A Health Savings Account (HSA) is not a type of health insurance. But that’s an easy mistake to make!

HSAs are closely associated to health insurance, although they do not provide any insurance benefits themselves.

Think of an HSA as a special type of savings account. It’s a savings account where:

You can put money in and get a tax deduction.

You can take money out anytime, as long as the money gets used for medical purposes.

That’s an HSA in a nutshell. But it’s worth talking about a few more specifics.

You need to get an HSA from a special HSA custodian. Any business that can create an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) can also create an HSA for you. That includes many banks, insurance agents and financial advisors.

In order to qualify for an HSA, you must already have a health insurance policy. But not just any health insurance policy will do. It must be a “high deductible” health insurance policy. “High” means that the deductible (the amount you pay before the insurance starts to kick in each year) must be at least $1,000 for an individual or $2,000 for a family. That’s the minimum. Any deductible you have on a policy that is higher than that is okay too.

You can be employed or unemployed. As long as the insurance you have (through your employer or by yourself) has a high enough deductible, you’re all set.

Health Savings Accounts will change how we think of health insurance. They are a wonderful tool that almost every American can and should benefit from. And they’re available today!

Daryl Kulak is the author of the book “Health Insurance Off the Grid - A Wonderful Way to Use Alternative Medicine and Save Money on Insurance Using the New Health Savings Account (HSA).”

The book provides a nine-step plan to get your individual health insurance costs under control using a unique approach you won’t find anywhere else. The book is available as an e-Book or paperback at the Website http://www.healthoffthegrid.com

Many personal car insurance companies consider your credit information when determining how much premium to charge for your insurance. So if you are calling around for new car insurance, keep in mind that many insurers are looking at your credit history to determine your car insurance rates. I hope that we will be able to let you know why and how they do this.

The reason that some insurance companies use credit information is because they feel there is a direct correlation between consumer’s credit history behaviors and expected claims that may occur. Therefore, they feel that people with better credit behavior are less likely to severe insurance losses.

Many insurance companies still use your age, driving history, type of vehicle, where you live in determining how much you should pay for your insurance. Therefore, if you have not established a credit history yet, the companies that use credit history may not be best for you. They may not allow you to be eligible for certain discounts, which could result in higher premiums.

The companies that do use credit scoring will still use other factors in determining your premium. They will also use your age, driving history, type of vehicle, where you live in determining how much you should pay for your insurance.

Is it fair for an insurance company even look at my credit information without my permission? The answer is yes. The Federal Fair credit-reporting act says “Reasonable procedures. It is the purpose of this title to require that consumer reporting agencies adopt reasonable procedures for meeting the needs of commerce for consumer credit, personnel, insurance, and other information in a manner which is fair and equitable to the consumer, with regard to the confidentiality, accuracy, relevancy, and proper utilization of such information in accordance with the requirements of this title.” This can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fcra.htm

If you feel that your credit history is better then the insurer can find, make sure the insurer has your correct name, address, social security number, and date of birth.

Some insurance companies will look directly at your actual credit reports when determining your rate, however most will use what is called an “insurance credit score.” An insurance credit score is developed by using statistical techniques and methods to predict the likelihood a consumer will have a higher than anticipated losses. These are similar to what lenders use to predict the reliability of an applicant repaying a loan.
Credit History Factors and Car Insurance Rates

Insurance companies use many factors in determining your credit score. Here are some examples of those factors:

. Public records: bankruptcy, collections, foreclosures, liens, charge-offs, etc.

. Past payment history: the number and frequency of late payments and the days between the due date and late payment date.

. Length of credit history: the amount of time you have been in the credit system.

. Inquiries for credit: the number of times you have recently applied for new credit, including mortgage loans, utility accounts, and credit card accounts.

. Number of open lines of credit: the number of credit cards, whether you use them or not.

. Type of credit in use: major credit cards, store credit cards, finance company loans, etc.

. Unused credit: how much you owe compared to how much credit is available to you.

Your insurance credit score may differ from company to company, as they will use different factors in determining your premium. Notice that we call it an insurance credit score. This means that it encompasses many factors including credit.

Since each insurance company uses different techniques to determine your credit score it is hard to tell you what a good credit score is. Usually a good credit score will result in lower premiums.

Your agent or company is not obligated to tell you your credit score. In fact, they might not even know what it is. All they usually know is that your credit score qualifies you for a specific rate or policy. Some companies also offer better rates under each qualifying tier.

