College graduates saddled with student loans may find this hard to believe, but there is one upside to having to pay back all that debt: It helps you build credit.
That may seem like a small consolation â particularly if the balances you owe are even average â but credit can be hard to come by. Of course, all hope isn’t lost for those who don’t have student loans.
Here are some ways to build credit without that kind of debt.
1. Get a Secured Credit Card
The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act prohibits lenders from giving credit cards to anyone under 21 who doesn’t have a willing co-signer or a demonstrated ability to repay, but if you’re over that age or you have a source of income, you can apply for some entry-level plastic.
Secured credit cards â which require you to put down a deposit that serves as your credit line â are specifically designed to help people repair or build credit. These cards generally require a deposit to “secure” the limit of the credit card. (You can go here to learn more about the best secured credit cards in America.)
There are also student credit cards geared to young borrowers that could be worth considering. The better ones have low credit limits that can keep new borrowers out of trouble and tout rewards or alerts designed to build smart-spending habits.
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2. Become an Authorized User
If you can’t qualify for a credit card, you may want to see if a parent, guardian or family friend is willing to add you as an authorized user to one of their credit cards. Authorized users aren’t responsible for paying off an account, but will get credit (pun intended) for any good activity associated with it. Just be sure to have the primary cardholder check if the issuer reports authorized users to the major credit bureaus, since not all of them do so.
3. Take Out a Credit-Builder Loan
An alternative to starter credit cards, credit-builder loans, offered by some credit unions and banks to help people improve their credit, allow you to borrow a nominal amount (often $1,000 or less) and make payments for 12 to 24 months. The payments are deposited in an interest-bearing CD or savings account. These loans typically have relatively low interest rates and can help people with a thin credit history develop a more solid credit profile as long as on-time payments are reported to the three major credit reporting agencies. (Again, you may want to check this ahead of time.)
4. Apply for a Personal Loan
You may be able to qualify for a personal loan. These installment loans do not require collateral and typically have slightly higher interest rates than secured loans. A bank or credit union that you have a relationship with may be willing to extend financing, though you may be asked to get a co-signer.
5. Establish Good Habits
Of course, you’ll only build good credit if you use any financing you are able to obtain wisely. You can establish a good credit score over the long term by making all your payments on time, keeping debt levels lower than 30% (ideally 10%) of your total available credit limit(s), and adding a mix of credit accounts (revolving lines, like credit cards, and installment loans, like an auto loan) as your score and wallet can handle them.
You can track your progress by viewing your two free credit scores each month on Credit.com. If you make a misstep, you may be able to fix your credit by disputing errors on your credit report, identifying your particular credit score killers and coming up with a game plan to address them.
More on Credit Reports & Credit Scores:
The Credit.com Credit Reports Learning Center
Whatâs a Good Credit Score?
How to Get Your Free Annual Credit Report
Image:Â LifesizeImages
The post How to Build Credit Without Student Loans appeared first on Credit.com.
Buying a new or used car can be an intimidating experience. Many car salespeople may pressure you to leave the lot with a purchased vehicle, so itâs crucial youâre armed with information about the cars you are interested in, the budget you can afford, and the value of your trade-inâif you have one. With these details, you have all the tools you need to negotiate properly.
Here are 10 tips and strategies for making sure you get the best-quality vehicle at the lowest price.
1. Think about Financing
Prior to visiting any dealership, have a sense of what kind of deposit you can put down and what monthly payment you can afford. It also helps to do some research on available auto loans to get a sense of what you qualify for. Or try a service like AutoGravity, which allows you to select rates and terms that fit your budget and then obtain offers from lenders.
2. Check Your Credit Score
Knowing your credit score can be helpful as well. Justin Lavelle, chief communications officer for BeenVerified, says, âHaving a good idea of your credit report and credit score and the interest rates available can help you negotiate a good deal and save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.â
3. Shop Around
Research the cars you might be interested in before you head to a dealership, rather than going in unprepared. To determine what kind of car you want, use resources like US News Best Cars, where you can search anything from âbest cars for familiesâ to âbest used cars under 10k.â Another resource is Autotrader, which can be used to search new and used cars in your area by make, model, price, body style, and more.
4. Compare Prices
Lavelle also stresses getting detailed pricing info in advance: âPrice the car at different dealerships and use online services to get invoice and deal pricing.â A reliable tool is Kelley Blue Book. Use the siteâs car value tool to find out the MSRP and the dealer invoice of a car as well as a range of prices you can expect to see at dealerships. TrueCar is also helpful to use. You can search for and request pricing on any make, model, or year of car. You may get a slew of phone calls, emails, and texts from dealers immediately after, but having information from different dealerships can help you negotiate prices. You should also visit dealer sites to look for rebate offers.
5. Research Your Trade-Inâs Value
If you have a trade-in, donât wait for the salesperson to tell you what itâs worth. On Kelley Blue Book, you can get a sense of the value ahead of time so you know if youâre receiving a good offer. Or try the Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer feature, where dealers will give you a guaranteed price for a trade, eliminating complicated haggling at the dealership.Â
6. Test Drive Potential Purchases
You may want to pass on the test drive if youâre familiar with a particular make and model, but Lavelle recommends taking the time to do it anyway. âIt is a good idea to inspect the car and give it a good test drive just to make sure all is working and there are no noticeable squeaks, rattles, or shimmies that could cause you headaches after your purchase,â he says.
