Proven Ways to Save on Alamosa Car Insurance

Sick and tired of paying out the nose each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other drivers in Colorado.

Consumers have many to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to have a selection, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

It's important to compare rates before your policy renews since rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the best deal six months ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So forget all the misinformation about car insurance because we're going to show you the only way to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

Buying the cheapest coverage in Alamosa is simple if you know the tricks. In a nutshell, every vehicle owner who has to buy car insurance stands a good chance to be able to reduce their rates. Nevertheless, Colorado consumers do need to know how big insurance companies sell insurance online and take advantage of how the system works.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Car insurance can cost a lot, but there could be available discounts that you may not even be aware of. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time of purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be requested specifically prior to receiving the credit.

  • Passive Restraint Discount - Vehicles with factory air bags may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
  • Good Students Pay Less - A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts until age 25.
  • One Accident Forgiven - Certain companies will forgive one accident before raising your premiums if you are claim-free prior to the accident.
  • Discount for Life Insurance - Larger companies have a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
  • Save with a New Car - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can be considerably cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
  • Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.

It's important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down the amount you have to pay.

To see a list of providers offering car insurance discounts in Colorado, follow this link.

Colorado car insurance

Cheap Alamosa Car Insurance Comparisons

The are a couple different ways to get quotes and find the best price. The best method to compare insurance prices consists of obtaining rate quotes online. This can be done using a couple different methods.

  • The best way to find the lowest comparison rates is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This method eliminates the need for boring form submissions for every car insurance company. In just a few minutes this one form will return quotes from all major companies.
  • A more time consuming way to shop for car insurance online is to take the time to go to each company website and fill out their own quote form. For examples sake, let's assume you want rates from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Alamosa, click here.
  • The least efficient way to compare rates is to spend time driving to insurance agents' offices. Buying insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you require the professional guidance of a local agent. You can, however, obtain prices from the web but buy from a local insurance agent and we'll cover that in a bit.

Whichever way you use, ensure you're using identical coverages and limits for every quote you compare. If you use different deductibles it's impossible to determine the best price in Alamosa. Just a small difference in coverage limits may result in a large different in cost. And when price shopping your coverage, getting more free quotes helps locate a lower rate.

You have some control over your rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what determines base rates enables informed choices that can help you get lower car insurance prices.

  • How credit affects car insurance rates - Your credit score is a important factor in your rate calculation. If your credit score is lower than you'd like, you could pay less to insure your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers who have high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers with poor credit.
  • Frequent car insurance claims increase rates - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance companies in Colorado provide lower rates to policyholders who are claim-free. Auto insurance is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • Poor driving leads to higher costs - Your driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Careful drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Just one citation can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Drivers who get serious violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
  • Marriage pays dividends - Being married can actually save you money when buying car insurance. Marriage means you're more mature and responsible and it's proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
  • More people means more accidents - Being located in a rural area has it's advantages when talking about car insurance. City drivers have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
  • Proper usage rating affects rates - The more miles you rack up on your car every year the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies charge to insure your cars determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles left parked in the garage can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your car insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.
  • Your car's features help determine rates - Driving a car with an alarm system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Anti-theft features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder your car from being stolen.
  • Bump up deductibles to save - Coverage for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply would be a windshield shattered by a rock, damage caused by hail, or theft. Your deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. The more money you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. All the ads say the same thing of big savings if you switch to their company. How does each company claim to save you money?

All companies can use profiling for the driver that is profitable for them. An example of a preferred risk might be between 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and has a high credit rating. Any new insured who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential customers who don't qualify for these standards will be charged higher prices which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads state "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That's why insurance companies can confidently state the savings.

That is why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It's just too difficult to predict the company that will have the lowest rates.

Affordable insurance is out there

We just covered many ways to compare car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the best prices are with some of the lesser-known companies. These smaller insurers can often provide lower rates in certain areas compared to the large companies like .

Low-cost car insurance is available both online and also from your neighborhood Alamosa agents, so compare prices from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

Learn more today

Additional car insurance information is available on the website for the Colorado DORA Division of Insurance located here. Visitors are able to find out industry alerts, download brochures, file complaints about a company, and get help finding coverage.