How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Car Insurance in Alexandria

I can't think of anyone who enjoys paying for car insurance, especially when they are paying too much. Because you have many companies to choose from, it can be hard to choose the most affordable provider.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates periodically because rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal six months ago you may be paying too much now. So forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because you're going to learn the only way to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.

Alexandria Car Insurance Comparisons

Getting better car insurance pricing can be quick and easy. Just spend a little time getting comparison quotes provided by online insurance companies. This can be accomplished in several different ways.

The first (and easiest) way to get quotes for comparison is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This form keeps you from doing boring form submissions for every car insurance company. Just one form gets rate comparisons from all major companies.

Another way to compare rate quotes is spending the time to visit the website for each individual company and complete a new quote form. For example, let's assume you want to compare , and . To get rate quotes you would need to visit each site and enter your policy data, and that's why the first method is more popular.

To view a list of companies in Alexandria, click here.

The hardest method to get comparison rates is to drive around to different Alexandria agent offices. Buying insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you have a need for the professional advice of a local Alexandria agent. Drivers can compare the best prices online and still use a local agent and we'll talk about that later.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just be sure to compare apples-to-apples information on every quote. If you compare higher or lower deductibles you will not be able to make a fair comparison in Alexandria.

Louisiana car insurance quotes

Alexandria Rates are Influenced by These Factors

It's important that you understand the rating factors that help determine your car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates enables informed choices that may reward you with lower car insurance prices.

  • Rural vs Urban Areas - Living in a rural area can be a good thing when it comes to car insurance. Drivers in populated areas have to deal with much more traffic and longer commute times. Lower population translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
  • How's your driving record? - Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance compared to drivers with tickets. Only having one speeding ticket can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Drivers who have flagrant citations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to file a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
  • What type of vehicle do you drive? - The type of vehicle you own makes a big difference in the rate you pay. The cheapest insurance rates are usually for economy passenger models, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
  • Older drivers save more - Young drivers in Louisiana are known to be more careless behind the wheel so car insurance rates are higher. Adding a young driver to your car insurance policy can break the bank. Older drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.

Take advantage of discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't always advertise all their discounts very well, so here is a list some of the more common and the harder-to-find ways to save on car insurance. If you don't get every credit you qualify for, you're just leaving money on the table.

  • Bundle and Save - When you have multiple policies with the same company you may earn up to 20% off your total premium.
  • Good Student - Getting good grades can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
  • Early Switch Discount - Select companies give a discount for switching to them before your current policy expires. It's a savings of about 10%.
  • College Student - Any of your kids who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
  • 55 and Retired - Older drivers may be able to get better car insurance rates.

It's important to note that many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So despite the fact that it appears you can get free auto insurance, you're out of luck.

For a list of companies who offer car insurance discounts in Louisiana, click this link.

How to know if you need help

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Every insured's situation is different so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions may help highlight whether your personal situation may require specific advice.

  • What are the best liability limits?
  • Should I buy only the required Louisiana minimum liability coverage?
  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Alexandria?
  • Should I buy additional glass protection?
  • Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It's fast, free and may give you better protection.

Additional detailed information is available at the Louisiana Department of Insurance website. Consumers can view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about a company, learn about specific coverages, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Other useful links include Wikipedia and this Alexandria agent directory.

Louisiana car insurance

A tidy conclusion

As you restructure your insurance plan, don't be tempted to reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, someone dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that they should have had better coverage. The ultimate goal is to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price.

We just showed you many ideas to lower your car insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from a lesser-known regional company. Smaller companies often have lower prices on specific markets than their larger competitors like .