If you feel that there is incorrect information on your credit report, you should tell the credit bureau. If you report and error, the credit bureau must investigate the error and get back to you within 30 days. You can ask the credit bureau to send a notice of the correction to any creditor or insurer that has checked your file in the past six months. Once the errors are corrected, it is a good idea to get a new copy of your credit report several months later to make sure the wrong information has not been reported again.

The three national credit bureaus are:

. Trans Union (www.transunion.com or 800-888-4213)

. Equifax (www.credit.equifax.com or 800-685-1111)

. Experian (www.experian.com or 888-397-3742)

Tell your insurance company. Do not wait until the credit bureau investigates the errors to contact your insurer. Tell your insurance company right away and ask if the errors will make a difference in your insurance. If the errors are big, tell your insurer that you are disputing the information and ask if they will wait to use your credit information until the errors are corrected. Small errors may not have much affect on your insurance credit score. If the errors are big, it can make a significant difference in your premium. Some companies are unable to adjust the premiums until the score is corrected, but it does not hurt to ask.

If you have taken the steps to improve your credit, score you should ask your insurance company to re-evaluate your credit score at renewal.

Matt McWilliams is the Vice-President of Customer Relations for http://HometownQuotes.Com, the industry leader in providing insurance quotes for customers across the country. HometownQuotes.Com was founded in 2003 by insurance agents and has grown into one of the best-known ways for shoppers to find affordable insurance online.

Matt is originally from North Carolina where he spent way too much time playing golf.

When investigating life insurance you will surely come across the terms “whole life” and “term life”. Knowing what these life insurance products are and what they can do for you and your family is very important when deciding upon the type of policy to buy.

Whole life

Life insurance of this type is used as a vehicle for investment as well as life insurance. A whole life policy builds cash value. Depending upon the policy it is possible to cash it out or, in some cases, to borrow against it.

Is whole life advisable?

Purchasing a whole life policy does cost more. Not only are you paying for life insurance you are also paying for an investment tool; this may burden the policy with additional fees and expenses associated with making the investments. Further, the return on whole life investments may not be as great as the return on standard investments. Often calculating the amount of the premium which goes toward the investment may be difficult along with the return on investment.

Term life

A term life policy is much more simple and is definitely the most common form of life insurance. It is bought in terms of one to thirty years. A premium is paid and an established amount is paid to the beneficiary upon the death of the insured.

Is term life advisable?

For a young or even middle aged person who foresees specific financial needs to be covered in the event of his/her death term life insurance may be the right choice. The defined benefit makes estate planning easier. Up until the age of fifty and sometimes even beyond a person in good health can purchase substantial amounts of term life insurance for a reasonable price.

There is no one size fits all answer to choosing life insurance. Term life may be the best solution for most families but there are situations in which whole life may be the better choice. The best advice is to get as many quotes as possible and compare rates and services.

Our recommended quote sites Term Life Insurance Quote Online, Online Health Insurance Quote, Home Owners Insurance Quote

Everything seemed pretty simple when you purchased that insurance policy. If you have a loss, just tell the insurance company about it and you will get paid - Right? Well…. it may not be quite that easy. There are some basic steps you should follow to make sure your insurance claim is paid quickly and fully.

Prepare - in advance. The single most important thing that will make your life easier in the event of a loss is to be well prepared in advance. Do you have offsite copies of your computer files? What about paper files? If this is some kind of property loss, you will need to document the value. If you have to try to reconstruct records that were destroyed, it will delay your insurance payment and make it much harder for you to prove the value of your loss.

Estimate your loss. While it may not be possible to know the full extent of the loss, develop an estimate. If it is close to or below your deductible, you are probably better off not filing the insurance claim. Your rates will be based in part on your claims history so there is no advantage to you in filing a claim you will end up paying for out of your own pocket. Be careful, however, as most insurance policies require you to report a loss within a certain timeframe, usually 2 - 4 weeks.

Call your agent. Many insurance companies ask that you report your claim directly to the claims department. This is more efficient for them but not necessarily better for you. Your insurance agent may represent the company but his income depends on keeping his customers happy. Independent agents, in particular, are small business owners and owe their primary loyalty to their business. If you’re a small business owner, your insurance agent understands that his business depends on keeping his customers happy.

Keep in touch with the adjuster. Ultimately the insurance company will assign an adjuster to work with you to estimate and pay the loss. Work closely with the adjuster and respond quickly and completely to his requests for information. The easier you make his job, the quicker you will get paid.

