Insuring your VehicleChallenge:Chose an auto insurance policy that is a good match for your vehicle and your budget.Getting Organized:STEP 1 Is your vehicle an accident waiting to happen? Some vehicles are more expensive to insure because they aren't built to withstand accidents as well as other makes and models or they are the preferred object of car thieves. See how your make and model (The site doesn't have specific data about the various years a car was manufactured) rates by examining these two charts on the Highway Loss Data Institute web site: Collision rating for frontal, offset, side and rear crash tests: By Make and Model Driver Fatality Facts for Cars, Pick-ups, SUV's and Vans STEP 2 Show your instructor how your vehicle fairs in terms of these traits: injuries collision theft overall death rate Gathering Information:STEP 3 Read the article, "Nine Ways to Lower Your Auto Insurance Costs". These are the strategies you will use to speak with a sales representative on the telephone. As you read consider how each strategy applies to insuring your vehicle given the make and model of your car and your budget. These nine strategies will also be the points used by your instructor to evaluate satisfactory completion of this stage in the game. STEP 4 Use the Insurance Glossary to look up unfamiliar insurance terms. STEP 5 Talk with at least three persons you know who own vehicles and have insurance. Get three recommendations of three different reliable and reasonable insurance companies. If you know no one who owns an insured vehicle, or everyone you try to speak to runs away, use this guide, Shopping for Auto Insurance , compiled by the Washington State Insurance Commissioner to select companies to do your own comparison. STEP 6 Prepare a script. Call the companies and ask questions that will give you information about the discounts you are entitled to have. Make sure you also find out how much the premiums are. Sorting and Analyzing:Do you have enough samples to make an informed decision?STEP 7 Organize the information you have gathered on to a chart. Use the information obtained by applying the nine strategies as well as any information about premiums, or discounts. STEP 8 Now you are ready to analyze. Arrange the criteria in order of importance to you. Label each criterion as essential or a frill, as a potential for saving or wasting money? Creating the Final Answer:Selecting the best policy for youSTEP 9 Explain to your instructor in a brief written summary, or verbally, what was the best policy for your budget. Evaluation:STEP 10 Explain to your instructor in a brief written summary, or verbally, how you used the "Nine Ways to Lower Your Auto Insurance Costs" article to arrive at the lowest possible premium. Be sure to revisit your monthly budget and adjust the monthly auto insurance payment figure. Return to: Consumer Game | CAP | Squalicum | District |