The state of the economy has many people pinching pennies and looking to save money wherever possible. Alfa Insurance understands and can help policyholders save money with discounts on insurance. An Alfa agent can explain the many different ways a policyholder may qualify for discounts.”Alfa’s discounts are important because they lower premiums for policyholders,” said Gail Pelt, vice president of Auto Underwriting for Alfa. “Some drivers are eligible for discounts based on courses they have completed, or the fact that they insure their home with us, or just for being a loyal customer.” Many new drivers qualify for honor student and driver training discounts with Alfa. Discounts also are available for drivers 55 and older who have taken a defensive driving course.”Unless you tell us, we don’t know when to reduce the rates,” Pelt said. “Driver training not only reduces the rate for a youthful driver, but it also prepares inexperienced drivers for the time when they will be driving without a parent in the car. It is important to have that valuable experience behind the wheel while learning more about the rules of the road.”Alfa also rewards loyal customers with discounts just for continuing insurance with the company. The longer a policyholder has insurance with Alfa, the more he or she benefits and the more possible savings.After being an Alfa policyholder for three years, policyholders can save 15 percent. After six years, that amount jumps to 20 percent. It’s Alfa’s way of thanking its customers for being loyal over the years.If a family has multiple cars and insures them all with Alfa, it can receive a multi-car discount. Other ways to save include verifying the annual mileage and one-way distance to work to make sure a vehicle is in the correct classification on its insurance policy.Discounts also are available for policyholders who have a car and home (or contents if you are renting) insured with Alfa.
While there are several ways to save money on auto insurance, there are also plenty of ways to save money on homeowners insurance. The homeowners insurance discounts Alfa offers are claims-free discount, auto/home discount, new home discount, home alert discount and home sprinkler credits. Alfa policyholders can also get a discount on homeowners insurance by taking a higher deductible of 2 percent or 5 percent.The numerous discounts offered through Alfa are designed with policyholders in mind, helping them save money while protecting some of their most valuable possessions. Current economic conditions also indicate a larger number of uninsured drivers on the road. So it’s more important than ever to maintain adequate coverage.According to a new study by the Insurance Research Council (IRC), there is a strong correlation between the percentage of uninsured motorists and the unemployment rate. Based on current unemployment rate projections, the IRC forecasts that the percentage of uninsured motorists will likely rise from 13.8 percent in 2007 (latest data available) to 16.1 percent in 2010.
The most recent data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners indicates the average uninsured motorist coverage claim was $1,481 for property damage and $19,650 for bodily injury in 2005. So driving without insurance is far more costly than carrying a policy and taking advantages of discounts during difficult times.Call a local Alfa agent today to make sure you are receiving the most discounts and the best coverage.”Just call your local Alfa office and let us know so that we can help you save money,” Pelt said.