Auto Insurance & Driving Habits

By Meha Ahmad, Insuranceagents.com Staff Writer

When it comes to saving on your auto insurance, sometimes the best offense is a good defense. Accidents and traffic violations are a sure-fire way to lose money on your auto insurance. Rates tend to increase the more of a risk you are as a driver. Low-risk drivers are rewarded with more affordable auto insurance, and can even qualify for discounts. To check for the lowest rates online, use our quick online form to compare rates from different companies. Wanna know the secret to saving on car insurance, talk to insurance agents, they know the various types of discounts you can receive and can help you save the most. If you don't like the idea of talking to someone, you can always compare top providers in your area with the click of a button.
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Driving Habits That Cause Car Insurance Increases: NO-NOs!

1. Don’t get distracted. Local governments are cracking down on high-risk distractions drivers take part in while they’re at the wheel. These habits cause too many accidents and contribute to high auto insurance rates. Some of the worst habits that cause car accidents are:

* Talking on your cell phone
* Texting while driving (VERY dangerous!)
* Horsing around with other passengers
* Fiddling with the radio
* Eating

Avoid doing all of the above while at the wheel. You never want to get into an accident, especially for such a silly reason. Cutting these distractions while driving is a sure way to avoid accidents and prevent high rates on your auto insurance.

2. Don’t tailgate. We know you’re in a hurry to get to work, but tailgating isn’t going to get you there any faster. But it can make you spend more in auto insurance. It might be a hard habit to break, but you’ve got to leave several feet of space between you and the car in front. Maintain an appropriate speed and space. If you can, switch lanes. But tailgating can lead to a fender bender, and it’ll be your fault. Result: higher auto insurance premium.

3. Don’t have bad credit. Easier said than done, right? But the better you’re your credit history, the easier it is to get an affordable auto insurance premium. Drivers with good credit, a history of paying their bills fully and on time are considered low-risk and highly responsible. Just remember to pay all of your bills on time and don’t open new credit accounts too regularly.

4. Don’t—ever!—ditch your auto insurance. We understand your pain—you’ve got other bills to pay and your high auto insurance premium is too much to handle financially. Besides, you’ve never gotten into a major accident before, so the chances of that happening now are almost nothing, right? Right? WRONG. It is against the law to drive without auto insurance. And what if bad luck were to strike RIGHT AFTER you ditched your auto insurance? You could end up paying thousands out of pocket, a sorry alternative to the premium. Also, drivers who go without auto insurance now but try to purchase it again in the future are subject to much higher premiums, as they are considered higher-risk drivers. So for your own sake (and your wallet’s), ALWAYS HAVE AUTO INSURANCE.