Top Ways To Save Money On Car Insurance 
According to The Zebra, an independent insurance comparison website, car insurance rates continue to rise steadily across the country, with the average rate up 28 percent over the past ten years. The site’s 2022 State of Auto Insurance report sifted through auto insurance pricing data to determine that the current national average rate for an “average” driver, a 30-year-old single male driver with a 2017 Honda Accord EX, is $1,529 a year.
The average rate in Colorado is slightly higher, at $1,687 a year. That actually represents an overall decrease from the year before. Colorado is one of 13 states that saw a slight decline in auto insurance rates in 2021, the site reports, while 37 states and the District of Columbia saw increases. Louisiana had the largest price jump – up 42 percent – making it the most expensive state in the nation for car insurance.
To keep ahead of surging costs in Colorado, it’s important to shop around and understand how insurance companies come up with the rates they charge, which can vary widely from one person to the next and between vehicles, too. Insurance companies determine your rate based on a variety of factors, including what kind of car you drive, your driving record, and who you are — your age, marital status, even your credit score.
It’s tempting to respond to rate increases by reducing your coverage to the minimum required by law. But as we’ve pointed out in other posts, that’s a bad idea, for several reasons. A lack of uninsured motorist coverage, for example, can cost you dearly if you happen to be hit by a driver who carries no insurance. Rather than risk being underinsured, here are some of the suggestions the report offers for cutting down on your insurance costs:
- Increase your credit score by one-tier. Pay down your revolving accounts, reduce your reliance on credit cards, and take other steps to boost your credit rating, and you can save as much as 17% on your auto rate.
- Make your next car purchase a used car. Insuring a 5-year-old model costs about 27% less a year than going with a brand-new one.
- Pay in advance. Many companies offer discounts of as much as 10% to customers who pay in full and online.
- Use a telematics device. Check and see if your insurance company offers a reduction in price if you have an onboard device that monitors your driving habits. A safety-minded driver can save around 4% this way.
- Bundle it. Combining your auto policy with homeowner or renter’s insurance can save you 5-10% in overall costs.
- Keep your coverage up to date. Insurance companies often charge their highest rates to people who have been inconsistent about maintaining coverage. Having continuous coverage for six months or more can save you another 5%.
Can Dashcams Help After An Accident? 
Not too long ago, dash-mounted cameras seemed to be found almost exclusively in patrol cars used by state troopers and other law-enforcement personnel. But now you can find excerpts of disturbing crash videos all over YouTube and the nightly news, many of them taken by ordinary drivers who have turned to dashcams as a way of documenting the mayhem on the roads.
Is a dashcam worth having in Colorado? Could it actually help your case if you’re involved in an accident? Here are some factors to consider.
Why A Dashcam?
The price of dash-mounted cameras has dropped in recent years as demand has increased, and popular models tend to cost between $50 and $200. Various reasons have been offered for the growing trend in Colorado. People who’ve had past “close calls” or actual car collisions have turned to the technology in hopes of heading off disputes over who’s at fault in the event of another accident. Others have turned to the cameras as a means of recording their on-the-road adventures (a considerably safer approach than taking a behind-the-wheel selfie) or in an effort to document and deter road-ragers and other bad behavior, in the same way that a security camera might curb theft. But can a dashcam make a difference in a car accident case?
How A Dashcam Can Help
There’s no question that a dashcam can be of help in certain Colorado car accident situations. Video is unbiased, objective, and generally indisputable evidence, and it can be a powerful tool in resolving fundamental “he said/she said” issues, such as whether the light was green, who had the right of way, the relative speed of the vehicles involved, and so on. It can capture the details of a hit-and-run driver’s vehicle and aid in the prosecution of someone who might otherwise have escaped justice.
However, dashcam evidence isn’t always necessary or useful. Vital details of a rear-end or sideswipe car collision can occur outside the range of the front-mounted camera. Dashcam critics claim other drawbacks: The devices can be one more distraction amid all the other electronic gear in your vehicle and (ironically) increase your chances of having an accident; they might also attract thieves. And dashcam recordings also raise privacy issues — not so much because of the video, but any audio recording it might also capture.
Obviously, dashcam users tend to believe there are more pluses than minuses surrounding the devices.
What To Look For In A Dashcam
Someday all new cars in Colorado may come equipped with a dashcam. Until that happens, here are some things to look for if you’ve decided to give a dashcam a try.
The most important feature for evidentiary purposes is a high-resolution image. The New York Times suggests avoiding the bargain-basement models with poor resolution and not settling for less than 1440p or even 4k. Also key considerations are easy controls and multiple mounting options. If the model you’re looking at includes an optional rear camera as well, that can greatly increase your ability to document what’s happening on all sides of your vehicle.
Call The Team That Will File Against the Insurance Companies
THE CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS AT FDAZAR
For nearly forty years the attorneys at Franklin D. Azar & Associates have helped thousands of injured people obtain complete and timely compensation for their losses. Our proven track record and expertise in serious injury cases have allowed us to grow into the largest personal injury law firm in Colorado, with offices in Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, Greeley, Lakewood, Littleton, Longmont, Pueblo, and Thornton. If you’ve been injured in a bus, car, rideshare, truck, or motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Please call the car accident attorneys at FDAzar day or night at 800-716-9032, or contact us here for a free consultation and no-obligation evaluation of your case.
