The key phrase is in these ads is, “as little as.”
The $19 Auto Insurance Websites
If you’re curious about that $19 deal, just type “$19 car insurance” into a search engine and see what pops up. You’ll get a site or sites offering a comparison of insurance company quotes. Some offer an online comparison, which requires you to enter answers to a number of questions about yourself as well as your vehicle and how you use it. Some sites urge you to call a customer representative. Just for the record, we tried to find that $19-a-month car insurance offer by stacking the deck on one site. The quote requested was for an older woman with a modest vehicle and an exemplary driving record, living in a state with the lowest average insurance costs (North Dakota). None of the results was close to as low as $19. So, does that mean a $19 monthly car insurance bill is impossible? It’s hard to say absolutely, but at the very least it’s highly improbable. If you do come across a quote that low, you may want to check out what the Better Business Bureau has to say about the company offering it.
How to Pay Less for Auto Insurance
You may not be able to get car insurance for $19 a month, but that does not mean you cannot save money—maybe even substantial amounts of it. Here are a few tips–
Shop around: This one is obvious. Get quotes from at least five different insurers. Ten is better. You will be surprised at the range of prices. Check your credit: Car insurance companies typically check your credit score. The better your credit, the lower your car insurance cost. Try to maintain a clean credit record and make sure to correct any errors you find. Reduce your coverage and raise your deductibles: Dropping some options or raising the amount of the deductible, or both, will save you money. Just make sure you’re prepared to cover the out-of-pocket expenses you’ll incur if you have an accident. One easy choice is to drop collision coverage on an old vehicle that might not be worth an expensive repair. Take all the available discounts: Insurers offer all sorts of discounts, particularly for drivers with good safety records. But some offer discounts to good students, recent graduates, auto club members, professionals in low-risk jobs, and more. You’ll nearly always save by bundling different policies with the same company. Drive safely: There’s no better way to save on car insurance.
The Bottom Line
It’s always a good idea to review your insurance policies annually and shop around to make sure you’re getting the best rates. Feel free to use these sites as a way to shop, but always be careful—and do your own research before you sign up for the next great deal.
