Have you received your car insurance renewal this year? Are you tired of the price going up when you are not doing anything wrong? Shouldn’t you be getting better rates if you are not making a claim? Car insurance, house insurance and every other type of insurance will fluctuate. However, the best way to get a better price is to simply ask for it. Many people will simply pay the renewal fee and accept the higher rate as a part of life. Take the time to contact your current insurer and negotiate a better price.  Below are five simple ways to get a better deal on your car insurance this year:

Compare Online First  

Before you agree to the renewal fee of your car insurance, have a quick look online to see what the others are offering. You can perform a quick search and receive a quote from several different companies within a matter of minutes. Review the policies and use this information to ask for a better deal with your current provider. Or, if your current provider refuses to match it, then you may consider switching to one of the cheaper companies. One thing to remember, however, is that not all insurance companies have the same customer service and satisfaction rate. If you are going with a smaller no-name company that comes with the best rate, you need to be aware that this could be problematic if you need to make a claim down the road.

Ask for Discounts

When you are on the phone to your insurance company ask them about the different discounts and incentives they have on offer. You should be eligible for a no claims bonus if you have gone a certain amount of time without a claim or accident. You could also be eligible for a loyalty discount. There are several other discounts to consider such as a low mileage discount if you do not drive often.  You may not even know that these discounts exist unless you ask.

Bundle and Save

If you have more than one car or if you have several other ‘toys’ that need to be insured, such as boats and caravans, then ask about bundling these insurance options together. Some insurance companies will also allow you to bundle your car insurance with your house and contents coverage for more savings.

Check the Excess

The excess will only need to be paid if you need to make a claim. Typically you are looking at around $100 to $300 for the excess. You can choose to opt for a higher excess as a way to lower your premium. For example, you may save $100 per year if you go for a $500 excess instead of a $200 one. However, you will need to pay this amount if you ever need to make a claim and thus for some people, it may not be worth the risk, especially if you are prone to accidents or spend a lot of time driving.

Invest in Safety Equipment for your car

Finally, make sure that your car is up to the right safety standards. Anti theft devices, locking your car in a garage and regular servicing can all help improve the level of safety of your car and lower your insurance rate.

Talk to your provider about what they can do for you. When it comes to renewing your policy, you should be in the driver’s seat and if your insurance provider is not willing to help you out, then make the switch to an insurer that will.