AUTO INSURANCE ARTICLE

Choosing Insurance-Saving Vehicles for Your Family

By: coppeneur

Are you a new growing family of precocious tots? And the old sedan that did offer space when it was just you and your spouse has suddenly become less roomy. It might be the time for you to do car shopping. But crucial thing to consider is a car that has the right balance of family-friendly qualities and an insurance rating that maintains if not one that lessens your premium payments.

The good thing is that generally, family sedans vans fetch low auto insurance rates. Insurance providers and safety analysts are all in unison in their findings that vehicles most often associated with family transportation -- which includes minivans, station wagons and family sedans -- figure in fewer crashes than their high-horsepower cousins that mostly appeal to younger aggressive drivers. Choosing this vehicle for your growing family is not easy. Have these questions ready before you decide on making your car purchase.

How many people will be riding your car on a regular basis? If you have one or two kids, a small or midsized sedan should do. This way, you can save money and conserve fuel than a gas guzzler. But if you expect to carry a bigger group that includes your own kids’ friends, you may want more room to put them all in the back. In this case, a better choice is a minivan or SUV that can seat as much as nine passengers. You may also use this vehicle to transport bulkier items, since seven-seaters or more include a third-row seat that can be folded down or stowed away when not in use.

What are the ages of your kids? Typically, the younger your kids are, the more room you need. Your vehicle space would be taken much largely by child safety seats. But if your children are older, you may want to choose a car with more safety features and that which can be easier for them to handle if they learn how to drive. Small and midsized sedans and wagons are usually better choices as they can be easier to maneuver than bigger vehicles.

How much cargo room do you require? If you have a small family, the trunk of a sedan may provide enough cargo room. But if your family is bigger than 4, and you always take the cars for long drives out of town for picnics, sight-seeing or meeting cousins across the state, a vehicle that has more space may be your obvious choice. Depending on your cargo room requirement, you may choose from small wagons to minivans to large SUVs.

Are the vehicle’s compartments and seats “stowable?”? Can the rear seat be folded down? Is the vehicle a split design in which one side can be folded separately from the other? How about the front passenger seat? Can it be folded down to accommodate long items? Is the vehicle sitting lower to the ground to make it easier for you to load and unload?

What are the driving conditions in your area or usual destination? In rainy and very light snow conditions, of predominantly cleared roads, a two-wheel drive (2WD) vehicle will just work as well. But should you need additional traction for heavier snow conditions or for traveling on dirt roads getting an all-wheel drive (AWD) or four-wheel-drive (4WD) maybe more applicable for you.

Is fuel economy a predominant consideration? You must know that bigger vehicles have lower fuel economy. While small, lightweight sedans usually offer the best mileage. A balance between cargo and fuel economy maybe in the form of a minivan, smaller SUV or wagon. Hybrids usually are the best-ranked in fuel economy these days, but you will need to shell out initial money to get one. You can also consider whether you will get a diesel car than a similar-sized gasoline-powered vehicle. The former has better fuel economy than the latter.

What is the safety equipment included in your car? Most cars are now equipped with head-protection air bags that deploy to protect occupants in both the front and rear seats. The basic requirement would be dual front air bags. Electronic stability control (ESC), especially on SUVs is also a consideration you might want to factor in. It's designed to help keep the vehicle under control and prevent it from sliding or skidding in corners or slippery roads.

Finding the right balance between family-friendly qualities and an insurance rating that maintains if not one that lessens your premium payments in a vehicle should not be a very difficult task. Just follow these guide questions and you’re on your way to getting that vehicle that provides insurance economy and satisfactory space for you and your family.

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