The Truth About Cheap Auto Insurance

Cheap auto insurance: fact or fiction? For drivers paying hundreds of dollars a month in order to insure their vehicles against theft and damage and protect themselves from litigation in the event of an accident the prospect of cheap auto insurance may seem as much a myth as anything found in Grecian history. Yet there are hundreds of companies out there claiming to be able to provide exactly that. What is fact and what is fiction? Does cheap auto insurance really exist-and at what cost?

The sheer quantity of auto insurance companies around the country almost guarantees that you will be able to find cheap coverage. Unless you have been labeled a high risk driver there is going to be someone out there who is willing to take a chance on you. The question is, is it worth it? Is the money you're going to save every month worth the possibility of receiving substandard coverage?

Let's take a quick look at the pros of purchasing cheap auto insurance. First and foremost, you're going to save money. That's a no brainer! You're going to pay less every month in premiums, sometimes as much as 40% less than you would through some of the "big name" insurance companies. Can you imagine what you'd do with an extra 40% of your income? Take a night out, save it up for a vacation, buy a new car! You can undoubtedly find something better to do with a little extra money that send it to a nameless, faceless auto insurance corporation on the chance that you might have an accident.

Another perk to cheap auto insurance is that your coverage usually isn't cheap. In order to remain competitive most companies that offer cheap insurance also offer the same full coverage that you would have if you were paying twice as much a month in premiums! As long as you are meeting your state's minimum coverage requirements you can comfortably choose to do business with any insurance company you want.

The downside to cheap auto insurance is that if you have an accident you are likely to find yourself paying considerably more in deductibles than you would otherwise. Insurance companies make their profit from the premiums they bring in, and if they're paying all of their premiums out in repairs in a year they're going to go under pretty quickly! Companies that offer cheap auto insurance premiums compensate for this by charging their customers more in deductibles for each individual accident, decreasing the amount that they are forced to pay and substantially increasing their profit margin.

The other caution point for drivers is that most companies offering cheap auto insurance to their clientele have a very strict set of criteria which must be met before they will be willing to pay a claim. That means that you may believe you are covered only to get a rude awakening the first (or second, or third) time you try to file a claim. It's important before you sign on the dotted line to purchase cheap auto insurance that you take the time to read and familiarize yourself thoroughly with the fine print.

The bottom line is that cheap car insurance can be a blessing on the beleaguered pocketbook, but consumers should approach these companies with caution. Before you purchase cheap auto insurance, make sure you know what's going to be covered-and what you have to do to make sure your claim is met.