Lower your Mazda 3 Insurance Rates in Three Easy Steps
If buying car insurance was fun, we'd do it as a recreational sport. But in reality, the cost for insurance always seems too high and most people would prefer to get a root canal. Finding affordable insurance for your Mazda 3 is probably the same story.
Step One: Insurance Quotes
If it's been a few years since you shopped for car insurance, you might still think the only way to buy is from a local agent. Now that we have the internet, shopping for car insurance online is a snap!
You can compare insurance rates for a Mazda 3 simply and quickly just by filling out one form. This allows you to quote the same coverages with multiple companies and pick the lowest rate.
Simply click the link below to start a quote that will compare rates from many companies and you may find a lower rate than you're currently paying.
Important! If you already have liability and physical damage coverage on your Mazda 3, it's important to keep the same limits and deductibles throughout the quote process. This allows you to fairly compare rates for many companies. If you use different limits and coverages for each quote, you won't be able to judge if the final rate is better or worse than other quotes.
Step Two: Top Ways to Get Lower Mazda 3 Insurance
Once you have quotes in hand, you can then consider some of the other techniques for lowering your Mazda 3 insurance rates.
- If you belong to a professional organization for your employment, you may qualify for a discount rate. And if you're a senior citizen, you may get a discount for your age as well.
- One of the best ways to lower your insurance rates is to raise your credit score. Check your rating once a year and make sure to address any problem areas immediately.
- Consider taking a defensive driving course. You can often make up the cost of the course in as little as a single policy renewal.
- Air bags, antilock brakes, traction control, and stability control all help lower the cost of insurance due to reducing the risk of injury in an accident.
- You can save money on your physical damage coverage (comprehensive and collision) by increasing your deductibles. Higher deductibles mean you are willing to pay more before the insurance company covers a claim.
- If your Mazda 3 ranks on the list of vehicles that are frequently stolen, that can result in a higher rating class and a more expensive rate.
- Filing too many claims with your company can end up either costing you more for insurance or having your policy cancelled. Insurance companies don't like paying any more than you do, but they have the option of whether to keep you as a policyholder or not.
- Most insurance companies will give you a discount on your car insurance if you also own a home. Some go even farther and give you discounts if you package your homeowners and auto insurance with them.
- One of the easiest ways to keep your rates down is to drive safe. One speeding ticket can boost your rates for three years.
- If you're a young driver, you will pay more to insure a Mazda 3. There isn't anything you can do about your age, but rates will drop as you mature.
- Do not allow your current car insurance coverage to lapse or expire. Insurance companies have a simple way to find out when your last policy ended (called a CLUE report), and if you went without coverage for any length of time you may pay more for coverage.
Step Three: Finalize your Car Insurance Policy
Buying a new car insurance policy is just a matter of finalizing your application form and submitting it with your down payment. Once payment has been accepted, coverage is bound the effective date shown on your application.
An important thing to keep in mind when buying a new policy is you want the effective date of the new policy to be the exact same as the date you are cancelling your old policy.
Coverage will extend from your current policy if you're buying a Mazda 3, but if you don't have a policy, you will need to make sure you have coverage in place before you drive it off the dealership lot. If your current policy has any vehicle with full coverage (comprehensive and collision), then your new Mazda 3 will have that coverage extended to it. If you only have liability coverage on your policy, then you have no physical damage coverage on your new purchase.
At the end of buying your policy, you will be able to print out a new proof-of-insurance card to place in your vehicle. This card is required by law and must be produced if requested by law enforcement. If an SR-22 is required due to a reckless driving conviction, DUI or conviction of driving without insurance, make sure your new company is aware of that. Not filing a court-ordered SR-22 can result in suspension of your driver's license.
Additional Insurance Information
For more information on car insurance, please visit the Insurance Information Institute's auto insurance informational page.