Lower Online Elyria Auto Insurance Prices With These Tricks

If you've never shopped for auto insurance online, you can be overwhelmed because of the huge number of auto insurance companies offering insurance in Elyria.

If you have a current auto insurance policy or are shopping for new coverage, you can use these techniques to get lower rates and possibly find even better coverage. The purpose of this article is to introduce you to how car insurance quotes work and some money-saving tips. Ohio consumers only need to know how to compare rates over the internet.

Automobile Insurance Quotes in Elyria, OH

Getting better auto insurance pricing is a fairly straight forward process. Consumers just need to spend a few minutes on the computer to compare quotes online with multiple companies. This is very easy and can be done in several different ways.

The first (and easiest) way to get the best comparison quotes is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This form keeps you from doing separate quote forms for each company. A single form gets you price quotes from many national carriers. This is perfect if you don't have a lot of time.

A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online requires visiting the website for every company you want to comare and complete a new quote form. For example, we'll pretend you want to compare , and . You would have to visit each site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is quicker.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Elyria, click here.

The hardest method to get comparison rates to local Elyria insurance agencies. The internet makes this process obsolete unless you want the trained guidance of a licensed agent. Drivers can compare the best prices online but buy from a local insurance agent.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just make absolute certain that you use the exact same quote information on every quote. If you have mixed coverages then you won't be able to make a fair comparison in Elyria.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Elyria

It's important that you understand the rating factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that could result in better auto insurance rates.

The following are some of the factors companies use to determine premiums.

Extra add-on coverages are wasting money - There are a ton of additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your auto insurance policy. Coverages like vanishing deductibles, accidental death and motor club memberships may be wasting your money. These may sound like a good investment initially, but if you don't need them get rid of them and save.
More than one policy can earn a discount - Many auto insurance companies will award you with lower prices to customers who have multiple policies with them. It's known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can be ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Being married can save on auto insurance - Being married can get you a discount on your auto insurance policy. Having a spouse is viewed as being more responsible and statistics show married couples file fewer claims.
Don't skimp on liability - Liability coverage is the coverage that protects you if a court rules you are at fault for damages from an accident. It provides legal defense coverage up to the limits shown on your policy. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so drivers should carry high limits.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies offering auto insurance don't list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list both well-publicized and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance. If they aren't giving you every credit you qualify for, you're just leaving money on the table.

Driver Safety - Taking a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.
Anti-theft System - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
Paperless Signup - Some insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying your policy on their website.
Club Memberships - Participating in certain professional organizations could trigger savings when buying auto insurance.
Braking Control Discount - Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can reduce accidents and will save you 10% or more.
Discount for New Cars - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can save up to 30% compared to insuring an older model.
Early Switch Discount - Some companies give discounts for switching policies before your current policy expires. It's a savings of about 10%.

A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won't be that lucky.

For a list of insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in Elyria, click this link.

Insurance agents can help

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Every situation is different.

For example, these questions might point out whether your personal situation could use an agent's help.

Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?

If it's difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to an agent. If you don't have a local agent, fill out this quick form. It's fast, free and you can get the answers you need.

Even more information is available at the Ohio Department of Insurance website. Ohio consumers can discover disciplinary actions, read consumer alerts, and get help finding coverage.

In the end, you save

The cheapest auto insurance can be sourced online and with local Elyria insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who do not offer online quoting and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When you buy insurance online, never reduce needed coverages to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

In this article, we presented many ideas to lower your auto insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with some of the smallest insurance companies.