The nature of my job makes it impossible for me to spend too much time with a broker or calling up car insurance agents. But I still want to find a good car insurance provider. Am I reaching for the stars here?

Stefan

Mobile, AL

Like the saying goes “time is gold” and in times like these our time is just as important as our money. The good news is that the Internet can definitely help you find the best car insurance company quickly and easily. Here’s how:

1. Rating Agencies – You’ve probably of names like Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s, J.D. Power, and A.M. Best. These are independent rating entities that, in a nutshell, tell you which are the best-overall companies (and which ones belong to the rest). They usually publish this kind of information for free online. This is one good way to find the best online car insurance company.

2. Insurance Comparison Portals – These are websites that allow you to run a free insurance quote check. You get access to the latest rates in the market, and are able to compare more insurers quickly and effectively. This is an excellent way to maximize your chances of finding the companies that have the most-competitive deals.

3. Better Business Bureau (BBB) – Want to find out about the business track records of the car insurers you’re interested in? The BBB can give you valuable insights as a consumer regarding this. Their website contains a wealth of information about the good (and not so good) businesses out there.

4. State Department of Insurance – You want to check out your state’s Department of Insurance website (Yes, you’re state has one, just Google it). This will help you not only find out which companies are available in your area, but will also point out any state minimum requirements that you should know before purchasing a car insurance policy.

My dad bought me a car yesterday. I would like to know the auto insurance rules in Alabama before I purchase a policy.

Beth

Mobile, AL

Owning a car is equated to a financial obligation because you are required to carry proof of financial responsibility. This rule can be burdensome because every month, a large chunk of your money will be taken away by the auto insurance company. Auto insurance however is not really an expense but a good deal of investment for you.

The minimum required auto insurance in Alabama are:

• Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000/$50,000
• Property Damage Liability: $25,000

It is highly recommended that the insured purchase auto insurance in Alabama, or in any other states, more than the minimum.

Auto insurance in Alabama suggests additional coverage other than liability insurance. Collision and comprehensive coverage, for example, pays the cost of the damage in your own vehicle. If the cause of the damage was due to an animal that you hit when it immediately crossed the road, collision and comprehensive will still cover the cost of vehicle repair. This is because the incident is beyond the control of the driver.

Uninsured/underinsured policy are additional coverage but these are not required by the states.

I am renewing my car insurance here in Alabama and I plan to get rid of some things to be able to save some money. Since I have health insurance, what kind of coverage can I take off from my current car insurance policy?

Ladarius

Decatur, AL

Times are so rough these days so I can’t blame you if you’d want to have as much savings on anything. If you are renewing your car insurance policy in Alabama, make sure that you speak with an insurance agent to be able to help you decide as to which coverage you could drop on your current policy. Tell the agent that you have health insurance coverage and make sure that you understand what’s covered in it with regards to medical payments.

Go over your car insurance policy as well and check if you have “Medical Payments” coverage included in it. If so, you can get rid of this since you have health insurance already. Medical Payments are intended for drivers who did not purchase health insurance policy. This would give coverage for motorists for their medical costs and expenditures that were caused by vehicular accidents. Once you talk to your insurance agent, inform him/her that you may eliminate this type of insurance benefit on your car insurance policy because you have health insurance. The entire medical coverage in your car insurance policy is generally supported by your health insurance.

My wife and I are having extraordinary high expenses for the past few months here in Montgomery, Alabama. We see that our car insurance is a potential expenditure that we can cut off the cost. How can we lower the amount of our car insurance premium payment?

Daniel

Montgomery, AL

Given your case, you don’t have to worry because there are a lot ways wherein you can decrease the cost of your car insurance policy there in Montgomery, Alabama. You can claim discounts from your insurance providers in many occasions. But you need to be acquainted to the guidelines of these insurance companies because there could be discrepancies in the instances when they can give discounts. But typically, discount opportunities are offered to car insurance clients who are with return or long period of subscription to an insurance company. For instance, a five-year subscription of a policyholder can claim a particular discount rate from his/her insurer; also repeat clients like those who only insure their car at particular season in the year.

Other discounts are usually given when you have multiple cars or drivers you include to your car insurance policy. Your car’s features that may reduce instances of theft, vandalism, serious property damages and bodily injuries such as anti-lock brakes, air bags and alarm devices can also lower your car insurance premium costs. If your sons and daughters are already able to get their own student driver’s license and if they have good grade point average in school, you can also include them in your policy to be granted of discounts.

I’m doing everything I could to be able to save money on a lot of things including my automobile insurance. Aside from shopping around and increasing my deductible, what else can I do to get cheaper premiums here in Huntsville, Alabama?

Benson

Huntsville, AL

Aside from increasing your deductible and shopping around, there are some other things that you could do to be able to get cheaper premiums for your automobile insurance in Huntsville, Alabama. You need to first make sure that you have a very good score on your credit report because this is one significant factor for a lot of auto insurance providers. A lot of studies show that there is a relationship between your credit history and the risk you have to insurance providers. Because of that, you need to pay your bills when it’s due and preserve your great credit rating for you to enjoy cheaper premiums.

The next step to take is to drive less as this could give you low-mileage discount. You may ask first if your auto insurance provider offers this kind of discount and if they do, try to reduce your driving as much as possible. Also, don’t use your vehicle for any business purposes. Any job-related driving normally means having higher rates so it will be better not to use your vehicle for business purposes. Lastly, you could be entitled for a discount on your auto insurance if you uphold to having a clean driving record for a particular time (normally for three years).

