How to Know You're Throwing Money Away for Auto Insurance in Abita Springs

Have you had enough of trying to scrape together enough money each month for car insurance? You are no different than the majority of other car owners in Louisiana. Numerous battle for your hard-earned dollar, so it's not easy to compare every and get the best coverage at the lowest rate

If you have a current auto insurance policy or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to shop for the lowest rates and possibly find even better coverage. Finding affordable coverage in Abita Springs is quite easy. Louisiana drivers only need an understanding of how to compare company rates over the internet.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that could result in big savings.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" that factor into premiums.

Choose a safe vehicle and save - Vehicles with good safety scores tend to have better insurance rates. Safe vehicles have better occupant injury protection and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and lower rates for you.
High numbers of claims are not good - Auto insurance companies in Louisiana give better rates to policyholders who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you file claims often, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance coverage is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
More miles equals more premium - Driving more miles every year the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. The majority of insurers apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Autos not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Ask your agent if your auto insurance coverage is showing the proper vehicle usage.
One company can mean more discounts - Many auto insurance companies will award you with lower prices to customers who have multiple policies with them. It's known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. If you currently are using one company, you may still want to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still find better rates by buying auto insurance from a different company.
Protect yourself with liability coverage - Liability coverage will protect you if a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It provides for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so drivers should carry high limits.
Your car's features help determine rates - Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention features like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder your vehicle from being stolen.
Bump up deductibles to save - Physical damage deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend before a claim is paid by your company. Coverage for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, and burglary. The higher the amount the insured has to pay upfront, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
Do you have a high stress job? - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations such as lawyers, executives and accountants are shown to have higher rates than average attributed to job stress and lots of time spent at work. On the flip side, occupations like farmers, athletes and performers pay the least.

Cheap Abita Springs Auto Insurance Comparisons

There are several ways you can shop for auto insurance but one way is easier and takes less work. You can spend your afternoon talking to agents in Abita Springs, or you can utilize online quotes to get pricing more quickly.

Most of the larger companies participate in a marketplace that allows shoppers to complete one form, and each company provides a quote based on the submitted data. This system prevents you from having to do form submissions to each individual auto insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

The only drawback to getting quotes like this is that you can't choose which providers to get pricing from. So if you prefer to pick specific insurance companies for rate comparison, we have a listing of low cost auto insurance companies in Louisiana. Click to view list.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just ensure you're using the exact same information for every quote you compare. If each company quotes higher or lower deductibles it will be next to impossible to determine the best price in Abita Springs.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but companies offer discounts to reduce the price significantly. Most are applied at the time of purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked about prior to receiving the credit. If they aren't giving you every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

Military Discounts - Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount depending on your company.
Auto/Life Discount - Larger companies have lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Fewer annual miles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
Theft Prevention System - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems can help prevent theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Organization Discounts - Participating in certain professional organizations could trigger savings when buying auto insurance.
Payment Method - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.

It's important to understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, it doesn't quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will cut the amount you have to pay.

To choose insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in Abita Springs, click this link.

Is there truth in advertising?

Louisiana consumers can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance from companies such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies make the same claim of big savings after switching your policy.

How do they all make almost identical claims?

All the different companies can use profiling for the right customer that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer could possibly be over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A driver who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile must pay higher prices which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. That's why insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do.

This illustrates why you need to get as many quotes as possible. It is impossible to predict the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional auto insurance information can be found on the website for the Louisiana Department of Insurance through this link. Louisiana consumers can find disaster information, download brochures, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and read consumer alerts.

Best coverage at the best price

Low-cost auto insurance can be purchased online in addition to many Abita Springs insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some auto insurance companies do not provide online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are a lot of situations where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the savings was not a smart move. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.