How to Get the Cheapest Ashland Car Insurance

Purchasing low-cost Ashland car insurance online is intimidating for consumers new to comparison shopping online. Since there are so many companies competing online, how can consumers possibly compare the different rates to find the best available rates?

Take advantage of discounts

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available to cut the cost considerably. Certain discounts will be applied at the time you complete a quote, but a few need to be asked for prior to getting the savings.

  • Claim Free - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially when compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Paperwork-free - A few companies will give a small break for buying your policy digitally online.
  • 55 and Retired - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
  • Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off with a few car insurance companies.
  • Good Student Discount - Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Belonging to a civic or occupational organization may earn a discount when shopping for car insurance.

A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will reduce your overall premium however.

How to Lower your Car Insurance Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that help determine your car insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" used by your company to calculate prices.

  • Your car insurance rates can be influenced by your job - Did you know your job can affect your rates? Careers like lawyers, social workers and dentists have the highest average rates because of high stress levels and long work days. Other professions such as pilots, historians and performers get better rates.
  • Being married is a good thing - Having a spouse can get you a discount on car insurance. Having a significant other translates into being more responsible and it's proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • Men pay higher rates - Statistics have proven women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Both sexes tend to get into accidents in similar percentages, but the men have costlier accidents. Men also statistically get more serious tickets such as reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and therefore are the most expensive to insure.
  • Claim-free discounts can add up - If you file claims often, you can expect either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Companies in Ohio generally give cheaper rates to insureds who do not file claims often. Your insurance policy is meant to be used in the event of the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
  • How's your driving record? - Drivers who don't get tickets have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Even a single moving violation can bump up the cost by as much as thirty percent. If you have flagrant violations like DUI or reckless driving may find they need to file a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
  • Liability coverage is cheap - Liability coverage is the protection when you are found to be at fault for personal injury or accident damage. It will provide for a legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Liability insurance is quite affordable when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not skimp.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Car insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO continually stream ads on TV and radio. They all have a common claim about savings after switching your coverage to them. How can each company make the same claim?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For example, a driver they prefer could be between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and drives newer vehicles. A customer that hits that "sweet spot" receives the best rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don't qualify for the requirements will be quoted a more expensive rate and this can result in business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully claim big savings.

This emphasizes why drivers should get quotes from several different companies. Because you never know which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

For more Ohio car insurance information

Additional information can be found on the Ohio Department of Insurance website located here. Consumers can read industry bulletins, get help finding coverage, and learn about insurance regulations.

Shop smart and save

Drivers change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as high rates after DUI convictions, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, denial of a claim and even extreme rates for teen drivers. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new insurance company is less work than it seems.

Cheaper car insurance can be bought from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Ashland, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. A few companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

When trying to cut insurance costs, it's a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where drivers have reduced physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.