Reduce Your Commercial Truck Insurance Premium with These Proven Tips
Despite today’s hard market, you can still reduce your trucking insurance premium over time with a little effort.
Continue reading for tips on lowering your premium without sacrificing coverage.
Then at the end uncover the key emerging secret in Commercial Truck Insurance that can reduce your premium immediately.
Hint: It’s all about “Competition.”
Fix Your Credit Score
One of the most impactful ways to reduce your commercial truck insurance premium is by improving your credit score.
Insurance companies often use your insurance credit score, which combines your credit report information with your accident and insurance claim history to determine your risk level.
Here’s how to improve it:
- Understand the Difference: Your credit score reflects your ability to repay debts, while your insurance credit score includes this information along with your accident and insurance claim history.
- Pay Off Debts: Focus on paying off any existing debts and avoid maxing out your credit cards. Insurance companies prefer clients with long-established credit lines and responsible credit usage.
- Avoid New Credit: Limit applications for new credit accounts, as multiple inquiries can negatively affect your credit score.
By improving your credit score, you demonstrate financial responsibility, which insurance companies reward with lower premiums.
Pay Promptly
Paying your insurance premiums on time can significantly reduce your costs. Here’s why it matters:
- Establish Reliability: Consistently paying your premium before it’s due shows that you’re a reliable client, which can lead to lower premiums over time.
- Automatic Withdrawals: Set up EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) or automatic withdrawals to ensure timely payments. This can also save you 10-15% right off the bat.
- Pay in Full: If possible, pay your premium in full. This not only demonstrates financial stability but can also lead to additional savings.
These simple steps can help you build a positive relationship with your insurance provider, resulting in lower premiums.
Avoid Multiple Policy Changes
Insurance companies value stability. Frequent changes to your commercial truck insurance policy can disrupt their risk assessment algorithms and lead to higher premiums. Here’s what you can do:
- Limit Changes: Avoid making multiple changes to your coverage midterm. While necessary changes (like adding a new driver) are unavoidable, frequent adjustments can signal instability.
- Consistency in Cargo: Maintain consistency in the type of cargo you haul. Multiple changes can make it appear that your customer base is unstable, which can negatively impact your premiums.
By demonstrating financial and operational stability you can keep your insurance costs in check.
Know the current Stated Amount on your Commercial Truck
Understanding the stated amount of your truck’s value is crucial for reducing your physical damage insurance premiums.
Here’s how:
- Accurate Valuation: The stated amount is the value you provide to your insurance broker when starting your policy. Ensure this value reflects the current market value of your vehicle.
- Avoid Overvaluation: Overvaluing your truck can lead to higher premiums. If the actual value at the time of loss is lower than the stated amount, you’ll only receive the actual value.
- Review Regularly: Periodically review and update the stated amount to match the current value of your truck. This can lead to savings on your physical damage insurance.
Accurate and consistent valuation of your truck ensures you’re not overpaying for coverage.
Improve Safety Measures with Trucking Telematics
Many truck insurance companies offer discounts for sharing your driving data. If you consider yourself a skilled driver, this can be a beneficial option.
Incorporating data sharing into your commercial truck insurance policy is a midterm adjustment that insurance companies encourage.
By prioritizing safety, you not only protect you and your assets but also reduce your insurance costs.
Find a Professional Trucking Insurance Broker with fresh resources
Finding the Best Commercial Truck Insurance Broker for your needs can be challenging.
The ideal match for you is someone who can translate the complex language of trucking insurance into simple, easy-to-understand terms.
No legal jargon is required to grasp the essentials of trucking insurance.
Your broker works as your advocate in every way from tips for discounts at policy inception to assistance with claims.
The most reputable trucking insurance brokers have exclusive access to new insurance options, thanks to their established track records and strong reputations.
A New Commercial Trucking Insurance Company On It’s Way
Last month, a well-known GREEN financial giant launched pilot programs with select trucking insurance agents including CIS.
This exclusive opportunity isn’t publicly advertised, so working with a broker who has access to this program can significantly impact your bottom line.
Competition among insurance providers drives down rates, allowing you to reap the benefits effortlessly.
Be sure to unlock your maximum insurance savings with this new insurance partner by following the tips outlined above.
Owner-operators and small motor carriers who follow these strategies are the risks all insurance companies want to take.
Give us a call now at CIS – 330.864.1511.
We’re here to answer any questions, reduce your premium and make your truck insurance easy!
Authors
2002 Founder of Commercial Insurance Solutions, Inc., Shelly Benisch specializes in providing Commercial Truck Insurance for owner operators and small motor carriers. Both CIC and TRS certified, She also writes a free educational trucking insurance advice blog dedicated to the little guy.
CEOExecutive Director of Commercial Insurance Solutions, Inc., Christina Cummings leads her team in providing the best Truck Insurance with the best rates for Owner Operators and small Motor Carriers. Christina is TRS certified as a Transportation Risk Specialist. She is your "go to" person at CIS with questions, tips and networking opportunities in our trucking and expediting community.