Consider an independent adjuster. If your loss is large and complex, it may pay you to hire an independent adjuster to work on your behalf. If you do decide to take this step, make sure you hire an adjuster who has experience with your type of business loss.

Lana Hampton makes it easy to find the insurance that’s right for your needs. Visit her Insurance website today for the latest news and information.

Term life insurance is defined as insurance coverage that covers in increments of time, known as terms, such as one year, five years or ten years. The policy holder pays premiums during this time, but they are likely to increase as the term continues. At the end of each term, the policy is available to be renewed, but as the policy holder has aged, the rate is likely to be higher. While this is true, term life insurance is still considered one of the life insurance options.

What are the other life insurance options? There are four main categories of life insurance: term life, whole life, universal life and variable life. Whole life insurance covers your whole life span, as opposed to just a term. The premiums remain the same constant rate. Universal life and variable life provide methods of investment, such as stocks, bonds and mortgages.

So why is life insurance important anyway? The first thing to tell yourself when you begin searching for life insurance is that it is not about you, it is about your family and loved ones. The monthly payment that you make on your life insurance will fulfill several different monetary needs for your family.

The first of these monetary needs is funeral arrangements. Funerals are expensive, regardless of whether you are buried or cremated. This expense can be a huge blow to an already grieving family. These monetary expenses are extrapolated to an even greater extent if you are a homeowner. Life insurance, term life insurance included, can be used to pay for both funeral expenses as well as any debts, including mortgages that you may owe.

The best way to get the most information on different types of insurance is by working with an insurance agent. Choose carefully. Start by compiling a list of referrals given to you by family and friends. Don’t be afraid to interview and ask serious questions. Regardless of who you choose, remember that life insurance, whether it is term life insurance or another variety, is imperative, especially if you own a home and/or have a family.

Health insurance plans vary in their coverage and prices. The more coverage offered, the higher the premiums. This doesn’t mean that the lowest premium is the cheapest. If you have to pay many out-of-pocket medical expenses, you could be paying more than if you had gone with a higher premium plan. Different plans benefit different people.

Fee For Service

Fee-for-service health insurance policies are the most common. You pay the medical bill and then you are reimbursed by the health insurance provider. You will also typically have co-pays and deductibles.
Prices range widely with these types of policies - the higher the co-pays and deductibles, the lower the monthly premiums.

The benefits of this type of insurance are that you get to choose which doctor to see and when to get immediate needed care. However, these types of plans do not typically cover preventative care like routine check-ups or tests.

Managed Health Care

Another option is a managed health care which typically has lower insurance premiums. A managed health care system could be an HMO or a Preferred Provider Organization or a variation of these. The common element is that you have to use approved physicians and dentists.

With these types of plans cost is one of the chief benefits. You get the most coverage with the lowest premiums. Coverage also includes most preventative check-ups and procedures. Unfortunately, you do not get to choose a physician outside of the network.

Catastrophic Insurance

Catastrophic insurance is for the big emergencies like hospitalization for several days. These plans typically have the lowest coverage, but they do not cover non-emergency care.

With its low premiums, this plan is ideal for someone who can cover their own typical medical expenses, but wants to protect themselves financially from an unexpected emergency.

Provider Differences

Health insurance providers have their own version of these health insurance plans. Coverage levels, deductibles, and co-pays all vary, along with the cost of monthly premiums. In order to find the best provider, research different health insurance policies. Health insurance websites allow you to compare costs along with coverage. Also, find providers that can be easily contacted through their website or on the phone.

To view our list of recommended companies online that provide health
insurance and can help you compare quotes, visit this page: Recommended Insurance Companies Online.

Carrie Reeder is the owner of ezerk, an
informational website with articles and information about various topics.

Reprinted from: http://www.coloradohealthinsurancebr
okers.com

Why do we need health Insurance? Health insurance really doesn’t
insure good health, does it? While it can’t guarantee your
physical health, health insurance can help protect your
financial well being by providing a financial safety net in the
event of unexpected illness or injury.

Health related expenses may easily run into the tens or even
hundreds of thousands of dollars for a serious illness or
injury. Also, in Colorado if you are injured in a car accident
it is important that you have adequate health insurance
protection, particularly if the person deemed to be “at fault”
is you, the driver of a car you are riding in, or if the “at
fault” driver is uninsured.

Here is a three-step strategy to help you save time and money
when shopping for health insurance:

Step 1: Do You Need Individual or Group Health Insurance
Coverage?

