West Virginians Wonder About Car Insurance Premium Reductions

Automobile insurance is mandatory in every state; however, every state does implement their own set of rules and regulations regarding insurance. In West Virginia, all auto owners are required to secure liability insurance. The minimum requirements are $10,000 per accident to cover property damage, $20,000 per person to cover bodily injury or death, and $40,000 total to cover bodily injury or death or more than one person. There is also optional coverage that can be added to the policy. Such options include collision, which covers damage to your vehicle due to a collision with another vehicle or object; comprehensive, which covers damage to your vehicle due to fire, theft, hail, or animal collision; and under/uninsured motorist insurance, which covers damages and injuries if you are involved in an accident with a motorist who carries inadequate insurance.

A car insurance premium can be costly, and this is a big worry among West Virginians, especially in this difficult economy. Luckily, there are several steps that can be taken to ensure car insurance premium reduction.

The best way to find the lowest car insurance premium is to shop around. All insurance companies offer different rates and discounts. Ask about which discounts are offered. Some discounts include good driver, which means that you have not had an accident or ticket in a specified amount of time; multi-vehicle, which means that you have more than one car insured at the same place; multi-product, which means that you have all lines of insurance (home, auto, life, health) at one company, and senior discounts, which are offered if a person is over a certain age.

Consider your deductibles when pricing out insurance as well. You can often get a car insurance premium reduction if you increase your deductible. This means that should you need to make a claim, you would pay a larger portion of the costs, taking the brunt of the risk off of the insurance company.

Ensure that you have a good credit score. Review your credit report on a regular basis to make sure that it is accurate. Insurance companies believe that if a person has a low credit score, they pose a higher risk for filing claims.

Take your vehicle into account. If your vehicle is equipped with certain safety features, such as anti-lock brakes, dual-side airbags, and anti-theft devices, insurance companies offer discounts. As well, some vehicles cost more to be insured because they may be more expensive to repair, they may be vandalized or stolen more or they may be in more accidents than other makes and models.

Car insurance doesn’t have to be costly. By following the above suggestions, West Virginians can certainly save money on their policy.

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