How to Know You're Spending Too Much for Auto Insurance in Athens
Overpriced auto insurance can overdraw your personal savings and make it impossible to make ends meet. Shopping your coverage around is a smart way to help make ends meet. You have multiple to pick from, and although it's a good thing to have multiple companies, having more makes it harder to compare rates.
It's important to do rate comparisons on a regular basis because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal a couple years back you will most likely find a better rate today. So just ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the proper way to remove unneeded coverages and save money.
Be sure to get all your discounts
Companies don't always list all their discounts very clearly, so here is a list both well-publicized as well as the least known auto insurance savings. If you're not getting every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.
- College Student - Children who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
- Accident Waiver - Certain companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
- Discount for Life Insurance - Some companies give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
- Multiple Vehicles - Buying insurance for multiple vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
- Discount for New Cars - Insuring a new car is cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
Keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn't work that way.
Is there truth in advertising?
Ohio consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings by companies like Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to say the same thing that you can save after switching to them.
How does each company make almost identical claims?
All companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that earns them a profit. An example of a desirable insured could possibly be a mature driver, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.
Drivers who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay a higher premium which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. This is how insurance companies can advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, you should compare many company's rates. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.
Additional detailed information is available at the Ohio Department of Insurance website. Ohio consumers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, get help finding coverage, view agent and company licensing information, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.
Also read more on this Car Insurance FAQ and this page of insurance agents in Athens.
And the best car insurance company is...
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, make sure you don't buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are many occasions where drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the savings was not a smart move. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford.
Affordable auto insurance can be purchased online and with local Athens insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best selection. Some auto insurance companies do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.