Individual plans are very popular with anyone who has to buy
their own health insurance, as well as healthier self employed
and small business people and their families. These plans often
have substantially lower premiums than small group plans and
because individual plans are medically underwritten, it’s
important to get this coverage in place while you’re relatively
healthy. Once you are covered, virtually all individual plans
are non-cancelable and guaranteed renewable until you are
eligible for Medicare at age 65, provided that you continue to
pay your premiums and live in the service area.

Most individual plans also provide on the job health insurance
coverage for the self-employed. However, you should always make
sure that you meet the requirements for on the job coverage, as
eligibility requirements vary–depending upon whether or not you
are a sole proprietor, or if your business is a LLC, Sub-S
Corporation or other business type. Health insurance premiums
for the self-employed are 100% tax deductible, but you’ll need
to verify eligibility for this deduction with your accountant.

Small business owners may qualify for a special “Group of One”
designation in individual plans. There is typically no
difference in premium cost between a Group of One individual
plan and standard individual health insurance plan, but you
still must medically qualify. The principal advantage for self
identifying as a Group of One in an individual plan is that the
small business person’s business can pay the insurance premium.

For qualified small business owners with serious pre-existing
conditions there is also a group health insurance coverage
option known as a “Group of One”. These guaranteed issue plans
are typically fairly expensive since most people enroll in these
plans because their health conditions will not allow them to
qualify for less expensive individual policies.

Individuals with serious pre-existing conditions may also be
eligible for guaranteed issue coverage from CoverColorado.
Because this is a high risk pool their premiums are typically
about 35% more expensive. CoverColorado does not provide
coverage for on the job injuries or illnesses and premiums must
be paid with personal funds.

If your company has 2 to 50 employees the employer can set up a
small group health insurance plan. Small group health plans have
no medical underwriting, so they are particularly attractive to
groups that include people with serious health problems that
would make them unable to qualify for less expensive individual
coverage.

Group health insurance is the only available option if the
employer wants to pay for any portion of their employees’ health
insurance premiums. Employers are typically required to pay at
least 50% of their employees’ premiums and commit to a certain
level of employee participation in the plan. Groups of more than
50 employees have a unique set of rules and are considered part
of the large group market.

If you have not had health insurance coverage or have had a
break in health insurance coverage you may be subject to a
pre-existing conditions clause. These typically range from 6-12
months and cover conditions you were treated for in the 12
months directly preceding your new policy’s coverage. However,
individual and small group insurers in Colorado must give you
credit for prior continuous coverage. Coverage counts as
continuous if it is not interrupted by a break of 60 to 90 or
more consecutive days. However, prior coverage is not credited
against any exclusionary riders in an individual policy.

Step 2: Do You Want a Copay plan or a Major Medical/HSA
plan?

Rising drug and health care costs have driven up health
insurance premiums, increasing the need for consumers to be
savvy about their options and choices.

However, there are still some good values to be found on
feature-rich plans with copays for doctor visits and
prescriptions, particularly if you are willing to consider plans
with deductibles of $500 or more. These “copay plans” are very
popular and often provide many immediate benefits to offset
day-to-day health related costs. Alternatively, many Coloradans
are increasingly interested in self-insuring for the “little”
things and getting a relatively inexpensive major medical or
catastrophic plan to protect them in the event of serious health
problem.

HSA (Health Savings Account) qualified plans are special major
medical health insurance plans that can be particularly well
suited to healthier small business people. Families can often
save thousands of dollars each year in reduced insurance
premiums with a higher deductible HSA qualified major medical
insurance plan as compared to a traditional copay plan, often
while reducing their families’ aggregate deductible and
coinsurance risk.

Here’s how it works: You must first have a relatively
inexpensive HSA qualified major medical health insurance plan to
be eligible to open a Health Savings Account. Money saved from
the reduced insurance premiums can be used to help fund a Health
Savings Account and your contributions to the HSA are 100% tax
deductible. Money from the HSA can be used to pay for any
qualified medical related expenses, including doctor visits,
prescription drugs, paying other expenses toward your
deductible, as well as dental and vision care.

Because any money you don’t spend is yours to keep and grows
from one year to the next, HSA’s offer a long-term savings
advantage. If you’re relatively healthy during your working
years, by the time you retire, you could build a sizable tax
advantaged nest egg.

HSA plans are not for everyone, but for most people they are
worth taking a look at. We suggest comparing the premium and
benefits of the most attractive copay plan with the most
attractive HSA plan and then running a few “what if” scenarios
to determine which plan best suits you.

Step 3: Do You Want to Spend Days or Minutes Shopping for
Health Insurance?

