3 Ways to Save on Car Insurance in Virginia
Good news, Virginia drivers. You’re paying a fair chunk less for your car insurance than most other Americans, at least on average. Still, though, it doesn’t take much to jack up your rates. A mistake behind the wheel or the decision to buy a more expensive vehicle can leave you paying more than you want.
The good news is that the opposite can be true. With some strategic action, you can take steps to slash the amount you pay for your vehicle’s coverage. Here are three ways to save on car insurance in Virginia.
#1: Complete a driver improvement course
There are a handful of reasons you might take a Virginia DMV-approved driver improvement course. You might do so because a court ordered it after a traffic ticket, or because you want to get some demerit points pulled off your license.
But you can also take this course even with a pristine driving record, and doing so can save you some money. That’s because some insurance providers offer a discount for completing this training.
The rationale is that after your course, you’ll be better versed in the rules of the road and safe driving practices, which can help you avoid an accident. Fewer accidents means fewer expenses associated with your vehicle, so the insurance company might be willing to throw some savings your way.
Unfortunately, this isn’t true of all insurance providers. Before you decide to enroll in driving school, contact your insurance provider and ask if they offer a discount for this course completion. Even if the discount isn’t huge, the course only costs $35, so it’s usually worth it.
#2: Adjust your policy
For starters, make sure you’re carrying just the coverages you need. If your car is a clunker that’s hardly worth a grand, you probably don’t need collision coverage, for example. This optional coverage pays for repairs to your vehicle for damages you cause, like if you back into something or hit another car. But it usually comes with a deductible of $500 to $1,000, which means the out-of-pocket cost for you to fix your vehicle would pretty much be a wash.
Similarly, if your car isn’t worth much, you might not need comprehensive coverage, which pays to replace it if it gets stolen.
Now, back to your deductible. The higher you set it, the less your Virginia car insurance policy will cost. A $500 deductible is pretty standard, but if you could comfortably pay $1,000 as a one-time, unexpected expense, consider raising your deductible to rack up some auto insurance savings.
#3: Scout for discounts
Different auto insurance companies offer different discounts. Some offer discounts for specific group memberships (e.g., the military, AARP) or for students who get good grades. There are a few discounts that can broadly apply, though:
- Multi-car discount. If you have multiple vehicles, insure them through the same company and ask about a multi-car discount.
- Multi-policy discount. Similarly, lots of insurance companies will give you a discount for getting multiple types of insurance through them (e.g., car insurance and home or renters insurance). Also called bundling, a multi-policy discount can help you save.
- Low mileage discount. If you don’t drive very much, make sure your insurance provider knows. Some offer a specific discount for low annual mileage, while others will just make your policy more affordable in general if you drive less.
- Safe driving. Fewer accidents and tickets make you look less risky to insurance companies — and they like that. A history of safe driving (especially when paired with a driver improvement course) should help you get the most affordable policy possible.
See? There are plenty of avenues you can explore to save on car insurance in Virginia.