Our auto insurance provider here in Alabama raised their rates (again!) and it’s really throwing us off our annual budget. Do you have any suggestions on how to save on our car insurance bills?

Junnie

Mobile, AL

There are a lot of people out there that knows exactly how you’re feeling. With the economic crunch everyone’s feeling caused by the recent financial crisis and bills to pay left and right, the last thing we need is to have our car insurance company raise their premiums (again). Fortunately there are still a few things that an honest-paying, hard-working car owner can do to manage, save money and even lower their car insurance expenses. Listed below are a few tips on how you can enjoy car insurance without having to subside on noodles.

Balance Your Insurance Policy
Your car insurance is actually composed of several kinds of insurance coverage. Some are non-negotiable and must be kept at all times, such as liability insurance, while other’s like comprehensive insurance coverage can be reduced or removed all together depending on your circumstances or the type of vehicle you own. Do you really think you’ll need coverage for tornados or hail storms especially if you’re driving an older vehicle? Be realistic with what you need. You can also consider increasing your deductible to lower down your regular premiums.

Drive Safely
Accumulating traffic violations will only cause your rates to skyrocket and your budget to die sooner. Be a safe, law abiding citizen if only while on the road there in Alabama. You can even take defensive driving lessons to qualify for discounts on your insurance as well.

I just graduated from college and I have a lot of debts that I need to start paying once I get my first real job. My father has just gotten a new car for me which of course I need to have insured. In case I drive my car and I don’t have proof of insurance, what are the penalties that I will have here in Tuscaloosa, Alabama for driving without insurance?

Najee

Tuscaloosa, AL

You may have struggled so much to get out of and graduate from college that you have a lot of debts to fork out. This could drive you to cut down on other essential payments, like your car insurance there in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. But let me just tell you that your car insurance is one thing that you couldn’t drive without because this is illegal in any of the states. A lot of youngsters opt to drive without car insurance because they assume that they could not afford to have it. Keep in mind that more or less 15% of all vehicular accidents are brought about by motorists who are 20 to 24 years old.

The penalty for driving without car insurance differs from each state, according to the Insurance Information Institute. In the state of Alabama, if you opt not to have car insurance, you have to prove that you either have a motor vehicle liability bond or deposit of cash in the amount of $50,000. So if you don’t have any of those, you need to have with you a proof of insurance while driving. If the Alabama Department of Revenue finds out that your car is not insured, your vehicle registration tag would be suspended until you already have a proof of insurance and you have to pay reinstatement fee of $100.

I feel like I’m paying too much on my car insurance here in Birmingham, Alabama. I’d like to get some tips on how to look for better car insurance deals and discounts please. Thanks!

Ruth

Birmingham, AL

Hi Ruth, if you feel that you’ve been spending too much on car insurance premiums then you’re not alone. Everyday thousands of people go Online and search and compare different insurance websites and portals for the best car insurance rates available. The Internet is one of the best tools you can use in your quest for the cheapest or best insurance deals for your car in Birmingham, Alabama. You get information within minutes and are up-to-date, and you may even get offers and promos not available anywhere else.

Here’s some additional tips to get discounts on insurance and save even more:

1.Take state accredited safe driving or defensive driving classes. Not only will you learn how to keep yourself and your loved one’s safe on the road, you also qualify for additional discounts off your insurance rates.

2.Get your kids to maintain good grades. If you have kids or teenagers that are performing well at school you may also qualify for good student discounts on your premiums.

3.Get all your insurance needs with one provider. Most insurance providers will give incentives if you choose to get all of your insurance policies (House insurance, Health insurance etc.,) with them.

4.Install additional safety measures. Making your car as safe as possible by installing more air bags or automatic seat belts and anti-lock brakes can give you significant discounts and savings off your insurance bills.

Hi, we live here in Tanner-Williams, Alabama and I just want to know if the car insurance rates between rural communities and the cities are the same. Also, could you give some suggestions on how can we be able to save some money on our auto insurance?

Nikko

Tanner-Williams, AL

The costs of car insurance in the rural communities and the cities are not the same. The rural communities would have lower car insurance rates than the cities. The reason behind it is that the cities have more populated, thus have more vehicles causing traffic congestion. Also, the cities have higher rates for theft concerning automobiles.

Regarding your car insurance in Tanner-Williams, Alabama, I’m sure there a lot of ways for you to be able save some money. You may want to ask about some discounts such as insuring more than one vehicle, having no accidents for a certain period of time, having safety features on your car, completion of driver-training courses, being a long-time or loyal customer, etc. You may also opt to purchase your car and home insurance policies from the same insurance company because you may be eligible for a multiline discount. Lastly, maintain a good credit would also help you a lot in saving for your car insurance. The use of credit ratings in determining the car insurance rates differ by state and insurance provider, but statistics show that motorists with great credit report tend to have less accident.

What should I look for in an insurance company when trying to purchase a policy for my auto insurance here Hoover, Alabama?

Matt

Hoover, AL

To be able to have the best policy for your auto insurance in Hoover, Alabama, you need to make sure that you look around for several quotes from different auto insurance companies. But along with shopping around, you need to be careful about some things. First of all, the auto insurance company should be reputable and have already established a good name in the industry. You can do a little research about how the insurance company handles their claims. There are several ways to handle a claim and some people often fail to educate themselves about how the insurance company process their claims until they need to file it.

An insurance agent could be able to help you find answers on queries you might have about a certain auto insurance company. You need to listen to the agent that you are speaking with. Find out if the insurance agent sounds trustworthy or if he/she seems like trying to hide something. Also, be sure that the auto insurance company is financially stable and could actually pay should you have to file a claim.