7. Look at Car Histories
Before selecting dealerships to visit, search for consumer reviews so you can avoid having a bad experience. However, Lavelle warns that just because a car sits on a reputable, well-reviewed lot does not necessarily mean that the car is issue-free. So he recommends digging deeper, especially for used cars. âServices like CARFAX represent that they can tell you about the carâs life from first purchase forward, so that might be a good place to start,â he says. He also recommends checking the title, which you can do online via the DMV.
8. Find Repair Records
In addition to checking the repair history on the specific car you are interested in, Autotrader suggests looking up the repair record of the make and model. âCheck J.D. Power and Consumer Reports reliability ratings to see if the vehicle you’re considering is known to be a reliable one,â the site states. It also recommend Internet forums and word of mouth.
9. Spring for an Inspection
Autotrader also suggests telling the seller you require an inspection from a mechanic before purchase to ensure there aren’t any problems. âWhile a mechanic may charge $100 or more for such an inspection, it can be worth it if it saves you from thousands of dollars in potential repairs,â it recommends. Some sellers may try to dismiss a mechanic’s inspection. Don’t give inâthe seller could be covering up a serious issue with the car. Insist an inspection is done, or rethink your purchase.
10. Know Your Rights
For any new or used car, take the time to get familiar with the warranty package and return policies. Do you need to supplement the warranty? Are you familiar with the lemon law in your state?
Shopping for a car can be frightening, but with the right research and preparation, you wonât have any regrets. Use the tips and resources above, and snag a free credit report from Credit.com so you know what kind of financing you can expect.
Insurance companies determine risk when calculating rates and offering coverage. If the company determines that your accident risk is higher than average, you’ll have to purchase high-risk auto insurance. Since companies base rates on risk, you can expect to pay more for coverage if you need high-risk insurance.Â
Find out why you might need high-risk insurance, how you can lower your premiums, and more. Then you’ll be ready to shop for high-risk auto insurance if necessary.Â
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Reasons for High-risk Auto Insurance
Insurance companies look at various factors when determining risk. You might need high-risk insurance if you:
Have lots of at-fault accidents on your recordÂ
Have a large number of speeding ticketsÂ
Have reckless driving or racing violations
Have been convicted of driving under the influence
Are a young, inexperienced driver, or are over 65 years oldÂ
Have bad creditÂ
Use the vehicle for a ridesharing service or another high-risk activityÂ
Drive a high value or specialized car
Had your license suspended or revoked
Let your insurance lapseÂ
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Lowering Your Risk
If you’ve been flagged as a high-risk driver, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk in the eyes of the insurance company. Reducing your risk can lead to lower premiums.
First, if you are high risk due to moving violations, take a defensive driving course. Speak with your insurance agent before taking a class to ensure it’s approved, though.Â
Also, practice safer driving behaviors while on the road. Follow the speed limit and obey all laws. After you hit the three-year mark without any tickets, your premium should decrease.
If you’re high-risk because of a DUI conviction, speak to your insurance company about installing an interlock ignition device. While most companies will not reduce the rates, some will, so it’s worth exploring.Â
Improving your credit score can also lower your premiums. Some insurance companies charge more for bad credit scores, so make your payments on time and reduce your credit-to-debt ratio. Â
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SR-22 Certificate and High-risk Insurance
If you require high-risk auto insurance because your policy lapsed, or your license was suspended or revoked, you might need an SR-22 certificate. This certificate is not insurance. Instead, it is proof that you have the required liability insurance. Your insurance company will issue the certificate and send it to the necessary state office on your behalf.Â
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High-risk Insurance Restrictions
Some high-risk policies include restrictions. For example, you might be the only person protected when driving your vehicle. If someone else drives your car, he or she won’t be covered. Also, if you are in an accident and the court assesses punitive damages, your policy might not cover it. Finally, the company might review your driving history annually and increase your rates if you have any infractions.Â
Because of these restrictions and the high cost of coverage, work hard to reduce your risk, so you can get a standard policy soon.Â
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Getting High-risk Insurance
Finding high-risk auto insurance is a bit harder than purchasing a standard policy. Some major insurance providers offer high-risk coverage, so you can begin shopping there. However, you might have to use a company that specializes in these policies. When you choose such a company, you’re less likely to get turned down for insurance.Â
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Compare Quotes
As with any insurance policy, you should compare quotes before purchasing high-risk coverage. Companies use different formulas for assessing risk. One company might see you as extremely high risk, while another might view your risk at a moderate level, meaning you’ll pay less. After you compare quotes, you can purchase your policy and hit the road once again.
What Is High-risk Auto Insurance?  is a post from Pocket Your Dollars.
Weâve been hearing about electric cars for a while, but it sometimes seems that the only people who buy them are either very into being energy efficient or very wealthy. But there are a lot of good reasons for you to consider buying an electric car. They are good for the environment, but they can also be good for your pocketbook. And who doesnât want to satisfy the demands of their conscience and their bank account at the same time?
Check out our cost of living calculator.
