone on your insurance premium if you have another choice. If you have a fiancée, why not combine your policies into one insurance policy? Same with a wife, or a roommate, or even a good friend. By adding someone else to your policy, you can save a lot of money on your auto insurance premium, especially if that person is lower risk than you are.
Raise your deductible amount to $1,000. If you are a safe driver and have not had any accidents or claims in the last 5 years raising your deductible could be a super easy way to lower your annual premium. Remember, you only pay the deductible amount when you file a claim with your insurance company and they pay that claim.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
Atlanta Auto Insurance – What You Should Ask Your Agent
When you call an Atlanta auto insurance agent, you need to hand over some information to help you get your insurance policy initiated–much the opposite of Vin Diesel with this unwitting car insurance company agent. The Youtube video is funny, but the disconnect of understanding isn’t too far from what happens between a lot of first time Atlanta auto insurance buyers and their agents. If you don’t want to sound ignorant, go into the conversation prepared.
The first tier of information beyond basics such as your name and age are:
- Mileage–this concerns how many miles you drive every year with some companies, while other insurance companies consider the daily mileage driven on your car.
- Make & Model–not only will the make and model of your vehicle impact your liability rating, but if you have a car that is considered unsafe or in danger of car theft, then you should expect a high insurance rate.
- Coverage–that you will need the minimum insurance coverage for liability is a certainty, but before you call think about what kind of coverage you will require beyond that.
- Location–this is a big factor in your insurance rating, and is why most forms for car insurance quotes online require your zip code.
- Drivers–you will need to give the names and driver’s license numbers of all of those who will be insured on your new automobile insurance policy.
The second tier of information that you should be asked will shape your rating, tailoring it to your specific attributes.
- VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)–this number follows your car around throughout its existence, and it allows the automobile insurance company to see what other claims have been made on it, whether it has been totaled before, and so on.
- Features–things such as anti theft devices and safety features will determine your collision and comprehensive insurance ratings. Some companies won’t even sell you comprehensive insurance if you don’t have an acceptable anti theft device.
- Discounts–you might be asked about this and you might not, but if you aren’t you should absolutely bring it up yourself. Automobile insurance discounts can cut your premium by half or more.
If you have a bad memory, you might consider writing these details down so that you don’t find yourself digging around looking for your VIN number and other details while you’re on the phone with your automobile insurance agent. Whatever you do, make sure you understand these details ahead of time to make the process simpler.
Atlanta Georgia SR22 and Assigned Risk Auto Insurance
Reader question:
I have tried everything, and I can’t find any Atlanta auto insurance company to insure me with an SR22 form. I really need to drive to get to work, but I don’t have a license! I can only beg rides off of people for so long. Help!
Graciela
Atlanta Georgia
You’ll have to look a little harder, Graciela.
SR22 insurance is a type of form that you are required to file through your Atlanta insurance company, for those who are new to the game, and it is only required after you have had your license suspended for some reason–such as drunk driving, speeding, or multiple traffic offenses. Having to file an SR22 form immediately pushes you into a higher risk group, which makes insurance companies more reluctant to insure you. Some people with great records and a long history driving and insured with a certain company can weather the blow of an SR22 filing requirement, but for the rest of us being required to get an insurance policy with the SR22 attachment can be a struggle.
However, Atlanta is a big city and there are certainly options, so the fact that you haven’t found something means that you are either too picky, or you aren’t looking in the right places.
- There are companies that will serve you.
Most people think that insurance companies are only interested in people with impeccable driving records, but that is not true. While some companies prefer this sort of driver, there are many of high risk specific companies who are happy to insure even the worst of the worst. Some of the bigger companies that operate nationwide, such as Progressive Insurance, are among these companies. If you can’t get an SR22 policy with a regular insurance company, then you need to start looking for high risk companies.
- Even if there aren’t…
Most of the time you will be able to find a insurance company that will be happy to insure you for the price of a mansion’s down payment, even with SR22 filing. However, in some cases nothing can be found, and in such cases it is necessary to turn to the state to be your guide.
If you can’t find a policy on the open market, then you will have to join the company high risk pool. This is a pool which high risk drivers join, and are then assigned by the state to participating companies. All companies that are licensed to sell insurance are required to participate, so you might find yourself with the very insurance company that denied your policy request in the first place.
The catch about assigned risk insurance, though, is that it is even more expensive than SR22 insurance from a high risk company. This should be a last resort.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
What Is The Minimum Car Insurance Coverage in Georgia?
Reader’s Question:
What is the Georgia law minimum car insurance requirements?
Melanie
Thank you for asking.
It is requires for all motorist in the state of Georgia to carry accident liability insurance for each of the cars they own. This mandatory liability insurance will help cover any damages or medical payments for those injured in the accidents. The minimum amounts that you may be covered in order to satisfy the law are:
$25000 per person for bodily injury
$50000 per accident for bodily injury to two or more people
$25000 per accident for the property damage
It is possible for the state now to verify your insurance status online. It is required that all insurance companies should submit policy information to a state wide database electronically when an individual purchases an insurance. You may also be able to check with the Department of Revenue website your status online and verify if your insurance coverage is properly documented to save you time and expense in the future.
The processing time is 30 days to transmit the data by the insurance companies.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
Can You Stop Paying For Car Insurance In Georgia?
Reader’s question:
I live in Georgia. I would like to know what would happen if I stop paying for my car insurance?
Archie
Good question.
If you stop paying for your insurance policy, your insurance company will cancel your insurance due to non payment and that would definitely cause you trouble. This cancellation will appear in your credit history and would be black mark on your credit report as non-payment. This might result on you having a hard time getting a car insurance in the future.
Most of the insurance companies would not insure an individual that has not previously paid on their policy. If due to non payment your insurance lapsed, your insurance company will inform the Georgia Department of Revenue a notice of termination or cancellation of insurance. A Notice of Lapse Mandatory Liability Insurance Coverage will be mailed to you once the DOR sees that you are uninsured. The notice will request you to pay a $25 lapse fee and would require you to show proof of valid car insurance coverage within 30 days. If you fail to pay the fee and show proof of insurance, your vehicle registration will be suspended or revoked. If you drive with suspended vehicle registration is considered a misdemeanor. You will also be subject to fines and vehicle impoundment if you are caught driving without car insurance coverage.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
Loading ...