Lower Online Elizabethtown Auto Insurance Prices With These Tips

If price shopping auto insurance online is new to you, it's easy to be confused by the hoards of auto insurance companies offering coverage in Elizabethtown.

It's important to shop coverage around periodically because prices are constantly changing. If you had the lowest price a few years ago you can probably find a better price now. There is a lot of bad information regarding auto insurance online but I'm going to show you some great ways to quit paying high auto insurance rates.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Elizabethtown is quite easy. If you have car insurance now, you will be able to cut costs considerably using these techniques. Nevertheless, Pennsylvania consumers do need to know the way companies determine prices because it can help you find the best coverage.

Tips to Get Lower Elizabethtown Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces used by your company to calculate rates.

  • Sex matters - Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that women are BETTER drivers than men. Women and men cause accidents in similar numbers, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also get more serious tickets like DUI and reckless driving.
  • High credit ratings translate to low rates - Credit rating is a huge factor in determining your rates. People with good credit tend to be more responsible than drivers who have lower ratings. Therefore, if your credit score can use some improvement, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit.
  • Optional equipment can affect rates - Owning a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft devices like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system can help prevent auto theft.
  • Being married is a good thing - Having a wife or husband actually saves money on auto insurance. It translates into being more mature and responsible it has been statistically shown that married couples file fewer claims.

More discounts equal less premium

Companies offering auto insurance don't always advertise all their discounts very clearly, so we researched both the well known and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving.

  • Accident Forgiveness - Certain companies will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Factory air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
  • Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save up to 5%.
  • Sign Online - Certain companies may give you up to $50 simply for signing over the internet.
  • Drive Less and Save - Keeping the miles down could be rewarded with a substantially lower rate.
  • Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
  • Lower Rates for Military - Being deployed with a military unit can result in better rates.

It's important to understand that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think you can get free auto insurance, it doesn't quite work that way.

To choose companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Pennsylvania, click here.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive regularly use ads in print and on television. They all seem to have a common claim of big savings if you move your coverage to them. How does each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured might be between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has a short commute. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and therefore will save when switching.

Consumers who do not match these standards will have to pay higher prices and this can result in the customer not buying. The ads state "drivers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much money. That is how insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings. Because of the profiling, you should get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know which company will fit your personal profile best.

It's not one size fits all

When buying the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a perfect coverage plan. Every insured's situation is different.

Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight if you might need an agent's assistance.

  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
  • What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
  • Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
  • Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
  • Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?

If you can't answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form.

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department website. Visitors are able to learn about insurance regulations, find out industry alerts, and view a list of available companies.

Pennsylvania auto insurance

Final considerations

Low-cost auto insurance is possible both online as well as from independent agents in Elizabethtown, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance providers don't offer online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

We covered a lot of techniques to save on auto insurance. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the lowest rates come from a lesser-known regional company.

Drivers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including denial of a claim, poor customer service, unfair underwriting practices or even an unsatisfactory settlement offer. It doesn't matter why you want to switch switching auto insurance companies is easier than you think.