No doubt about it, the Internet has made shopping for auto insurance more convenient than ever. But one downside might be temptation to click, buy, and just be done with it—without taking the time to think through your actual auto insurance needs.
It's worth repeating: the more safely you drive over time, the more likely you are to pay less for auto insurance. Think of your driving record as your fossil record—get a couple speeding tickets, for example, and your auto insurance premium is likely to be affected for several years.
A spotty driving record may impact your auto insurance cost in less obvious ways, too. Here at Allstate we currently offer more than a dozen auto insurance discounts—and 3 of those discounts are especially for safe drivers. So getting tickets for speeding or other violations can lock you out of discounts that can knock off a big chunk of your auto insurance cost.
Our innovative Your Choice Auto® insurance offers superior protection if you do have an accident, and more rewards if you don't. Accident Forgiveness, for example, helps keep your auto insurance rates from going up just because of an accident, even if it's your fault. And our Safe Driving Bonus® gives you the opportunity to earn a check for up to 5% of your premium for every 6 months you drive accident-free.
Drivers with gaps in auto insurance coverage generally pay a higher premium—all other things being equal—than drivers with continuous coverage. That's why it's important to keep your auto insurance policy active even if you're shopping around. Remember that a gap of just a day can lead to higher premiums.
So if you do switch auto insurance companies, make sure your new coverage kicks in before cancelling your old policy.
If you're shopping for new auto insurance, we hope you'll take a few minutes to get our no-obligation online insurance quote. People who switch to Allstate save an average $375 per year*