Have you ever jumped the traffic light? Or perhaps received a speeding ticket or a parking ticket? Or even worse, have you ever been in an accident where you were at fault? If your answer to any of these is affirmative, then it is safe enough to conclude that your driving record isn’t spotless. Every driving infraction that you commit gets registered to your name and your driving license. A bad driving record not just reflects poorly on your driving skills, it directly impacts your auto insurance rates.

The more the number of driving violations to your name, the higher your auto insurance premiums will rise. To tackle the steep increase in premiums, you can follow the five steps given below:

1. Look for newer options: Depending on the level of seriousness of your driving infraction and the number of times you have been flagged for it, your insurance provider can jack up your car insurance premiums by a considerable amount. While it is a certainty that your auto insurance rates are going to increase, it is important not to feel frustrated and look for newer insurance options in the market. Consider approaching a high-risk auto insurance provider or an agent who can get you a better deal than your current insurance plan.
2. Take a defensive driving course: If you look at the correlation between driving infractions and rising insurance rates from the other side of the spectrum, you will infer that safe driving can lead to the lowering of car insurance premiums. If you are having trouble finding an economical insurance plan, you could try completing a defensive driving course. These driving programs aim to reduce vehicle collisions and avoid injuries due to car accidents. A defensive driving certificate tells your insurance provider that you have improved your driving skills, and this can lead to reduced auto insurance rates.
3. Reduce your coverage: If you are not someone who uses the car that often, and if you are confident that there will be no more mistakes while driving, you could think about reducing coverage. If you carry both comprehensive and collision coverage, you might want to reconsider dropping the comprehensive coverage to save some money on insurance premiums.
4. Install safety features on your car: If you drive a car with just basic safety features like a seatbelt, you should think about upgrading your car with new safety features. Having features like full-front airbags or collision avoidance system is not only useful to drive safely and avoid injuries, but it also acts as a means to decrease the insurance premiums. The better the safety features on your car, the lesser your auto insurance rates will be.
5. Bundle your insurance policies to get discount: While searching for new car insurance plans, keep an eye out on discount offers that companies provide if you bundle up all your insurance. It means if you buy life insurance, health insurance or home insurance from the same insurance provider, they may slash off the auto insurance rates as a goodwill gesture. Negotiate wisely with your auto insurance provider to gain discounts and better coverage on all your insurance policies.
6. Carefully choose the payment plans: Did you know – the way you choose to pay your monthly premiums can impact your insurance rate. If you opt for automatic deduction from your bank account every month, there is a possibility that your insurance provider might lower your premium.
7. Improve Your Credit Score – While some insurers claim to offer no credit check auto insurance quotes, the majority of insurance companies will pull your credit score to determine your insurance premiums.Just like having a bad driving record, having a bad credit score will have a negative impact on your car insurance rates.Those with bad credit pay upwards of $1000 more per year for auto insurance than people with good credit. If you want to lower your auto insurance premiums, try improving your credit score.

 

Apart from following these steps to find a cost-effective insurance deal, continue working on your driving. Remember, a clean driving record can impact your insurance prices for years to come.