Car Insurance Rates Are Dropping

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According to a new survey by Insurance.com, 44% of shoppers believed they were overpaying for car insurance. In addition, 22% said that they were shopping because their rates had recently increased with the renewal bill from their current auto insurance company.

Are you getting a good deal? March RateWatch data shows that drivers who pay too much for car insurance now have a great chance to save. "Consumers who shopped for car insurance recently saw rates that were $100 lower on average than rates quoted last fall," said Sam Belden, Vice President at Insurance.com. "Most policies renew every six months, so this decline in average quotes comes as good news for consumers whose policies were affected by rising prices in late 2008."

Insurance.com's survey also found that 32% of drivers were driving less compared to six months ago. Driving fewer miles presents another savings opportunity, because it could earn drivers a 5–15% Low Mileage discount on their auto insurance policy with most insurance companies.

Consumers are making tough decisions about how much coverage they buy, while still trying to maintain their policies. 25% of car insurance shoppers surveyed bought less auto insurance coverage than they had on a prior policy, and 26% dropped comprehensive and collision coverage. While less coverage always beats no insurance, we'd like to remind you that auto insurance provides important protection. Consider these tips:

Protect yourself with Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists coverage. The number of uninsured drivers on the road continues to rise. You can protect your family from these drivers with low-cost UM/UIM coverage.

Don't slash your policy's limits. Don't risk your assets – now and in the future – by cutting your liability limits to state minimums.

Insure your car against damage, even if you increase the deductibles. Try to keep comprehensive and collision coverage for your car, unless you can afford to pay cash to replace it. Even if your car has a low "market value," in this economy it's probably priceless to you!

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