1. Electric cars help the U.S. with energy independence.
The United States spends about $300 billion importing oil into the country. Thatâs two-thirds of the U.S. trade deficit. Being dependent upon foreign oil leaves the United States more vulnerable to international problems and fluctuations in the supply of oil abroad.
2. Electric cars are more efficient.
With an electric car you never have to stop for gas. You can charge your electric car in your own garage overnight and be ready to travel wherever you want to go in the morning. In addition, you wonât be wasting any time or money buying snacks or pumping gas at the gas station.
3) Youâll likely save money.
Even though oil prices are the lowest theyâve been since 2008, electricity is still the less expensive option. Right now, if you purchase an electric car, recent data shows you will spend $3.74 worth of electricity to travel 100 miles. However, if you purchase a comparable car that uses gasoline, it will cost you about $13.36 to travel 100 miles. In addition, gas prices have a way of rising (or at least being unpredictable), so that journey of 100 miles can quickly get even more expensive for people with conventional cars.
4) You can get paid to buy an electric car .
Right now, the federal government offers a tax credit that can reduce the cost of a new electric car by up to $7,500. That can effectively eliminate the cost difference between a gasoline-powered car and an electric car. Sometimes it can even make the cost of buying a gasoline-powered car more than the cost of buying an electric car. However, the tax credit offer might not last forever, so you might want to buy an electric car sooner rather than later if thatâs an important factor for you.
Related Article: 3 Tips for Claiming the Energy Tax Credit
5) Theyâre Low Maintenance
With an electric car youâre not going to have to take your car to the mechanic as often. Although all cars may have problems, electric cars generally have lower maintenance costs than gasoline-based car. With an electric car youâll also spend less time worrying about how to get by while your car is in the shop, or waiting around at the garage for the maintenance to be performed.
Bottom Line
You donât have to be a hippie or a billionaire to opt for an electric car. There are advantages for anyone who takes relatively short car trips and has access to charging facilities.
It would be easy to fill up a wallet with just credit cards. A card to maximize airline miles. A card targeted at your favorite hotel chain. A card that gives you cash back on groceries. Even a card that earns you points when you spend at NFL games. So, where to begin? And where to end?
How many credit cards should I have?
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The short answer: you should have at least two – ideally each from a different network (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, etc.) and each offering you different kind of rewards (cash back, miles, rewards points, etc.). How many credit cards is too many? That depends on the individual – you should never have more than you can handle.
Experts say the number of cards one should have varies according to individual and circumstance. “Generally speaking, there is no one perfect number,” said Ethan Dornhelm, a vice president at FICO.
While the number varies by generation, credit score and other factors, the average American has three credit cards and 2.4 retail store cards, according to a 2020 survey by the credit reporting agency Experian.
To ensure a mix of credit cards and keep your credit score climbing, credit expert John Ulzheimer suggests asking yourself two questions about the cards in your wallet:
Do you have cards across more than one network? If you have three cards, but all of them are Mastercards, this could be a problem if you run into a merchant who only takes Visa. An example? Costco only accepts Visa now, though you can use your Mastercard on the wholesaler’s website.
Do you have a low credit card utilization ratio? Your average balances across all your cards for the past 24 months “should represent no more than 10% of your overall credit limit,” Ulzheimer says.
Credit utilization – how much credit you’re using each month, on average, of all the credit available to you from all your cards combined – accounts for 30% of your credit score under FICO’s traditional model.
If you can add another credit card while keeping your overall spending the same, you’ll lower this ratio – and boost your score.
See related: What is a good credit utilization ratio?
Two? Twenty? The answer is personal
That former number sounds about right to John Corcoran, a hotel industry executive in Aspen, Colorado.
He’s got two for personal use – both airline mileage cards – and a third for work. He added the second mileage card solely for the points bonus, and is thinking about dropping it before the $90 annual fee comes due. “I don’t like credit cards,” he said. “I don’t like debt.”
On the other end of the spectrum is Naomi Sachs, an international business executive in San Rafael, California. Sachs estimates she has 20 or 30 cards “sitting in a sock drawer, unused” – generally retail cards she signed up for to lower the cost of a purchase at that store or credit cards she acquired for the points boost.
Sachs is carrying around in her wallet about 10 more cards, of which she uses two or three with regularity. As for cash? Maybe there’s a $20 bill in there somewhere. Debit? “I don’t put anything on debit, ever, ever,” she said.
Instead, she charges strategically, and checks her card balances a few times a week to stay on top of her finances. “I aggressively try to maximize my spend, for almost every single dollar, every single time,” she said.
Credit expert John Ulzheimer suggests two things that can help you determine the number of cards that is right for you. Always keep your overall credit card utilization low, and secure access to more than one credit card network.
While merchants in the U.S. accept the big four card networks – especially Mastercard and Visa, and, to a lesser extent, American Express and Discover – you can still find places where some of them are not accepted. Costco is one example. The warehouse club switched in 2016 from American Express as its card partner to Citi, so now the only card Costco accepts in-store is Visa.
And if you travel abroad, you should pack credit cards from a variety of card networks. While Visa and Mastercard are most universally accepted, and American Express signs are increasingly common in store windows across the globe, you will inevitably wind up in a place that doesn’t accept the type of credit card you have with you.
