Saving money is a constant battle and when it comes to car insurance it can be tempting to do anything to keep your rates down. But be careful. While it’s tempting to be evasive or to leave some details out when you are applying for car insurance, it can lead to big trouble down the road.

Even if you do so by mistake, you could end up paying more for your car insurance. And if your insurance company discovers you have misrepresented your situation intentionally, you could be facing a charge of insurance fraud; a very serious situation.

Here are some things to pay special attention to when applying, so you don’t get into trouble later.

1. Your address or zip code
   While it can be very tempting to try and save money by listing your home address as somewhere that is considered less risky than where you actually live, this is a very risky chance to take. Besides, although the location of your vehicle is one factor that goes into your insurance rate, it is not the only one. And, this type of falsehood is fairly easy to prove.
2.  Drivers in your household
   Many people don’t know that you are required to list all drivers in your household on your policy. A spouse, roommate or driving-age child should be listed, even if they don’t drive a household vehicle. Not reporting a driver, who then gets into an accident, will negate the insurance company’s responsibility for covering your damages.
3. Your qualifications for discounts
   Some discounts require verification, but some are on the honor system. If you are not honest, you could be facing higher premiums, once your misrepresentation is discovered. For instance, if you have a college student and take a discount because they are away at school and not driving the car, but they drive it when at home and have an accident, you could not only lose your discount but you may have to also pay retroactively.
4.  Your driving history
   One thing to never, ever misrepresent on an auto insurance application is your driving history. Insurance companies can easily discover past accidents or violations and if you have not been honest, may hit you with some high premiums or determine that you are not eligible for coverage at all.

In the long run, not being completely honest when applying for auto insurance can only cause you more trouble, and probably more money. A better way to save money is to shop around. Use the InsuranceWins form to get realistic quotes from insurance companies and find out what types of rate reductions you might qualify for that won’t get you in trouble in the end.

If you’ve moved to the U.S. from another country in order to go to school, you’ve had a lot of adjustments to make. Driving on U.S. roads may be one of them. It can be overwhelming when it comes to the paperwork for getting a license and registering a car. And, understanding all the rules of the road can be a challenge.

The one thing that can be easy is finding the best car insurance as an international student. This article will give you a few pointers to head you in the right direction.

How to Find Car Insurance as an International Student
Most larger colleges and universities offer some help for their international students when it comes to auto insurance. These programs can offer tips for saving money and finding insurance companies that cater to international students and sometimes even give better rates for those who have driving experience in their own country. Some companies do not do this and require international drivers to have three years of experience driving in the United States.

Types of Car Insurance

This is by no means a comprehensive explanation of the different types of car insurance, but it’s good to have a general understanding as you begin the process of shopping for car insurance. Some types are required, while others are optional. Here are the major types:

Liability – This type of coverage is required in all U.S. states It covers the medical bills repair costs if you are responsible for damage to someone else’s property. Liability insurance covers you if you are someone else’s car. The medical bills portion is known as Bodily Injury coverage.

Collision – Collision coverage is what is used to repair your own car after an accident, regardless of who was at fault. Collison requires a deductible amount, which is the amount you have to pay before the insurance will start covering your bills. Choosing a higher deductible will lower your premium. Collision coverage is optional.

Comprehensive – This type of coverage is used to repair damage to your car what wasn’t caused by a car accident. Things like hail damage, flood damage or vandalism are covered under comprehensive insurance. This also requires a deductible. This is also an optional coverage.

Collision and Comprehensive are required if you have a loan or lease on your vehicle.

Car Insurance Rates

As a student, you should expect to see fairly high rates. Due to your inexperience with driving and being in a foreign country, insurance companies see you to be a higher risk. But there are some things you can do to save some money on your auto insurance premiums.

Keep a good driving record – avoiding tickets and accidents is the surest way to keep your rates as low as possible
Choose higher deductibles – choosing a higher deductible automatically lowers your rates, but just be sure you can afford to pay it if you have an accident.
Find discounts – insurers have many ways for you to save due to your unique circumstances. Be sure to take advantage of student discounts, paperless discounts and even discounts for belonging to certain groups.
Keep a good credit rating – with a good credit rating, insurers will see you as less of a risk and offer a lower rate.

Remember it is a legal requirement to have auto insurance if you drive a car in the United States. If you are an international student, it’s important that you shop around to find car insurance companies that will consider driving experience in your own country, if you have it. InsuranceWins can help. Just use our fast and easy form to receive quotes from major carriers, including those with affordable rates for international students.