by Toni Doswell

Created on: June 16, 2009   Last Updated: June 18, 2009

Shopping around for good deals on car insurance is the first step to saving money. There are several ways you can go. First, call around in your area to already established insurance companies and get quotes. Next, you can go online and find many insurance companies which can offer you discounts for just signing up with them. Always look into their history and decide if the company has been in business long enough to have built up a good reputation.

Keep a record of every company you call and jot down notes. If a company is too new, it may or may not be the one that will provide the service you need in case of emergencies. Some deals sound almost too good to be true, and most of the time, they may not be true. Look for the loopholes or catches in each offer. Bona fide insurance companies have good track records in paying off claims. They do it expeditiously and have satisfied customers. Also ask your friends about their insurance companies and the type of service they have received over the years. If your friends tell you they changed to a better company, check it out.

In my own experience, I found that I had been paying over the top premiums for my cars. The agent did not tell me that if I already had medical insurance with a reputable company, that would enable me to have a discount on my car insurance. He was evidently greedy, and it wasn't until he retired that the new agent informed me of my right to have a discount. I had been paying for at least 17 years before I was aware of how I was treated. The company with which I did business then became oppressive. The monthly premiums got so large that I felt I was paying for a car note. I groaned every time I went there to pay the bill. It wasn't until one of my relatives informed me that I was being ripped off, that I switched to another company. A brochure arrived in my mail offering a greatly reduced auto insurance package. I called and then went to see the agent. I discovered a large savings of over $800.00 per year with the new company. When I returned back to my former company and informed the secretary that I was switching, she bent over to me and said in a low voice, "You gotta do what you gotta do." That was enough proof for me that my former insurance company was a dishonest.

I would advise anyone to thoroughly check out even offers that come in the mail. This is what I did despite the name of the new company which I had never even heard about. I also told other friends

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