You have to pay your car insurance premiums to keep your coverage active. However, even when your agent makes your coverage as affordable as possible for you, it’s still a cost that you must fit into your budget.  

Insurance payments don’t have to be overwhelming. You can plan for them in advance of having to pay, and there’s no time like the present to start considering your next policy renewal. Let’s take a closer look at how you can save for your future payments and ensure you have better security in the end.  

Why do I have to pay for car insurance? 

Car insurance is a service just like any other you buy. When you pay your policy’s premium, that money helps fund the insurance company, which in turn agrees to help you out if you ever have a car wreck or other unexpected vehicle problem.  

To keep your coverage active, you must continue to pay your premium. Not paying and letting your policy lapse is far too risky, for a variety of reasons: 

• Most states require drivers to carry car insurance. These requirements help make the road safer and ensure that drivers can take responsibility for accidents. If you do not carry coverage, you might face fines, tickets, license suspensions and other penalties.
• Being uninsured affects your insurance history. Letting your coverage lapse, or not carrying insurance to begin with, is a clear indicator to insurers that you are a high-risk driver. Therefore, when you do have to buy coverage in the future, some insurers might deny your application and others might charge you very high premiums. 

The perks of car insurance are numerous, and it’s much easier to always pay for your policy responsibly than to let payments lapse and run the risk of cancellation. 

How to Manage Your Premium Payments 

No matter what your financial situation, you might feel concerned about how you will afford to pay for your auto policy. Luckily, there are solutions out there. 

• Most insurers offer discounts on premiums to qualifying drivers. These might be accident-free discounts, safe driving discounts and discounts for having extra security on your vehicle. Always ask your agent how you can qualify for as many benefits as possible. 
• Consider paying for your policy in a lump sum. If you pay your full premium at the time you buy or renew your plan, then you won’t have to fit a monthly payment into your budget. Some insurers even offer discounts to those who choose this payment avenue.
• If you don’t want to pay your full premium up-front, then ask to pay in installments. When you pay in installments your insurer will divide your full premium over the term of your policy. Therefore, you will know both when to expect payments and what those payments will be. You can even set up automatic payments so that you don’t have to receive a bill every month. 

Always remember that auto insurance does not end. Therefore, with each paycheck, set aside some money for your policy. This can help you build a nice egg of support for when your next bill rolls around. Contact our team of insurance agents for more information about auto insurance at (210) 314-7514.