Beyond those two key elements, Ulzheimer explains, many approaches are valid, so long as they work for you.
See related: How to use your credit card wisely
How many cards should you have if…
Want to get more specific? Here’s a list of some particular situations you may find yourself in, and some experts’ thoughts on how that might affect what kinds of cards, and how many, you may want to carry in your wallet:
You’re new to credit cards, or just recovering from a bankruptcy or other bad credit incident
Start with one card, a secured card if necessary, then add a second card when you can prove to yourself that you are making your payments on time and paying your bill off in full each month, says Netiva Heard, a credit counselor in Chicago.
“It’s a learning period,” she said. “That’s why you start with just one card first, to get adjusted to those good habits.”
You want to take advantage of rewards programs
Cards that don’t offer rewards “are a complete waste of your time,” Heard says. She recommends thinking about what rewards would benefit you the most, and whether you want to pay an annual fee to get them.
Cards that don’t charge an annual fee generally come with lower introductory bonuses than cards that do and may not be as generous with rewards points on day-to-day spending. But be careful that you don’t sign up for more rewards cards than you can manage to juggle.
Heard advises most people to keep no more than three to five credit cards total in their wallets. Ulzheimer said two rewards cards seems like more than enough – one for airline points and one for cash back.
You plan to buy a new house or car soon
You should stick to the number of cards you already have, at least temporarily. Don’t open even one new credit card within at least six months of applying for a so-called installment loan. Opening a new card will lower your score by a few points due to the hard inquiry on your credit, “and you want it to be in the best shape possible when you go out to get that expensive loan,” Ulzheimer said.
That said, he added, installment lenders will pay the most attention to whether you’ve had a mortgage or auto loan before, if you paid it off on time and whether you tend to pay off your bills in general on time.
You want to improve your credit score
This is not a reason to get a new credit card, Ulzheimer said. “Opening a new card can actually backfire,” he said, because it will, at least initially, lower your score.
When you apply for a credit card, the issuer pulls your credit report, which triggers a hard inquiry. A hard inquiry can lower your score by five points, but it only affects your credit score for one year. After two years, the inquiry falls off your credit report. Note that applying for multiple credit cards at once can exacerbate the negative credit score impact of inquiries, at least in the short term.
A new credit card can also reduce your length of credit history, a key credit scoring factor that considers the average age of all your credit accounts. While length of credit history only counts for 15% of your FICO score, the effect can be significant if you only have one or two existing credit accounts.
On the other hand, if your new credit card has a high credit limit and you keep your balance low, the card can eventually boost your credit score by increasing your overall available credit.
debit card, or cash, Ulzheimer said.
If you need to close your credit cards to avoid using them, then do it, but know that every time you close a credit card, it can lower your score, he said – because it may reduce your available credit, thus increasing your aforementioned credit utilization ratio.
Divorce hits women harder financially: Here’s how to survive it
Bottom line
So, whether you have two or 20 cards doesn’t really matter. What’s important is that your cards give you access to more than one network and offer you the rewards that best meet your needs (which can change over your lifetime).
And, of course, you need to be sure you’re not juggling so many cards that you can’t keep track of all the payment due dates The whole point of having two to 20 or more credit cards is earning points or cash back on your everyday spending that you pay off every month. All the while, keep your credit utilization low so that your credit score climbs.
Yes, lenders have auto loans for people with no credit, but getting one is not guaranteed. It will depend on the lenderâs flexibility, the down payment you can afford, and the kind of car you want to buy. It may even depend on how you ask.
Phil Reed, senior consumer advice editor for the consumer auto site Edmunds has some good advice on how to get a car loan with no credit. He says a surprising number of people simply walk into a dealership and say, âHi, I have no credit, and I want to buy a car.â He doesnât recommend this approach. Instead, he offers these five tips for people who need a no-credit car loan.
1. Get Pre-Approved
If you have no credit or a thin credit profile, you should try to get preapproved for a loan before heading to the dealership. This will let you compare rates with any loan the dealer may offer. It may also give you a bargaining chip when negotiating the final deal.
If you have a relationship with a bank or credit union, you should start looking for financing there. Reed recommends making an appointment to meet with your bankâs loan officer in person.
âMake a case for yourself,â he says. That means bringing your pay stubs and bank account records with you. You should also check your credit reports, if they exist, and credit scores. You want to know as much about your credit profile as a lender would. If you donât know your credit score, donât worryâyou can check your credit score for free every month on Credit.com.
If you canât get a loan from your financial institution, you may be able to find a no-credit auto loan online. Just make sure itâs from a reputable lender. Credit.com can also help you find auto loan offers from trustworthy lending institutions.
A dealership could beat the offer you get from your bank or credit union. However, if you know youâre already approved for a loan, you can focus on comparing rates and prices instead of worrying about financing.
Reed says that itâs important to be wary. You donât want to feel so indebted to the dealer for âgivingâ you a loan that you fail to negotiate the price of the car. And if the dealerâs financing isnât better than the bankâs, at least you still have an approval in your pocket.
