Regardless of whether you switch or stay with you: Six tips from financial experts: How to always save money with car insurance
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If you haven’t looked around for the cheapest car insurance tariff, you should definitely do so today: the deadline for canceling your contract ends on November 30th. Even if you stay, you can easily save money on car insurance: With the latest tips from Stiftung Warentest.
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Once a year the motor vehicle insurance companies come to the test: Those who always switch to the cheapest provider can save a lot of money over the years. It doesn’t just depend on the car you drive: many factors determine the price of your tariff. And you can optimize some of them even if you remain loyal to your provider.
Here you can see six current tips from the experts at Stiftung Warentest:
Pay everything at once
Insurers usually give you several options for how you want to settle your premiums: you can pay in installments or all at once. The way of the small sums costs extra, however: If you don’t pay every three or six months, but only once a year, you save up to 10 percent on the contribution, according to the financial test experts.
Pay by direct debit instead of on account
And while you’re at it: Better give your insurer the right to collect the sum insured by direct debit: this is often cheaper than paying by invoice. In addition, if you forget to transfer the money in good time, you will have to expect dunning costs.
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Select workshop tariff
One of the points with the highest savings potential is workshop loyalty: Anyone who agrees to drive to a workshop suggested by the insurer after accidental damage usually saves up to 20 percent of the annual premium, calculates Finanztip. Incidentally, the obligation only applies after accidents, i.e. not for maintenance and inspections. And of course it only applies to comprehensive tariffs. If you were involved in an accident through no fault of your own and the other party or their insurer has to pay for the damage, you also have a free choice when looking for a workshop.
Restrict the group of drivers
An “unlimited group of drivers” can be up to a third more expensive than if you just let yourself and your partner behind the wheel of your car. Most people even use their car all by themselves – so why give away money? Especially since there is usually some leeway: Many insurers allow you to register additional persons for one or more short periods of the year. This is often possible on the same day and in some cases even free of charge: a call and you give us your name and details is all it takes.
First set the annual mileage low
When you switch, you will be asked about the number of kilometers you cover by car each year. Here you should calculate cautiously and not overestimate the annual kilometers. If you have driven more at the end of the year, you can register these additional kilometers. This is often cheaper than specifying a higher mileage from the start. If you have driven less than you thought, you should also inform your insurance company – you may then be reimbursed.
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