If you drive a car and have insurance then you probably want to find a way to reduce your excess. Excess is the money which you have to come up with out of your own pocket if you ever need to make a claim for any reason. This amount can vary widely depending on many factors and some people feel that there is no good way to reduce it. Despite this, there are methods which exist that can help to not only reduce your excess but also reduce your monthly premium.

The most common factor which leads to a high excess is the insurance premium. This is the amount which is paid out each month in order to keep the car insurance. Typically the more you pay out in your premium the lower your excess will be. Despite this fact it is often considered unwise to raise the premium just to reduce the excess. This is due to the fact that in most situations the higher premium over the course of time will far outweigh the cost of the excess should you ever have to file a claim on the policy.

For students, or parents who have children who are students and just beginning to drive, one method which is available for reducing the excess without increasing the premium considerably is to have good grades. Most insurance policies offer a good grade deduction. This is related to the fact that most insurance companies view students who get good grades as students who are more responsible and therefore less likely to have an accident which would result in a claim.

Maintaining a status as a good driver is another great way to reduce your excess and your premium. While most people believe that an accident will not be their fault the truth is that most accidents are caused by both people involved. By practicing constant safe driving habits you can reduce the risk of being involved in an accident by a considerable margin. Over time this will lead to both reduce premiums and a lower excess.

Another thing that you can do to reduce your excess is to ensure that you are giving the insurance company any information which may lead to a reduced premium and excess. Having children, being married, having a long term job and having a good credit history can all prove to the insurance company that you are responsible. This also leads them to view you as a lower risk which can lead to reduced premiums and excess.

The most important thing you can do if you are looking to get a lower excess is to shop around with several different insurance companies. Insurance companies do not offer universal rates. It is not uncommon for someone to save as much as 30% over another insurance company while getting the excess they want. It also gives you a good chance to ensure that you are getting a reputable insurance company who will be there for you if you ever need them.

Graham McKenzie is the content syndication coordinator for Carinsurancesa.co.za. South Arica?s leading Car Insurance portal, which provides cover for all Car Insurance types.

categories: Finance,Insurance,Cars,Automotive,Car Insurance