Tips to Save on Car Insurance | Desjardins Insurance

1. Review and update your policy regularly

Did working from home change your driving habits? Do you have a new job that’s closer to where you live? Maybe it’s time to update the estimated yearly mileage for your policy.

Take a few minutes to check if your insurance matches your profile. You can do that by logging in to your Online Services account or contacting your insurer.

2. Drive safely

Being a safe driver is the best way to avoid an accident. It can also help you save on your auto insurance premium.

Safe driving goes beyond sticking to the speed limit. To keep you and others safe, you need to always be aware of what’s happening around you. Distractions like texting are a major cause of accidents. So, it’s no surprise that police across Canada are cracking down on speeders and distracted drivers. Being a safe driver will help you avoid getting traffic tickets and demerit points, which both affect your insurance premium.

3. Sign up for a usage-based driving program

A usage-based driving program like the Desjardins Insurance Ajusto^® program, measures your driving behaviours and gives you more control overyour auto insurance premiums. Your safe and careful driving could save you money!

4. Insure all your vehicles with the same company

When you insure all your vehicles with the same company, you’ll often get savings like multi-vehicle discounts.

5. Bundle your home and auto insurance

There are advantages to bundling your home and auto insurance with the same insurer. For example, it’s easier for you to manage your policies. You could save on your premium and pay just one deductible if something happens and there’s damage to both your home and vehicle registered at the same address.

6. Choose a vehicle that is less likely to be stolen

When you’re shopping for a car, you probably factor in things like gas mileage on top of the sticker price. But don’t forget that the cost of insurance can also vary from one model to the next.

A big reason for these differences is that some models are more popular with thieves. Visit the Insurance Bureau of Canada website for a list of the top-10 stolen cars.

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, get insurance quotes for the models you’re thinking about. You can even get quotes online to quickly compare insurance premiums and see which one will be cheaper to insure.

If you’re insured with us, visit our Online Services to get a quote.

7. Increase your deductibles

The principle is simple: the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. Remember, your deductible is the amount you agree to pay in the event of a claim, so you want to make sure you’d be comfortable paying that amount in case of an accident.

Changing your deductible could also affect what you’re able to claim on your insurance. For example, if you increase your deductible from $500 to $1,000, smaller claims may no longer apply.

8. Adjust your coverage on older vehicles

If your car is more than 10 years old, it may not be worth paying for all the bells and whistles on your insurance policy. You could reduce your coverage to save on your premium.

For instance, you could insure your car with just the mandatory liability coverage, which covers damage or injury to others. Just bear in mind that you’ll have to pay the full cost of repairs to your car if, for example, you have an at-fault accident or your car is vandalized.

Before making a decision, talk it over with your insurance provider so you fully understand what would happen if you had a car accident.