Having a good down payment or trade-in can also help your case. A trade-in would reduce the amount youâll need to borrow, and a larger down payment would show the lender some commitment on your part. Edmunds recommends putting at least 10% down on a used car, so start saving now.
3. Choose the Right Car
Be sure the car youâre buying is affordable for you, even if itâs not the car youâd choose if you had more money and better credit. âIf you have no credit, itâs not the time to get your dream car,â Reed says. âYou have to choose the right car and the right amount [to borrow].â
You want reliable transportation you can afford. Making regular, on-time payments wonât just pay down your load, it will also build your credit, so donât get a loan that requires higher payments than you can comfortably make.
Sites like Kelley Blue Book, Cars.com, and Edmunds can help you find information on the cars that match your budget. When youâre at the car dealership, remember your budget and donât spring for optional add-ons you donât really need.
4. Donât Let Interest Rates Scare You Off
Reed cautions that when you get a loan with no credit, the interest rates youâre offered may seem appallingly high, but thatâs part of the cost of having no credit history.
When you donât have a credit score, lenders canât assess how big of a risk theyâre taking by giving you a loan. To protect the money theyâre lending, they will likely treat you as a high-risk borrower, which means the loan will have a higher interest rate.
As you make payments, youâll establish a pattern of reliably paying back money. Over time, you can improve your interest rate by refinancing. Reed says that, according to a dealership employee, a customer once lowered his interest rate from 13% to 2% in two yearsâ time by improving his credit and refinancing.
5. Give Yourself Some Credit, Not a Cosigner
Reed advises against cosigningâa process that involves checking someone elseâs credit and using that score to qualify for a loan. It might get you a lower rate and help you get approved, but Reed says that if you bite the bullet and pay a higher interest rate rather than get a cosigner, youâll have the opportunity to build credit.
In addition, having a cosigner will tie that personâs credit to yours, and the way you repay your car loan will influence their credit. Reed says if youâre going to do it, do it only as a last resort, and make sure the cosigner is a relative.
Bottom line, though, as Reed explains, âItâs asking a lot.â Itâs better to finance the car yourself, pay on time, and build your credit. That way, the next time you need a loan, you wonât have to worry about whether youâll qualify.
Good credit doesnât just help you get reliable transportation: good credit can make a huge difference in improving your financial security and the peace of mind that comes with it. Start tracking your credit for free today at Credit.com. Your new car will get you moving around town, but your new credit score will get you moving up in the world.
A lapse in coverage increases your risk and your rates. It may be harder to find suitable and affordable car insurance and may mean that you need to make some sacrifices in order to keep those insurance premiums at an affordable level. But it’s not a complete disaster and is far from the worst thing you can have on your record.
What is a Gap in Coverage?
A lapse or gap in coverage is a period in which you were not insured. You owned a car during this period but you didn’t meet the state minimum insurance requirements.
In some cases, a gap in coverage can be the result of negligence on your part. You may have allowed your insurance policy to lapse without purchasing a new one or it may have been canceled because you failed to meet your payment obligations.
A lapse in auto insurance coverage can also occur when you are deployed, sent to prison or because you simply didn’t drive during that period.Â
If you fall into the first group, your insurer will notify the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), telling them that your car insurance policy has lapsed and you are no longer insured. This will expose you to fines and a host of other problems (see our guide on the penalties imposed on uninsured drivers).
As for members of the military, they can suspend their car insurance coverage when they are on active duty, thus avoiding any rate increases and other problems. The same applies to students studying abroad, although in their case, they will need to contact their DMV first.
What Happens Following a Car Insurance Lapse?
Many states require you to have continuous insurance, which means your auto insurance policy has not lapsed for any period of time. As soon as it lapses, your license and registration may be revoked, and you will need to pay a fee to have these reinstated. These fees, as they apply in each state, are listed below, but it’s worth noting that you may also be hit with additional court fees and fines if you are found to be driving without insurance:
South Carolina: Insurance Lapse Fee = $550 + $5 per day
South Dakota: Insurance Lapse Fee = $78 to $228
Tennessee: Insurance Lapse Fee = $115
Texas: Insurance Lapse Fee = $100
Utah: Insurance Lapse Fee = $100
Vermont: Insurance Lapse Fee = $71
Virginia: Insurance Lapse Fee = $145
Washington: Insurance Lapse Fee = $75
West Virginia: Insurance Lapse Fee = $100
Wisconsin: Insurance Lapse Fee = $60
Wyoming: Insurance Lapse Fee = $50
Will My Car Insurance Rates Increase Following a Gap in Coverage?
In addition to the fines mentioned above, you can expect your auto insurance quotes to be a little higher than before, although this all depends on how long the gap in coverage was.
If it was less than 4 weeks, the rate increase may amount to a few extra dollars a month. If it was longer than 4 weeks, you could find yourself paying 20% to 50% more, depending on your chosen car insurance company.Â
The exact rate of increase will depend on the state, high-risk status, driving record, car insurance discounts, and age of the driver. Insurance is all about measuring risk and probable claims, and an insurance company will look at everything from marital status to DUI convictions when measuring your risk and underwriting your new policy.
Bottom Line: Getting Cheap Car Insurance Quotes After a Lapse
In our research, we found that Progressive, Esurance, and State Farm offered lower rates than GEICO, even though GEICO typically tops the charts when it comes to insurance costs. You should also get much lower auto insurance rates with providers like USAA, providing you qualify.
