How Defensive Driving Can Lower Your Car Insurance Rates
Defensive driving is the practice of driving to save lives, time, and money, in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others. By practicing defensive driving it is possible to drastically reduce the cost of car insurance quotes.
One of the most important factors used to decide the price of car insurance quotes is your driving record. If you have a history of tickets, collisions or both, you will receive a higher quote. To lower your chance of getting in an accident or receiving a traffic citation, it is important to observe defensive driving techniques. By doing this, you can earn the label of "preferred risk driver" within the insurance industry and in some cases, be automatically eligible for insurance discounts.
The key to becoming a defensive driver is to simply modify your current driving habits. The most important aspect of defensive driving is to always be aware of your surroundings. If you know where all the vehicles and obstacles around you are at all times, you are much less likely to hit them or be hit by them. Another key is to leave yourself a cushion of space around your vehicle; that way you will have time to react to any unexpected circumstances. The old rule of thumb for the size of a cushion was three car lengths; but today, many insurance companies recommend the two second rule. The two second rule states that it should take you two seconds to reach a fixed marker after the vehicle ahead of you has passed it. There are many more aspects to defensive driving, and by implementing them into your driving routine you will be making the roads safer for yourself and others. Not to mention saving yourself some money on car insurance.
Even the safest drivers will sometimes be involved in accidents through no fault of their own. The policies vary from company to company, but if you are not found to be at fault, it probably won't count against your safe driving record.
Once you've established a safe driving record, usually over a period of two to three years, you may be eligible for a safe driver discount from your car insurer. The benefits and the requirements to receive them vary from state to state as well as from company to company, so you should check with your provider to verify what benefits they offer and the criteria for receiving them. In some cases, the discount may be as high as twenty percent.
Defensive driving is simple and cost free. Learning about it and practicing it in your day to day driving is an excellent way to save yourself some money on your car insurance.
