Tightwads Tips for Saving on Berea Auto Insurance

Are you sick and tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than millions of other consumers. There are many to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to have a selection, it makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to check auto insurance prices before your policy renews because prices are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the lowest rates last year the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Starting now, forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the tricks you need to know to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

How much can you save with discounts?

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there are discounts available to help bring down the price. Most are applied at the time of purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for prior to receiving the credit. If you're not getting every credit available, you're paying more than you need to.

  • Save with a New Car - Insuring a new car can be considerably cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
  • Accident Free - Claim-free drivers can save substantially as compared to bad drivers.
  • Safety Course Discount - Taking a defensive driving course could save 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
  • College Student - Youth drivers who attend school more than 100 miles from home and don't have a car can receive lower rates.
  • One Accident Forgiven - Certain companies permit an accident before raising your premiums as long as you don't have any claims for a certain period of time.

It's important to note that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. Just because you may think you could get a free auto insurance policy, you're out of luck. But any discount will bring down the amount you have to pay.

To see a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in Ohio, click here.

Ohio auto insurance quotes

Cheap Berea Auto Insurance Comparisons

There are several ways you can shop for auto insurance but there is one way that is easier and takes less work. You can waste a lot of time talking to agents in Berea, or you can utilize the web to quickly compare rates.

Many insurance companies participate in an industry program that allows shoppers to complete one form, and each company then returns a price quote based on the submitted data. This prevents consumers from doing form submissions for each company you want a rate for.

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

The only drawback to getting quotes like this is that you can't choose which carriers you want to price. So if you prefer to pick individual companies for rate comparison, we have assembled a list of low cost auto insurance companies in Ohio. Click here to view list.

However you get your quotes, ensure you're using identical coverage limits for every quote you compare. If each company quotes differing limits it will be impossible to determine the best price in Berea.

What determines how much you pay?

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

Shown below are a few of the "ingredients" companies use to determine rates.

  • The more you drive the more you pay - The higher the mileage driven every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most companies charge to insure your cars based on their usage. Cars that are left in the garage qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Verify your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle.
  • Your stress level may be raising your rates - Jobs such as lawyers, social workers and financial analysts tend to pay higher average rates attributed to high stress and long work hours. Conversely, occupations like farmers, engineers and retirees have the lowest average rates.
  • Don't get talked into coverage you don't need - There are quite a few extra bells and whistles that you can buy when buying auto insurance. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and motor club memberships are some examples. These coverages may sound good at first, but if you don't need them eliminate them to save money.
  • Mature drivers pay less - Youthful drivers in Ohio have a tendency to be more careless in a vehicle so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers.
  • Men are more aggressive - The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. Now that doesn't mean women are better drivers. Men and women have accidents in similar percentages, but the males tend to have more serious accidents. They also get more serious tickets like DUI and reckless driving.
  • Cautious drivers pay less - Your driving citation history has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Good drivers receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. Even a single speeding ticket can increase rates by twenty percent. Drivers who have dangerous citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.
  • Multiple policies with one company can save - Some insurance companies will give a discount to insureds who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you may still want to compare rates to make sure you are getting the best deal. Drivers may still find better rates by splitting coverages up.
  • Being married is a good thing - Having a spouse helps lower the price on auto insurance. It is viewed as being more mature and it's statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

Consumers in Ohio can't get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to have a common claim that you can save if you change to them.

How does each company claim to save you money?

Different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For example, a desirable insured might be over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and drives newer vehicles. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential customers who don't meet these standards will have to pay higher prices and this can result in the customer not buying. The ad wording is "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That's why insurance companies can claim big savings.

Because of the profiling, drivers must compare many company's rates. It's impossible to know the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Best coverage at the best price

When trying to cut insurance costs, it's very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that it was a big mistake. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate.

Lower-priced auto insurance is attainable both online and with local Berea insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

More information can be found on the website for the Ohio Department of Insurance through this link. Visitors are able to file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read industry bulletins, discover disciplinary actions, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.