You depend on it when you're on the road. But are you paying too much for car insurance?
Menands resident Diane Miller thought so. She's took a class at the mall... to save.
"I would say I've done it three times and it's every three years. You get 10% off," said Miller.
"How many of you aware that in Schenectady County it's a $500 fine to text?" asked Defensive Driving Instructor George Plante, to a class of students. Plante was teaching at Right Way Driving Center, located at Colonie Center.
It's a six hour defensive driving class, that saves you ten-percent on insurance premiums, three years in a row. Plus, students who complete the class can get up to four points off their licenses, from traffic tickets.
"Like if you pay $800-a-year, you're saving eighty dollars a year. Times three. That's $240 dollars. It's worth it," said Miller
So if you can save 10-percent by taking a class, what else can you do to drive down insurance costs?
News Channel 13 reporter Beth Wurtmann took her policy to Liberty Mutual, where she's been a customer for years.
"Alright, let's take a look here," said Albany Branch Manager Dorothy Mobley, as she reviews the policy.
Mobley finds that Wurtmann was already getting about $500 in discounts, for things like having passive restraints, anti-lock breaks, and being considered a safe driver. Another discount was for belonging to a college or union affiliated with the insurer. And she's getting a multi-policy discount, for having home owners insurance with the company too.
But then, Mobley found more.
"Consumers can be missing out on available discounts they're not aware of," she said.
Mobley added that if Wurtmann took that defensive driving class, paid a bill electronically, and raised her deductibles slightly higher, she could save $390-dollars per year MORE.
But what about those ads for cheaper car insurance? Like Geico, that advertises that it can save consumers 15-percent on their policies after fifteen minutes for a quote.
Wurtmann did get a quote from Geico, and although the company would only guarantee a rate for six months, it priced out at hundreds of dollars less than her current policy.
But Mobley said, consumers have to consider a number of factors besides price, like face-to-face communication with their agents, and the level of customer service.
"Do you want the bottom line basic low price or are you looking for a combination of the best price, product and the customer service? What is it you want?" she said.
Menands resident Diane Miller thought so. She's took a class at the mall... to save.
"I would say I've done it three times and it's every three years. You get 10% off," said Miller.
"How many of you aware that in Schenectady County it's a $500 fine to text?" asked Defensive Driving Instructor George Plante, to a class of students. Plante was teaching at Right Way Driving Center, located at Colonie Center.
It's a six hour defensive driving class, that saves you ten-percent on insurance premiums, three years in a row. Plus, students who complete the class can get up to four points off their licenses, from traffic tickets.
"Like if you pay $800-a-year, you're saving eighty dollars a year. Times three. That's $240 dollars. It's worth it," said Miller
So if you can save 10-percent by taking a class, what else can you do to drive down insurance costs?
News Channel 13 reporter Beth Wurtmann took her policy to Liberty Mutual, where she's been a customer for years.
"Alright, let's take a look here," said Albany Branch Manager Dorothy Mobley, as she reviews the policy.
Mobley finds that Wurtmann was already getting about $500 in discounts, for things like having passive restraints, anti-lock breaks, and being considered a safe driver. Another discount was for belonging to a college or union affiliated with the insurer. And she's getting a multi-policy discount, for having home owners insurance with the company too.
But then, Mobley found more.
"Consumers can be missing out on available discounts they're not aware of," she said.
Mobley added that if Wurtmann took that defensive driving class, paid a bill electronically, and raised her deductibles slightly higher, she could save $390-dollars per year MORE.
But what about those ads for cheaper car insurance? Like Geico, that advertises that it can save consumers 15-percent on their policies after fifteen minutes for a quote.
Wurtmann did get a quote from Geico, and although the company would only guarantee a rate for six months, it priced out at hundreds of dollars less than her current policy.
But Mobley said, consumers have to consider a number of factors besides price, like face-to-face communication with their agents, and the level of customer service.
"Do you want the bottom line basic low price or are you looking for a combination of the best price, product and the customer service? What is it you want?" she said.
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