| Bless your heart if you fall into a high risk | | | | higher category. Why? Well, you quit paying |
| category of the car insurance world. High | | | | and they quit making any money. They have |
| risk means that you are a high risk to the | | | | to reissue policies or reinstate old |
| insurance company and this could be for | | | | policies. Best bet - pay your bills and pay |
| various reasons. Let me give you some idea | | | | your insurance on time. |
| so you can decide if you can afford to be in | | | | |
| the high risk category. | | | | One option that is under your control is the |
| | | | type of vehicle you drive. If you buy a new |
| Accidents almost always put you in the higher | | | | corvette with 505 hp and expect to get the |
| category unless you have a clean record and | | | | same cost insurance as if you were driving a |
| this is your first accident. Then, you might | | | | Ford Explorer then you are too goofy to be |
| be spared. Otherwise, you'll be in for an | | | | driving a corvette. If the car you chose |
| expensive insurance payment for the next 3 | | | | even has a hint of being "sporty", then you |
| years until these accidents are cleared off | | | | might be bumped into the high-risk group. It |
| your record. | | | | is all about statistics and cost of repairs. |
| | | | I'm sure smashing up a big money corvette |
| DUI or DWI. Unfortunately, these charges | | | | will cost more to repair than a Toyota |
| hang around for a while and even if you have | | | | corolla. |
| a one time offense and otherwise clean | | | | |
| record, you still may be penalized and put in | | | | How can I lower the rates? Don't have an |
| the high risk group. Best bet - if you | | | | accident. Don't buy the new corvette. Buy |
| drink, don't drive. Hello? McFly? | | | | an old heavy car that's less likely to be |
| | | | stolen and for goodness sake, don't drink and |
| Always pay your insurance. If you miss | | | | drive. If you have already fallen into one |
| payments or decide not to carry insurance for | | | | of these categories, you might still be able |
| a while, then you have created a gap. | | | | to lower your insurance. Ask you agent about |
| Insurance companies know when you have gaps | | | | raising the deductible or other advice - put |
| in coverage. This is an indication that you | | | | the monkey on his back and see what he can do |
| won't pay them on time and puts you in a | | | | to get your rates to a manageable level. |