When Is The Best Time To Shop For Insurance?

Car insurance companies release policy renewals 30-60 days before your existing insurance policy expires. When you receive your renewal offer, it is best to shop around for new quotes to ensure you get the best auto insurance rate. Switching car insurance providers may not always make the most sense, but you should always look to see if you are getting the best deal. You can shop for new quotes through a licensed insurance agent or through an online rating website such as A-MAX Insurance. This is also an important time to speak to your incumbent car insurance company to ensure you are getting all of the discounts on your auto insurance that you qualify for. Insurance companies offer discounts for various things. These are some of the ones you may qualify for:

 • Billing Discounts: If you are willing to pay your auto policy in full when you purchase it or allow the insurance company to directly debit your checking account or charge your credit card for your monthly premiums, there is usually a discount through your car insurance carrier.

 • Bundling Discount: If you have a home or renters insurance policy with the same insurer through which you purchase your auto insurance, you will be eligible for a bundling discount, which can save you up to 20% on the cost of your insurance.

 • Defensive Driving Discount: Consider taking a defensive driving course to reduce the cost of your insurance.

 • Distant Student Credit: If you are a student and attend a school that is more than 100 miles away from your home and you do not have a car on campus, you can qualify for a distant student credit because you will not have access to a vehicle full-time.

 • Good Student Credit: This is a discount awarded to drivers under 25 who are enrolled full-time in school and have a grade point average of 3.0 (B) or higher.

 • Homeownership Discount: If you own a home, some car insurance carriers will give you a discount even if you do not insure your house with the same insurer that covers your car.

 • Low-Mileage Discounts: If you don't commute every day or don't drive your car often, you may qualify for a low-mileage discount from your insurance company.

 • Tracking Device Credit: Most auto insurance companies offer a discount if you sign up to use their mobile app or install a small device in your car that reads your driving activity and reports back to the insurer.

 • Veteran Discount: If you are serving or have served in the U.S. military, your car insurer may offer you a discount for your service to your country.

Shopping for Car Insurance After a Life Event

We all have big life events that may impact our car insurance situation. These include moving to a new location, buying a home, getting married, divorced, or widowed, getting an advanced degree, adding a young driver to a policy, or getting a new vehicle, among other things. When your life changes like this, it is always a good time to update your auto insurance policy and possibly switch car insurance companies if another carrier is a better fit for your new situation. Always start with your current insurance company to see how these changes impact your car insurance premiums and your current policy. Once you have that information, you can shop for car insurance quotes from other auto insurance providers to ensure you save money on your car insurance costs for your new situation.