Getting better Car Insurance rates for drivers in their 50s

If you’ve reached your 50s you may want to consider shopping around for car insurance

12:40 17 February 2013

Different insurance companies cater for different age groups and drivers. Yours may not be the best one for you and everyone can use a little extra cash flow during the month. Even if your policy rates have dropped, it is a good idea to do a little shopping around.

The internet makes getting insurance quotes efficient and simple. Sometimes you can find sites which will simultaneously submit your information to a list of providers so you can see the rates and compare the rates and benefits all at once.

If you aren’t sure how to start searching around, and you don’t relish the idea of looking through the phone book to make calls to different companies (and navigate the phone systems), try using a popular search engine online.

Try typing into a search engine “car insurance companies”. You may find resources if you search for something more specific like “Best car insurance companies for people in their fifties”.  You may find some articles that detail specific companies to check which could save you lots of time.

Another time to consider shopping around is once you reach your 70s.

Since the rate of accidents typically increases, it is a great time to consider rates of other companies. You can use the same internet search methods by replacing 50s with 70s in your search. If you have any type of memberships, check for discounts as well. Employers sometimes offer discounts for choosing a particular car insurance company.

Make sure to keep track of any memberships and affiliations you have, even if it is something from long ago. Friends and family in your age group can also make solid recommendations about car insurance companies which you may want to investigate.

Internet access makes the shopping process easier for many people. If you prefer to call the companies and speak directly with someone, they still offer that option, but using a website that checks multiple car insurance companies simultaneously is a real time-saver.

To reduce frustration, gather a few things before you begin your search:

• Make a list of memberships, club, and school affiliations

• Make, model, and year of vehicle(s)
• Mileage of vehicle(s)

• VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) -- check current insurance cards or your vehicle dashboard for a long number

• Driver’s License

• Social Security Card -- usually not needed, but good to have handy

• Current policy information to compare coverage levels

• Current deductible

• Current premium amounts (monthly, semi-annual, and annual if available)

• List of accidents and moving violations for the past five years (at least)

If you have any other information regarding your current insurance or that you think you might need, include that as well and you should be ready to start getting insurance quotes online and hopefully, cheaper rates.