We’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is that Tennessee drivers pay less than the national average for their auto insurance. The bad news is that you’ll still probably pay more than a thousand bucks each year to insure your car in the Volunteer state. Studies show that the average Tennessee driver pays just north of $1,300 for their policy.
But since Tennessee is one of the states that requires liability insurance, you’re going to need to get some level of car insurance. We can’t help you get around that requirement, but we can help you get cheaper auto insurance. Here are some tips to help Tennessee drivers cut the cost of their car’s policies.
If you can find four hours of free time in your schedule, you could shave as much as 10% off of your insurance premiums. That’s because many insurance companies offer a discount for drivers who complete traffic school.
The thought is that once you’ve completed this refresher course on safe driving best practices, you’re more likely to make good choices out on the road. And since that makes you less likely to get into an accident, insurance companies might reward you for taking traffic school.
You don’t have to go to a classroom to complete the four-hour traffic course and score this discount, either. Tennessee traffic school is available online, on-demand, and even available on mobile devices.
A quick caveat here: not all insurance companies offer the traffic school discount. Call your insurance provider to confirm that you’ll see some savings before you take your course.
Your deductible is the amount of money you’ll need to pay out-of-pocket to get certain parts of your insurance coverage to kick in. That includes your collision coverage for repairs to your car if you hit someone or back into something and your comprehensive coverage, which pays to replace your car if it gets stolen.
A $500 deductible is super common, but if you could comfortably cover a one-time expense of $1,000, consider raising your deductible. Doing so will drop the cost of your car insurance.
If it’s been a while since you shopped for auto insurance, it’s probably time to get quotes from a few different companies. You might be able to find a cheaper policy with another provider. And switching your car insurance over can actually be easier than you might think, especially since your new auto insurance company will probably help you. They want your business, after all.
If the pandemic changed how much you’re driving and you’ll be commuting to the office less, let your insurance provider now. The more miles you cover each year, the more your Tennessee auto insurance costs.
If you’re able to bike to work or take public transportation, consider choosing that a couple of days a week, too. Again, the fewer miles you drive, the cheaper your car insurance will be.
These are just a few ways to save. Improving your credit score, calling your insurance provider to ask about discounts, and bundling your auto insurance with your home or renters insurance can also slash your Tennessee auto insurance costs.