6 Tips to Save on Car Insurance in Botkins

Finding affordable Botkins car insurance is a challenge for consumers new to buying insurance online. People have so many companies to choose from that it can be a challenge to compare prices in Botkins.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates before your policy renews since rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best deal a year ago a different company probably has better rates today. Starting now, forget all the misinformation about car insurance because we're going to show you the proper way to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies don't always publicize all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list some of the more common as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If they aren't giving you every credit available, you are throwing money away.

  • Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in Botkins can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home requires personal responsibility.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
  • 55 and Retired - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get better car insurance rates.
  • Driver Safety - Completing a driver safety course could save 5% or more if you qualify.
  • Anti-lock Brakes - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • College Student - Youth drivers who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. 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, car insurance companies aren't that generous.

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

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance by State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to have a common claim about savings after switching to their company.

How do they all make the same claim?

All companies can use profiling for the driver that earns them a profit. An example of a desirable insured could be a mature driver, is a homeowner, and has excellent credit. Any new insured that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably cut their rates substantially.

Drivers who are not a match for the "perfect" profile will have to pay a higher premium and this can result in business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That's why companies can truthfully make those claims. Because of the profiling, drivers should compare many company's rates. It's just too difficult to predict the company that will have the lowest rates.

Even more information is available at the Ohio Department of Insurance website. Consumers can report car insurance fraud, read industry bulletins, and learn about insurance regulations.

And the best car insurance company is...

Cheap car insurance can be bought from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Botkins agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best selection. Some companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

Drivers change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as an unsatisfactory settlement offer, high rates after DUI convictions, denial of a claim and even questionable increases in premium. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, choosing a new insurance company is less work than it seems.

While you're price shopping online, you should never skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.