How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Bethel Park

No one in their right mind looks forward to buying auto insurance, particularly when the cost is way too high.

There is such a variety of to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to have a selection, so many choices can make it hard to compare rates.

Finding the best rates in Bethel Park is easy if you know what you're doing. If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to lower your premiums substantially using this strategy. But Pennsylvania consumers do need to know the way companies sell online and apply this information to your search.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies do not list every discount very clearly, so we took the time to find both the well known and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.

Military Discounts - Being on active duty in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
Good Student - A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
Paperwork-free - Certain companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
Distant Student - Kids in college who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
Homeowners Savings - Simply owning a home can help you save on auto insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
No Claims - Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially when compared to bad drivers.
Memberships - Being a member of a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates when shopping for auto insurance.
Payment Method - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of paying each month you could save 5% or more.
Accident Forgiveness - Certain companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.

Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like it's possible to get free car insurance, companies don't profit that way.

To see a list of insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Pennsylvania, click here to view.

Auto Insurance Comparison Rates in Bethel Park, PA

Most companies like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO give insurance quotes online. This process doesn't take much effort as you simply type in your personal and coverage information as detailed in the form. Once you submit the form, the system will obtain reports for credit and driving violations and generates pricing information based on these and other factors. Being able to quote online makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the time it takes to visit different websites and complete many quote forms is repetitive and time-consuming. But it's very important to have as many quotes as possible in order to get the best price on auto insurance.

The preferred way to compare rates uses one form that gets prices from a bunch of companies at once. The form is fast, helps eliminate reptitive entry, and makes quoting online much more enjoyable and efficient. As soon as the form is sent, your coverage is rated and you can select any one of the price quotes you receive. If you find a better price you simply finish the application and purchase coverage. This process takes 15 minutes at the most and may result in a nice savings.

To find out if lower rates are available, click here to open in new window and enter your vehicle and coverage information. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you enter identical to your current policy. This makes sure you will receive a price comparison based on the exact same insurance coverage.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" that factor into prices.

Safe vehicles cost less to insure - Cars with high safety ratings can get you lower premiums. The safest vehicles have better occupant injury protection and any reduction in injury severity means less money paid by your insurance company and thus lower rates.
Cautious drivers pay less - Drivers with clean records get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Even one ticket may increase your cost twenty percent or more. If you have flagrant violations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may find they need to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
Pay less after the wedding - Having a spouse can get you a discount on your policy. Having a significant other usually means you are more mature than a single person and statistics show married couples file fewer claims.
Mature drivers pay less - Youthful drivers in Pennsylvania are known to be careless and easily distracted behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Having to add a youthful driver onto your auto insurance can break the bank. Older drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to file fewer claims and get fewer tickets.

Tailor your coverage to you

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a perfect coverage plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions may help highlight whether you might need an agent's assistance.

Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Pennsylvania?
Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Bethel Park?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?

If you're not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

How can State Farm, Allstate and GEICO save drivers who switch?

Auto insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO continually stream ads on television and other media. They all make an identical promise that you'll save big after switching your policy. How does each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the right customer that is profitable for them. For example, a driver they prefer might be between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Drivers who are not a match for these standards will be quoted higher premiums and ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that kind of money. That is how companies can state the savings. This emphasizes why drivers must compare many company's rates. It's impossible to know which company will give you the biggest savings.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

We covered many tips how you can compare auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more providers you compare, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from a small mutual company. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than the large multi-state companies such as .

Discount auto insurance can be sourced both online in addition to many Bethel Park insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies do not provide the ability to get a quote online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

More detailed Pennsylvania auto insurance information can be found at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department website. Visitors are able to find disaster information, file complaints about a company, get help finding coverage, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.