Tightwads Guide to Saving on Clarks Summit Car Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an overpriced car insurance policy? Believe me when I say there are many people just like you.

Having so many online and local companies to choose from, it's difficult to locate the right car insurance company.

It's important to compare prices at least once a year because rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the lowest price on your last policy a different company probably has better rates today. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because you're about to learn the proper way to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you can get discounts that you may not even be aware of. Certain discounts will be applied when you purchase, but less common discounts must be inquired about before being credited.

  • 55 and Retired - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for better car insurance rates.
  • Defensive Driver - Successfully completing a driver safety course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.
  • Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching to them prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.
  • Discount for Good Grades - Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Belonging to a professional or civic organization may earn a discount on car insurance.

It's important to note that some credits don't apply the the whole policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, you're out of luck. But any discount will help reduce your premiums.

Clarks Summit car insurance comparison

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that go into determining your car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates enables informed choices that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are a partial list of the pieces car insurance companies consider when setting rates.

  • Are you male or female? - Statistics demonstrate women tend to be less risk to insure than men. That doesn't necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. Both sexes cause accidents in similar numbers, but the males cause more damage. They also get more serious tickets such as reckless driving. Young males are most likely to cause an accident and therefore are the most expensive to insure.
  • Extra add-on coverages are wasting money - There are many extra coverages that you can buy on your policy. Things like personal injury protection, towing coverage and term life insurance are some examples. These coverages may sound good when you first buy your policy, but if they're wasting money remove them from your policy.
  • What type of vehicle do you drive? - The performance level of the car you own makes a big difference in your rates. The lowest rates are usually for low performance passenger cars, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
  • How's your driving record? - Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Careful drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Even a single speeding ticket can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Drivers who have serious citations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
  • Liability insurance protects assets - Liability insurance provides coverage if ever you are found to be at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
  • Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance - Vehicles with high crash test scores get lower rates. These vehicles reduce injuries and fewer injuries means lower claim amounts passed on to you as lower rates.
  • Your occupation can affect rates - Did you know your job can affect your rates? Jobs such as judges, social workers and stock brokers tend to have the highest rates because of high stress and long work days. On the other hand, jobs such as actors, students and homemakers receive lower rates.

The car insurance bait and switch

Car insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm constantly bombard you with ads in print and on television. They all seem to have a common claim that you can save if you switch to their company. But how can every company make the same claim?

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a desirable insured could be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has great credit. A customer that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and therefore will save a lot of money.

Consumers who don't measure up to this ideal profile will have to pay higher prices and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ads state "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That's the way insurance companies can advertise the savings.

Because of the profiling, drivers should quote coverage with many companies. Because you never know which car insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Find out more about car insurance

More information is located on the website for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department located here. Consumers can learn about insurance regulations, discover disciplinary actions, learn about specific coverages, and file complaints about a company.

Also read more on this Car Insurance FAQ and this page of insurance agents in Clarks Summit.

car insurance in Clarks Summit

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

When you buy insurance online, don't be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are many occasions where an insured dropped liability coverage limits only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford.

Lower-priced car insurance is available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Clarks Summit agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

We just showed you a lot of ways to reduce car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the lowest rates come from the least-expected company. Regional companies often have lower prices on specific markets as compared to the big name companies such as .