Some auto insurance carriers will expect you afford their premium for a five-month or an annual period as a total sum. As car insurance is already expensive, being able to pay such a large sum all at once could be financially daunting. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Certain car insurance companies will permit a policy purchase that does not require full or partial down payment.
These are appealing for those who don’t want to (or cannot) pay an entire annual cycle all at once, but it is still important to understand what being able to make monthly payments is for your budget overall with a first month free car insurance.
Zero Down Policy?
Simply purchasing auto insurance without an initial down payment does not mean that the coverage begins before the initial money is paid. It means that your only initial payment will be that for the first month. So, you will be saving money initially on a month to month basis, but it will ultimately cost you more in the future.
Get a Policy with Zero Down Deposit
While an insurance company offer a diversity of payments, they are not necessarily an option for everybody. A no down payment policy could be offered to a customer with a cheaper, older vehicle, but not to a modern and expensive one, which is a riskier insurance investment for the insurer. Insurance companies are also unlikely to offer this option to someone with a credit history on “fie” or someone who needs to apply for an SR-22.
Discount: Do You Qualify for?
You may be able to save a good amount of money on your policy if you happen to qualify for one of several types of discounts that insurers offer customers to help them save money.
Because there are such a multitude of factors that go into evaluating auto insurance rates, there is no one singular “cheapest” option for car insurance.
Someone living in one state may get a lower rate than someone living in another. Two people living on the same street could get vastly different rates from the same insurer if one has a driving record in a very bad situation and the other does not.
If you have a good credit score but your neighbor/friend does not, you will likely get a better rate than they do. If your vehicle is newer and more expensive, your rates will be higher than those of someone whose vehicle is not quite as pricey.
Why Companies Ask for Down Payments in a Regular Basis
Auto insurance companies become suspicious of clients who are looking to no pay a down payment. The optics from their perspective are negative because they feel like this might be an attempt to acquire insurance to purchase a new vehicle or renew an owned vehicle’s registration. The insurer is looking to make sure that the customer does not reverse-course shortly after the purchase and cancels the policy.
Therefore, the down payment is collected upfront (at least partially) as a way for the insurer to obtain at least a portion of the policy payment. This is not a supplemental charge to the policy. It is simply a portion of the premium that is deducted from the full annual sum. The down payment drives down the monthly insurance charges as the remainder of the premium divided by the monthly cycle ends up being a fraction of what it would be without the down payment. The size of the down payment varies from one insurer to another, and some even let the customer choose what they are comfortable with, for a down payment.
Those who pay the full premium in advance typically get rewarded with a significant discount on the full cost of the coverage.
If You Can’t Afford it, Avoid These Mistakes
If you do not have the means to purchase car insurance, you should not drive. If there is an accident and you are at fault, you will be responsible for all the expenses involve in the other driver’s car, as well as any medical and/or legal fees that you and the other driver incur as a result of it. If you do not pay your premiums, your insurance will be voided. This will lead to other problems that may include the suspension of your vehicle’s registration or your license to drive.
You can fill out an SR-22 form as well. If you come to a point where your monetary situation allows you to afford to get car insurance again, your coverage can be denied or be charged significantly higher rates due to your previous policy lapse. The insurer will do this to make sure that you cost them less money if you were to drop off the coverage again.
How Are Rates Determined?
Many factors are considered by auto insurance providers when determining a customer’s premium. While thieves often target older, cheap cars to steal as they are easy to hack and sell for parts, newer cars might be likely candidates for being stolen. The vehicle with high chance to be in accidents and are expensive to repair, are unlikely to qualify for the safety standards that the insurer will be content with.
The reason insurers consider the zip code is that you may live in an area that has either a high accident rate or an above-average car theft rate. For the insurer this will mean that the chances of them having to pay money for your vehicle is greater, therefore they are unlikely to give you too many discounts. Those in safer, quieter zip codes might be up for consideration.
How to Find Affordable Auto Insurance?
First, you need to figure out the coverage you are looking for and the amount you choose. You can also address any policy changes to your actual policy that could be beneficial in saving money. Once you have figured these things out, communicate that information to your insurance representative.
Let’s figure it out you own a 20 years old car that is very cheap, you should evaluate whether it is worth paying for collision and comprehensive coverage. However, keep in mind that if you lease your vehicle or already have an outstanding loan, you might be required to maintain your collision and comprehensive policy the lease term expires or the loan is repaid.
You should always get insurance quotes from multiple insurers. To get the process of acquiring your free quotes, please use the free tool below or contact us at Hammer Insurance.