To save even more, maintain a high credit score, aim for those good driver discounts, and try to secure bundling discounts, which are provided when you combine multiple different insurance products, such as homeowners insurance and car insurance.
The car you drive is also key. A new car will generally lead to much higher rates than a car that is a few years old, as it will be more expensive to repair and replace.
However, a car that is a few decades old will cost more to insurance than one that is a few years old, as it may lack the safety features and anti-theft features needed to keep rates low.
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How Gaps in Coverage Affect Auto Insurance Rates is a post from Pocket Your Dollars.
The number of Americans driving to work alone is on the rise, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. With the increase in drivers comes traffic, which means more time and money spent idling in cars. Some cities are better equipped to deal with the mass of drivers, managing to keep traffic delays and congestion to a minimum. Other cities are equipped with walkable streets and reliable mass transit options, making car ownership less necessary.
Check out mortgage rates in your area.
We considered these and other factors to find the worst cities to own a car. Specifically, we looked at hours spent in traffic per year for the average driver, the annual cost of traffic for the average driver, the rate of motor vehicle theft, the number of repair shops and parking garages per driver, the commuter stress index and the non-driving options a resident has for getting around. To understand where we got our data and how we put it together to create our final ranking, see the data and methodology section below.
Key Findings
Cities on the coasts â The entire top 10 is comprised of cities on or close to the coasts. This makes sense as many of the largest cities in the country are located on the coasts. Plus, on the East Coast in particular, these cities tend to be older which means they were not built to handle car traffic.
Grin and bear it â Traffic can get pretty bad. However, in some cities getting around by car is just about the only option you have if you want to leave your house. Thus some cities with really bad traffic like Los Angeles or Long Beach didnât quite crack the top 10.
1. Newark, New Jersey
Brick City tops our ranking of the worst cities to own a car. Whatâs tough about being a car owner in Newark is the traffic. Itâs part of the New York City metro area which has 19 million people, 5 million of whom drive to work. Newark is stuck right in the middle of this bumper-to-bumper traffic. Plus, if youâre a car owner in Newark, the risk of having your car stolen is much higher than it is in other cities. Newark ranks eighth in the country for motor vehicle thefts per 1,000 residents.
Related Article: The States With the Worst Drivers
2. San Francisco, California
The City in the Bay grabs the second spot for worst places to own a car. Being stuck in traffic costs the average commuter in San Francisco $1,600 per year. That cost includes both the value of the time spent in traffic and the cost of gas. SF is also one of the 10 worst cities for motor vehicle thefts per resident, another reason to forgo car ownership.
3. Washington, D.C.
The District and the surrounding metro area sees some of the worst traffic in the country. The average D.C. commuter spends 82 hours per year in traffic. Depending on how you slice it, thatâs either two working weeks or almost three-and-a-half days of doing nothing but shaking your fist at your fellow drivers. That traffic is equal to an annual cost of $1,834 per commuter.
4. Oakland, California
One argument against car ownership in Oakland is the crime. There were almost 6,400 motor vehicle thefts in the city of Oakland or 15 auto thefts per 1,000 residents. Thatâs the highest rate in the country. The average Oakland driver can also expect to spend 78 hours per year in traffic. On the plus side, if something goes wrong with your wheels in Oakland, it shouldnât be too difficult to get it fixed. There are more than six repair shops per 10,000 drivers in Oakland â the highest rate in the top 10.
5. Arlington, Virginia
As previously mentioned, the Washington, D.C. metro area has the worst traffic in the country. Unfortunately for the residents of Arlington, they are a part of that metro area. They face the same brutal 82 hours per year spent in traffic, on average. It costs Arlington residents $1,834 per year, on average, waiting in that traffic. For residents of Arlington, a car is more of a necessity than it is for people living in D.C., which is why it ranks lower in our study.
6. Portland, Oregon
Of all the cities in our top 10, Portland is the least onerous for the driving commuter. Commuters driving around the Portland metro area can be thankful that, on average, they spent only 52 hours per year in traffic. That traffic still costs each driver about $1,200. However, drivers in Portland looking for a parking garage may be out of luck. Portland has the second-lowest number of parking garages per driver in our study, and if you are looking to get your car fixed, Portland ranks in the bottom 13 for repair shops per capita.
7. Anaheim, California
Anaheim commuters are well-acquainted with traffic. Anaheim (and the rest of the Los Angeles metro area) ranks third in average hours per year spent in traffic, first for commuter stress index and fifth for annual cost of idling in traffic. Anaheim only ranks seventh because Walkability.com gives the city a 46 out of 100 for non-driving options. Thatâs the lowest score in our top 10 meaning, while owning a car here is a pain, not owning one makes getting around a true struggle.
8. New York, New York
New York is the rare American city where public transportation is usually your best bet for getting from point A to point B. All that accessibility makes car ownership unnecessary here. For New Yorkers who do drive, the traffic is not pleasant. New York drivers spend $1,700 per year, on average, waiting in traffic. Thatâs the third-highest cost in our study.
Not sure if youâre ready to buy in NYC? Check out our rent vs. buy calculator.
