There are several common mistakes that many people make when applying for auto insurance. Some of these issues are rather obvious, but others are far from common knowledge. If you want to make sure that you get the best possible Calgary auto insurance quote, try to avoid making these mistakes.
1. Making monthly payments: Making monthly payments on auto insurance is more practical for some people, but monthly payments often end up costing more in the long run. If possible, you may want to consider paying annual or biannual lump sums. If you’re not sure how to interpret the offers you’re seeing, it may be a good idea to consult a licensed professional about your options.
2. Not shopping around: It’s easy to assume that there are auto insurance industry standards and that few companies dramatically deviate from the norm, but the fact is that insurance rates can vary by as much as 25% or more from company to company. So, when seeking a Calgary auto insurance quote, be sure to check with multiple companies.
3. Careless driving: Having tickets or getting in accidents are the quickest ways to drive up your insurance rates. Generally, the worse your record, the higher your rates will be, and it can take years to live these things down in the eyes of the insurance industry.
4. Over-sharing online: This comes as a shock to many people, but there’s a good chance that an insurance company employee is Googling you to find out if you reveal reckless tendencies in your social networking pages. There’s nothing unethical about this practice, and it’s becoming more and more common, so double check how you’re presenting yourself online before seeking a Calgary auto insurance quote.
5. Giving the wrong information: Mistakenly entering the wrong information on your Calgary auto insurance quote application can be sufficient grounds for denial of payouts later on, so be sure to double check all the data before sending in your application.
6. Giving incomplete information: The same goes for giving information that does not fully address all the questions on the application. For example, anyone who has a criminal record may be obligated to enter this information on an application, and if it’s not there, the insurance company may not see fit to cover any incidents that arise.
7. Not keeping the car secure: There are many factors that insurance companies take into consideration when generating a Calgary auto insurance quote. Just one factor is whether or not you’ve had stolen vehicles in the past. Especially if you’ve had multiple incidents, it simply makes good business sense to charge you a little more for your insurance.
8. Entering the wrong name: Because insurance is often higher for younger drivers, it’s sometimes tempting to enter a parent’s name as the primary driver of a vehicle. However, anyone who does this risks facing charges for insurance fraud.
9. Fixing up the car: Of course, we all want our cars to be in top condition, but adding lots of modifications to your car may actually cause your Calgary auto insurance quote to be higher. If you want to keep your payments low, it’s a good idea only to use modifications that enhance safety or efficiency.
10. Having no insurance: This one is obvious, but you might be surprised by how many drivers think they can go without having insurance at all. Even though it’s relatively common, it’s also illegal. Drivers who are caught with without insurance risk having their licenses revoked, facing hefty fines, or even having their vehicles seized.
