NINE WAYS TO LOWER YOUR AUTO INSURANCE COSTS

You may not realize it, but the insurance rates you pay
for your car can vary dramatically depending on the insurance
company, agent or broker you choose, the coverages you request
and the kind of car you drive. Listed below are a number of
things you can do right now to lower your insurance costs.


1. COMPARISON SHOP.


Prices for the same coverage can vary by hundreds of
dollars, so it pays to shop around. Ask your friends, check the
yellow pages or call your state insurance department (phone
numbers are on back page). You can also check consumer guides,
insurance agents or companies. This will give you an idea of
price ranges and tell you which companies or agents have the
lowest prices. But don't shop price alone.


The insurer you select should offer both fair prices and
excellent service. Quality personal service may cost a bit
more, but provides added conveniences, so talk to a number of
insurers to get a feeling for the quality of their service. Ask
them what they would do to lower your costs. Check the
financial ratings of the companies too. Then, when you've
narrowed the field to three insurers, get price quotes.



2. ASK FOR HIGHER DEDUCTIBLES.


Deductibles represent the amount of money you pay before
you make a claim. By requesting higher deductibles on collision
and comprehensive (fire and theft) coverage, you can lower your
costs substantially. For example, increasing your deductible
from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision cost by 15% to
30%.


3. DROP COLLISION AND/OR COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGES ON OLDER
CARS.


It may not be cost-effective to have collision or
comprehensive coverages on cars worth less than $1000 because
any claim you make would not substantially exceed annual cost
and deductible amounts. Auto dealers and banks can tell you the
worth of cars.


4. ELIMINATE DUPLICATE MEDICAL COVERAGES.


If you have adequate health insurance, you may be paying
for duplicate medical coverage in your auto policy. In some
states, eliminating this coverage could lower your personal
injury protection (PIP) cost by up to 40%.


5. BUY A "LOW PROFILE" CAR.


Before you buy a new or used car, check into insurance
costs. Cars that are expensive to repair, or that are favorite
targets for thieves, have much higher insurance costs. Write to
the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 1005 North Glebe
Road, Arlington, VA 22201 and ask for the Highway Loss Data
Chart.


6. CONSIDER AREA INSURANCE COST IF YOU ARE MAKING A MOVE.


Costs tend to be lowest in rural communities and highest
in center cities where there is more traffic congestion.



7. TAKE ADVANTAGE Of LOW MILEAGE DISCOUNTS.


Some companies offer discounts to motorists who drive
fewer than a predetermined number of miles a year.


8. FIND OUT ABOUT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT OR AIR BAG DISCOUNTS.


You may be able to take advantage of discounts on some
coverages if you have automatic seat belts and/or air bags.


9. INQUIRE ABOUT OTHER DISCOUNTS.


Some insurers offer discounts for more than one car, no
accidents in three years, drivers over 50 years of age, driver
training courses, anti-theft devices, anti-lock brakes and good
grades for students. See the following page for a guide to
these and other discounts.


INQUIRE ABOUT DISCOUNTS FOR:


COMPANY A COMPANY B COMPANY C

$500 deductible _______ _______ _______

$1,000 deductible _______ _______ _______

More than 1 car _______ _______ _______

No Accidents
in 3 Years _______ _______ _______

No Moving Violations
in 3 Years _______ _______ _______

Drivers Over 50 Years
of Age _______ _______ _______

Driver Training Course _______ _______ _______

Anti-Theft Device _______ _______ _______

Low Annual Mileage _______ _______ _______

Automatic Seat Belt _______ _______ _______

Air Bag _______ _______ _______

Anti-Lock Brakes _______ _______ _______

Good Grades for
Students _______ _______ _______

Auto and Homeowners
Coverage with the
Same Company _______ _______ _______

College Students
Away From Home
Without a Car _______ _______ _______


OTHER DISCOUNTS:


_______________ _______ _______ _______
_______________ _______ _______ _______
_______________ _______ _______ _______
_______________ _______ _______ _______