9. Seattle, Washington
Seattle has pretty bad traffic. Commuters here probably arenât surprised to hear the average driver spends 63 hours per year in traffic. And coupled with the traffic is the high number of motor vehicle thefts. Seattle has the fourth-highest rate of motor vehicle thefts per 1,000 residents in the country.
10. Boston, Massachusetts
Boston ranked well in our study on the most livable cities in the U.S. partially based on how easy it is to get around without a car. After New York and San Francisco, Boston is the most walkable city in the country, making the cost of having a car one expense which Bostonians can possibly go without. Although occasionally maligned, the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority is a great option for commuters who want to avoid the 64 hours per year Boston drivers spend in traffic.
Data and Methodology
In order to rank the worst cities to own a car, we looked at data on the 100 largest cities in the country. Specifically we looked at these seven factors:
Average total hours commuters spend in traffic per year. Data comes from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute 2014 Mobility Score Card.
Cost of time spent in traffic per person. This measures the value of extra travel time and the extra fuel consumed by vehicles in traffic. Travel time is calculated at a value of $17.67 per hour per person. Fuel cost per gallon is the average price for each state. Data comes from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute 2014 Mobility Score Card.
Commuter stress index. This metric is developed by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute 2014 Mobility Score Card. It measures the difference in travel time during peak congestion and during no congestion. A higher ratio equals a larger difference.
Non-driving options. This metric measures the necessity of owning a car in each city by considering the cityâs walk score, bike score and transit score. We found the average of those three scores for each city. Higher scores mean residents are less reliant on cars. Data comes from Walkability.com.
Motor vehicle thefts per 1,000 residents. Data on population and motor vehicle thefts comes from the FBIâs 2015 Uniform Crime Reporting Program and from local police department and city websites. We used the most up to date data available for cities where 2015 data was not available.
Number of repair shops per 10,000 drivers. Data on drivers comes from Texas A&M Transportation Institute 2014 Mobility Score Card. Data on repair shops comes from the U.S. Census Bureauâs 2014 Business Patterns Survey.
Parking garages per 10,000 drivers. Data on drivers comes from Texas A&M Transportation Institute 2014 Mobility Score Card. Data on parking garages comes from the U.S. Census Bureauâs 2014 Business Patterns Survey.
We ranked each city across each factor, giving double weight to non-driving options and half weight to motor vehicle thefts per driver, repair shops per driver and parking garages per driver. All other factors received single weight. We then found the average ranking across each city. Finally we gave each city a score based on their average ranking. The city with the highest average received a score of 100 and the city with the lowest average received a score of 0.
Questions about our study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com.
The interest rate on your credit card is too high. And because you carry a balance each month, that rate is costing you serious dollars.
If you’re considering making a balance transfer to a Chase credit card, here’s everything you need to know before applying – including card options, restrictions, balance transfer fees, chances of approval and even potential pitfalls.
See related: Best balance transfer credit cards
Chase balance transfer guide
Chase balance transfer offers.
What you should know before applying.
How to improve your chances of approval.How to initiate a balance transfer.
How to make a balance transfer work.
Chase balance transfer offers
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Chase currently doesn’t offer any introductory APR options for consumers who want to transfer an existing balance (unless you are individually targeted). It does, however, offer a few intro APR promotions on new purchases, including:
Chase Freedom Unlimited
0% promotional period: First 15 months on new purchases after you open your account – but not on balance transfers.
Regular APR: 14.99% to 23.74% (variable).
Worth noting: 5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2022), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back on dining, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases, 1.5% cash back on all purchases; no annual fee; $200-sign-up bonus if you spend $500 in first three months.
Chase Freedom Flex℠
0% promotional period: 15 months on new purchases, but not on balance transfers.
Regular APR: 14.99% to 23.74% (variable).
Worth noting: 5% cash back on rotating categories that you must activate each quarter (up to $1,500 per quarter); 5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2022); 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3% cash back on dining; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases; 1% cash back on general purchases; no annual fee; $200-sign-up bonus if Best no annual fee credit cards
What you should know about Chase balance transfers before applying
There are limits to balance transfers with Chase credit cards, according to the company.
Customers can’t transfer more than $15,000 in credit card debt within any 30-day period.
You can’t transfer your balance from an existing Chase card to another card issued by Chase.
Balance transfer requests take time. While Chase says that your debt will be transferred to your new card within a week, it can take up to 21 days.
You need to continue making payments on your existing card until you are certain that the balance transfer has closed.
Balance transfers won’t earn you rewards points or cash back, if the card you are transferring a balance to offers them.
There is no guarantee Chase will approve your balance transfer request. It might turn you down if you are past due on your existing card or if it believes you won’t be able to repayFICO credit score.
Revolving payments such as your mortgage loan, credit card bills, student loans and auto loan areZero to 750: What’s the fastest way to raise your credit score?
How to initiate a balance transfer to a Chase credit card
If you already own a Chase credit card:
Log into your account and select the “transfer a balance” option. This will bring up the offers available to you.
To start the process, provide some basic information about the card from which you want to transfer a balance.
If you are applying for a new Chase credit card:
Start a credit card application for a Chase balance transfer card.
make a plan to pay it off before any 0% offer expires.