Even in today’s competitive marketplace health insurance
premiums for similar plan designs can vary significantly from
company to company based upon age, gender, tobacco use, health
and location. It pays to comparison shop! Here are some time
saving short cuts that can help you save both time and money.

Individual health insurance premiums are filed with and
regulated by the Colorado Division of Insurance. That means that
whether you get your health insurance through a broker, an agent
or directly from the health insurance company, you’ll pay the
exact same monthly premium for the same plan regardless of from
whom you buy your coverage.

Knowing this, you can save a huge amount of time and energy by
working with a broker and having them do all the time consuming
research for you. This service is typically completely free to
you. Ideally, you should find an experienced and reputable
broker that specializes in health insurance and works with 6 or
more different leading companies. Don’t be shy about asking them
to list what companies they represent, and whether or not they
specialize in small group of individual group plans and if they
are based in Colorado or out of state.

A good broker will research the various plan options from
different companies and send back the results of their analysis
for you to review at your convenience. They can also answer all
your questions and help you find the plan with the benefits you
want at a premium you are comfortable with, and then help you
through the application process.

Be Careful Out There…

The Internet is also a good resource for researching insurance
options yourself, but make sure you’re not inadvertently giving
your personal information to a lead-marketing web site. These
companies sell your information to several agents often
resulting in a bombardment of unwanted phone calls. When in
doubt, read their web site’s Privacy Policy to make sure your
personal information will be kept private.

If you come across a “health benefit” plan that seems
particularly inexpensive or one that boasts that it will insure
everyone regardless or health or risk, be cautious. Some health
discount plans mislead consumers into thinking they are buying
low-cost health insurance. Discount plans are not health
insurance, and consumers are often shocked after having a claim
to find out that they are responsible for the entire medical
bill.

A final word of advice: don’t wait! The best time to save on
health insurance is shop for coverage when you’re healthy. If
you have an injury or your health deteriorates, you may find
that your options are more limited and costly.

By Mark Erickson

Owner & Licensed Broker

Colorado Health Insurance Brokers

http://www.c
oloradohealthinsurancebrokers.com

NOTICE - For readers outside of Colorado please consult with a
local broker to verify the accuracy of the information for your
state. Colorado Health Insurance Brokers are not engaged in
rendering tax, investment or legal advice. Federal and state
regulations are subject to change. If tax, investment or legal
advice is required, seek the services of a licensed
professional.

Other web sites may may not reprint this article without
express written permission. However they may link to the article
at: http://www.coloradohealthinsurancebr
okers.com/how_to_buy_colorado_health_insurance.htm

Personalisation, Digitalisation, Mobilisation, these 3 words represent your life today. Here in the 21st century our lives have become more and more reliant on mobile items. As we go through our days, keeping a mental log of everything we have and where we have it becomes more and more difficult. It is inevitable that some things get lost. In fact as stated in a recent research “Around 62,000 mobile phones were left in London taxis during the last six months. That’s an average three phones per taxi, according to a survey of licensed London cabbies by the Taxi Newspaper and Pointsec Mobile Technologies. Absent minded and drunken travellers also forgot 4,000 laptops and 5,000 PDA’s when exiting cabs”.

Lost and found company, Want it Bak boast that they can give you an 80% chance of recovery. The service is based around the belief that most people are actually honest and will do the right thing if a method is offered to them. This feel good factor is enhanced by the added incentive of a reward for doing the right thing.

How does Want it Bak work? Simple. You purchase a range of security tags each with their own unique id number. You register them with Want it Bak and that’s it. If you ever lose the item and someone finds it they contact Want it Bak directly using their website or their 0800 number and they arrange a courier to pick it up and return it to the owner for a small admin charge.

The “Finders” themselves are offered a basic reward of £10 gift pack of Want it Bak Labels. Additionally the finders may also receive gift vouchers, shop discounts, trial packs and much more. Customers may also offer an optional CASH reward to Finders as a thank you to the person for taking the time to contact Want it Bak.

Like most things these days there are no guarantees of course, but just the knowledge that for a small price you can have an additional type of insurance that works when you need it to and at least have some chance of getting back your valuables or data.

Chris Cameron
http://www.wantitbak.com

It is very beneficial to provide small business insurance to your employees to allow them to have affordable health care insurance. You will want to research and find out what kind of small group health insurance quotes you can get, and then decide which plans offer the best benefits to your employees and you. You will want to go with an insurance provider who specializes in small business health insurance plans to really maximize on the low rates available to you.

