How to Get a Good Deal with a Bad Driving Record

Nov 5
09:16

2008

George Jackson

George Jackson

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By following these basics tips, you can lower your premiums and save money on auto insurance.

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There is an unfortunate correlation that exists between driving and enjoyment: the more fun you had in high school and college,How to Get a Good Deal with a Bad Driving Record Articles the worse your driving record will be. Now you’re older, wiser (hopefully), but your driving record is still abysmal. For whatever reason, if you’re saddled with a bad driving record, don’t pay for it forever. Lower your premiums and save money on auto insurance by following these basics tips:

Do Some Leg Work

Try to improve your driving record through little things. Driving the speed limit, showing a little more caution, reading signs—these are small things you can do that drastically reduce your risk of a ticket or an accident. The longer you avoid the police, the easier it will be to negotiate a new auto insurance policy

Watch Your Credit Score

Believe it or not, your credit history has a lot to do with how much you pay for auto insurance. Even those who have perfect driving records can pay extraordinarily high car insurance premiums because of bad credit scores. Pay your bills on time, reduce your credit card debt, and you’ll find you can get a better deal on insurance, even with your bad driving record.

Shop Around

This is always a good idea for auto insurance, but it’s especially apt for drivers who have been labeled high risk. There are even insurance companies who specialize in high risk drivers, so there is enough competition out there for you to find a great deal.

Reduce your Liability Coverage

If it is found that you’re actions were responsible for an auto accident, you can get sued by the injured party for damages. Liability Insurance covers the amount you are protected. If your liability coverage is $100,000, and you are sued for $80,000, your liability coverage protects you. If, however, you were sued for $120,000, you would have to pay $20,000 out of pocket. In most cases, lowering your liability coverage leaves you more open to being sued, but if you are committed to driving more safely, than you can save a great deal of money by getting a lower-coverage policy.

Trim Your Insurance Policy

If you’re really committed to improving your driving record, you should try cutting down on the amount of insurance you have now. Getting s less expensive car, for example, can go a long way to cutting down what you’re paying on insurance. Similarly, trimming away contingencies you don’t need is a good way to reduce the overall cost of your auto insurance. For example, a comprehensive coverage protects you from “act of God” auto accidents, like fires, floods, or hail. This is a useful addition to a policy, but also an extremely expensive one.

Patience

Your past will not always be a liability. In most cases, 3 or 4 years is more than enough time to expunge your record, especially if you have remained ticket free, accident free, and out of debt. As long as you are patient and truthful, you’ll be able to decrease your premium in no time. Being truthful is especially important—if they find out that you lied on your application, your car insurance company will cancel your policy immediately, and you’ll have an even harder time finding a provider.