Steps you can take to ensure you will able to pay off your debt include creating a budget, choosing a payoff strategy and stashing your card to avoid making any extra charges.
“Zero percent offers are an amazing deal if you plan to pay it off by the end of a promotional period,” said Aris Jerahian, AVP of card services at Anaheim, California-based Orange County’s Credit Union. “Unfortunately, most consumers focus on short-term goals, taking advantage of such deals while never paying off their balance in time.”
Full coverage car insurance covers you for most eventualities, but it is also expensive. You get what you pay for, and in this case, what you pay for is liability coverage, collision coverage, and comprehensive coverage.
The question is, how essential are all of these coverage options and at what point do they become surplus to requirements?
Your insurance coverage is never set in stone. You can increase your coverage as needed and drop coverage when it is no longer needed. Staying on top of everything is just a case of making the right choices at the right time.
What is Full Coverage Auto Insurance?
There are several different types of auto insurance, each covering you for something different. The most important cover is something known as liability insurance, which spans bodily injury and property damage and covers you when you injure another driver or their property.
Liability insurance is required in nearly all states and there are minimum coverage limits in all of them. To make sure you are legal, you need to meet these limits. If you want additional liability cover to protect your personal assets, you can pay more and aim higher.
Collision coverage and comprehensive coverage are also required if you want full coverage car insurance. With collision insurance, you are protected against damage caused to your own property, whether that damage is the result of a road traffic accident or a collision with a wall or guardrail. As for comprehensive insurance, it protects you against vandalism, theft, weather damage, and most of the things not covered by collision insurance.
A full coverage policy should also include some personal injury protection (PIP) cover, whether in the form of medical payments coverage or personal injury protection coverage. Both are designed to help you with medical bills and other expenses resulting from personal injury, while PIP goes one step further and covers you for transportation costs, childcare expenses, and loss of work.
All of these options are part of a full coverage insurance policy. There are also many additional coverage options and add-ons, but these aren’t necessarily part of a full coverage policy and, in most cases, need to be added for an extra cost. These options include:
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Minimum cover car insurance won’t protect you if you are hit by an uninsured driver. It has been estimated that as many as 13% of all drivers on US roads are not insured and, in some states, this climbs as high as 25%. With uninsured motorist coverage, you will be protected for such eventualities.
Gap Insurance: When you purchase a brand new car on finance, the lender will often insist on gap insurance. A car depreciates rapidly and if that depreciation drops the value below the balance of the loan, the lender stands to lose out. Gap insurance protects them against such an outcome and covers the difference to make sure they get their money back if the car is written off.
New Car Replacement: A new car replacement policy will do exactly what the name suggests, providing you with a new vehicle in the event your current one is written off. Depending on the insurer, there will be limits concerning the age of the vehicle and the number of miles on the clock.
Roadside Assistance:Â With roadside assistance, you will be covered for essential services if you break down by the side of the road. It typically includes tire changes, fuel delivery, towing, lost key replacement, and more.
Pet Injury:Â What happens when your pet gets injured during a road traffic accident? If you have pet insurance, they will be covered through that. If not, many providers will give you a pet injury insurance add-on.
Rental Car Reimbursement:Â If your car is stolen or getting repaired, rental car reimbursement coverage will help you to cover the costs of a short term rental. This insurance option is often fixed at a daily sum of between $50 and $100 and lasts for no more than 30 days.
Accidental Death: A type of life insurance that focuses on accidents, paying a death benefit to a beneficiary when a loved one dies in an accident.
When to Drop Full Car Insurance Coverage
The value of the car you drive, along with your insurance rates and your driving record, will impact whether or not you should drop full coverage auto insurance. Take a look at the following examples to discover when this might be the right option for you:
1. Your Insurance Premiums are too High
If your car insurance rates are higher than the size of a payout following an accident, it might be time to trim the fat. Insurance is a gamble, a form of protection. You pay a small sum of money in the knowledge that you’ll be covered for a large sum if something untoward happens. But if you reach a point when your premiums begin to exceed the potential payout, it’s no longer useful.
2. You Have an Old Car
The lower your car’s value, the less you need full coverage car insurance. If you’re driving around in a car that costs less than $1,000 and you’re paying $2,000 for the pleasure, you may as well be throwing your money down a wishing well.
In the event of an accident, you’ll have a deductible to pay and that deductible could be near the value of the car. In such cases, it will nearly always make more sense to stick with minimum insurance and to just scrap your car if anything serious happens.
3. You Have a Large Emergency Fund
An emergency fund is a sum of money you keep to one side to cover you for emergencies, including job issues, medical bills, broken appliances, and car troubles. If you have such a fund available, you have a few more options at your disposal and can consider dropping full coverage.
It will save you money in the long term and if anything happens in the short term, you still have options and won’t be completely financially destitute.
Bottom Line: When It’s Needed
While there are times when full coverage is unnecessary and excessive, there are also times when it is essential. If you have a new car, for instance, you should get all of the cover you can afford, otherwise, you could be seriously out of pocket following an accident or theft.
Â
When Should you Drop Full Coverage on your Car? is a post from Pocket Your Dollars.