You will want to get as many quotes as you can to allow you to shop around for the best small business health insurance premiums and benefits. It is best to collect many quotes, as this will allow you to compare all that is out there, and what they offer. Not all plans are the same, and not all offer full benefits that are worth the rates and premium costs.

A small business health insurance quote may show you that it is more affordable than an individual health insurance plan. For a small business group health insurance policy, you must employ at least five workers. It will give you and them some reassurance to know you are all covered medically in case illness or any accidents occur.

GET FREE HEALTH INSURANCE QUOTES

Most people complain about the cost of their auto insurance–hardly surprising, given that a typical policy costs at least several hundred dollars a year. Depending on your age, driving record, and other factors, your annual premium can be significantly more than that. So how can you lower your premium and save yourself money?

If you own a car and drive it, going without insurance is generally not an option. In most states, you are required by law to purchase a minimum amount of liability coverage. And you should probably have more than just the bare minimum if you want to provide yourself with adequate protection. There are steps you can take, however, to reduce your auto insurance costs without having to cancel your policy. Some or all of these steps may be appropriate for you, depending on your circumstances.

Specific ways to save money on auto insurance:

1. Shop around. One of your first steps should be to shop around. A particularly good time to investigate your alternatives is when your current policy is about to be up for renewal, especially if you find that your premium has gone up. You may be surprised to learn that auto insurance premiums for the exact same coverage on the same car can vary widely (by hundreds of dollars) between different insurers, even in states that regulate auto insurance rates.

2. Increase your deductible. For many people, raising the deductible on their auto insurance is a good way to cut the cost of the policy. Sometimes you can reduce your annual premium by 10 percent or more if you increase your deductible from, say, $250 to $500. If you do this, however, make sure you have the financial resources to handle the larger deductible when the time comes.

3. Keep an eye on your credit report. Your credit history is an important factor for most auto insurance companies. Many studies have shown a correlation between your credit history and the risk to an insurance company. Paying your bills on time and maintaining a good credit history will allow you to enjoy lower auto insurance rates.

4. Drive less. If you drive less than a certain number of miles in a year (e.g., 7,500), you may qualify for a low-mileage discount. If your insurer offers this discount, try to limit your driving as much as possible. If you commute to work, use public transportation instead of driving. When you go away on vacation, fly or take the train.

5. Don’t use your car for business purposes. Since work-related driving generally subjects you to higher premiums than pleasure driving, it may be in your best interest to stop using your car for business purposes.

6. Drive more safely. You may be eligible for a price break on your policy if you maintain a clean driving record for a specified period (usually three years). A clean driving record generally means no accidents, moving violations, drunk driving convictions, etc., during that period. The best way to qualify for the applicable discount is to drive carefully and defensively at all times.

7. Buy a low-profile car. Cars are rated on a risk scale for auto insurance purposes. In general, sports cars and other high-performance, flashy vehicles are classified as higher risks because they are common targets for thieves and vandals, and because statistically, the people who own them tend to drive more recklessly. If you own such a vehicle, you will likely pay a higher premium than if you owned a station wagon, sedan, or other low-risk vehicle.

8. Move. If you live in a rural community with little crime and traffic congestion, your premium will generally be lower than if you live in an urban area where your car is more likely to be stolen, vandalized, or involved in an accident. Granted, you shouldn’t move just to cut your auto insurance costs. However, this may be one of many factors in your decision if you’re thinking about relocating from the country to the city.

9. Keep your car in a garage. Cars parked in garages are less likely to be stolen, vandalized, or struck by other vehicles. Using a garage to store your car may entitle you to a slight premium reduction.

10. Have safety/anti-theft devices installed. CYou may receive discounts on your insurance if your car is equipped with one or more of the following options: anti-lock brakes, automatic seat belts, and airbags. Similarly, anti-theft devices such as car alarms and tracking systems (e.g., Lojack) may also get you a discount because they reduce the chances of your car being stolen or vandalized.

11. Inquire about multifamily/multipolicy discounts. You may receive a discount from your insurance company if you buy more than one type of insurance through that same company (e.g., auto and homeowner’s). A discount may also apply to your auto insurance if you insure multiple cars under the same policy or with the same company.

12. Other discounts Other discounts may be available if you meet certain criteria. Examples may include discounts for taking a defensive driving course, being a AAA member or staying with the same auto insurance company for a number of years. These discounts vary by company.

Please note that this description/explanation is intended only as a guideline.

For more information about auto insurance please go to: Insurance.com