TIPS FOR ENSURING THAT YOU SAVE MONEY ON YOUR INSURANCE

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The one thing that so many of us dread every year is when we have to search around for the best insurance quotations when our current policy has expired. It may not be that we were particularly happy with our previous insurer or that we received a particularly good service from them, it really is just a case of better the devil you know when it comes to insurance companies. The insurance world has a reputation for being very dark and murky with very few insider tips on how to make sure that we are getting the right deals when it comes to renewing our policies. But you do not have to worry overly as there are a few tips that you can use to try to lever a better deal out of your insurance company and perhaps even swing the balance back in your favor.

Always try to hang on to insurance policies from previous years when it comes to renewing. As well as having your current policy to hand when trying to get a quote have policies from the past couple of years to hand also as you can compare the prices that you are paying now with those of a few years ago. Inform your insurer or the company that you are asking for a new quote of the price you were previously paying, you may have been paying over the odds last year and they may be able to get your policy pricing down to a figure more in line with that you were paying previously.

If at all possible find out what sort of discount your insurance company would be willing to give if you were to place all of your insurance business with them, this may include building insurance, contents insurance, car insurance, health insurance and life insurance. When the totals are added up these policies can amount to quite a lot of money being spent. There will always be an insurance company out there who will be willing to do something in a bid to win all of your business.

When looking solely for car insurance it is equally important to make sure that you ring around or search thoroughly on the Internet to ensure that you get the best price and deal possible. Many insurers offer discounts if your car has a certain type of alarm system fitted, if it is parked overnight off the main street or even garaged as well as what mileage you do annually. Many insurers offer a discount if you have taken and passed an advanced driving course or test. This test shows that you are a safe driver and that you offer less risk to them if they insure you. Some of these points can save you a fair bit of money but it is important that you are honest with your insurer, if you inform them that you garage your vehicle every night and then it gets stolen from outside your house one evening you may find that they refuse to pay up on your policy. Always be clear regarding exactly what you insurance company expects from you before you sign any policy. The cheapest deal is not always the best deal.

When insuring your home always make sure that it is valued correctly. You may save money by down valuing your property when taking out a policy but if you ever need to put a major claim in to rebuild your home you may find that the insurer will only pay out on your valuation of the property which may leave you out of pocket on a grand scale. In a similar vein to this, if you do any home improvements to your house you should always inform your insurer as it may alter your policy. As with motor insurance it is always worth asking if you can have a discount if your home has certain security features such as a security alarm system, smoke and carbon monoxide and door and window locks that meet insurance company guidelines for protection.

When it comes to life and health insurance many insurance companies offer a discount to non smokers, so if you were looking for an excuse to quit maybe that could be it. Also many insurance companies now offer a discount to people with a gym membership and who use it frequently and in many cases if you do not have a gym membership some insurance companies in conjunction with local gyms will give you a discounted gym membership if you take your life or health insurance out with them.

So when it comes to renewing any of your insurance policies don't be as daunted as you may have in the past and approach the task with these few tips in mind and you could find yourself saving a fair amount of money. But always remember, read the small print of the policy and that the cheapest deal is not always the best deal for you.

Author: Harwood E Woodpecker