Comparing the Cheapest College Park Car Insurance

Have you had enough of paying out the nose each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as the majority of other car owners in Maryland. Online insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with fancy advertisements and it can be hard to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

It's important to price shop coverage before your policy renews because rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest rates a couple years back a different company probably has better rates today. So forget all the misinformation about car insurance because you're going to learn the tricks you need to know to lower your annual insurance bill.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, buy you may qualify for discounts that many people don't even know exist. A few discounts will automatically apply when you purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked about before being credited. If you aren't receiving every discount available, you are throwing money away.

Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags can qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
Employee of Federal Government - Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off with certain companies.
Theft Prevention Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
Military Discounts - Being on active duty in the military could mean lower rates.
Clubs and Organizations - Belonging to a civic or occupational organization is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
Anti-lock Brake System - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most only cut specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, car insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will reduce your overall premium however.

Learn How to Buy Car Insurance Cheaper

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that go into determining your car insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

Better credit scores mean better rates - Your credit score is a big factor in your rate calculation. So if your credit rating is lower than you'd like, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your credit score. Consumers who have good credit tend to be less risk to insure than drivers who have poor credit.
Keep rates low by being claim-free - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Insurance companies in Maryland award cheaper rates to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Your insurance policy is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
One company can mean more discounts - Most insurers give discounts to policyholders who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to five, ten or even twenty percent. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still be able to find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.
Safe vehicles cost less to insure - Vehicles with high crash test scores can get you lower premiums. Safer cars have better occupant injury protection and fewer injuries translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Optional equipment can affect rates - Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder car theft.
Liability coverage protects you - Liability insurance will protect you in the event that you are found to be at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It will provide for a legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Liability is cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
Please use or commuting - The more miles you rack up on your car every year the higher your rates will be. The majority of insurers rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Double check that your car insurance policy is rated on how each vehicle is driven.
Bump up deductibles to save - Insurance for physical damage to your car, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered are collision with another vehicle, damage from fire, and windstorm damage. Deductibles for physical damage are the amount of money you are willing to pay before your car insurance pays a claim. The higher the amount the insured has to pay upfront, the less your company will charge you for insurance.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance from companies such as State Farm and Allstate. All the ads make an identical promise about savings if you switch your policy.

How can each company make the same claim? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies can use profiling for the right customer that earns them a profit. For example, a preferred risk could be between 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who don't qualify for the requirements will be charged higher prices and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. That's why companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

That is why drivers should compare as many rates as you can. Because you never know the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Learn more today

Additional information can be found on the website for the Maryland Insurance Administration found here. Consumers can find out industry alerts, download brochures, read consumer alerts, and find disaster information.

Best coverage at the best price

We just showed you many tips how you can reduce car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the better chance you'll have of finding lower rates. Drivers may discover the best prices are with a small mutual company. Regional companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than their larger competitors like .

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's not a good idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the savings was not a smart move. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.