How to Know You're Wasting Money for Car Insurance in Felton

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Trust us, there are many people just like you. Consumers have many to pick from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

Locating affordable protection in Felton can be fairly easy. If you have a current car insurance policy or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to find better prices and still get good coverage. Delaware vehicle owners just need to know the tricks to compare prices over the internet.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine your car insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

Car features impact rates - Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Theft prevention features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart auto theft.
Little extras can really add up - There are a ton of extra coverages that can waste your money on your policy. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness and term life insurance are some examples. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but if they're wasting money eliminate them to save money.
Having a spouse can save you money - Getting married can get you a discount on car insurance. Having a significant other means you're more mature than a single person and it's proven that being married results in fewer claims.
Your location affects your rates - Choosing to live in small towns and rural areas can save you money when it comes to car insurance. Urban drivers regularly have traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents and a lower car theft rate.
How's your driving record? - A bad driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Careful drivers have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Even a single ticket can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. If you have flagrant violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find they need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
Rate your vehicle for proper use - Driving more miles in a year the higher your rate. Most insurance companies rate vehicles based on how the vehicle is used. Cars used primarily for pleasure use get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your car insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage.
Women pay lower rates - Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Both sexes have accidents at a similar rate, but the men have costlier accidents. Men also statistically get more serious tickets such as reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and are penalized with high car insurance rates.

How much can you save with discounts?

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but there could be available discounts that you may not know about. Some discounts apply automatically when you complete an application, but some may not be applied and must be asked for before they will apply. If you're not getting every credit possible, you are paying more than you should be.

Drivers Education - Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully complete driver's ed class if it's offered in school.
Low Mileage Discounts - Fewer annual miles could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
No Charge for an Accident - Certain companies will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
Multiple Policy Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you may save at least 10% off all policies.
Discount for Good Grades - This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
Life Insurance Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase life insurance.
New Car Discount - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Driver Safety - Successfully completing a driver safety course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
Federal Government Employee - Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off with a few car insurance companies.
Passive Restraint Discount - Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.

Drivers should understand that some credits don't apply the the whole policy. A few only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will bring down the amount you have to pay.

To choose insurance companies who offer car insurance discounts in Delaware, click here.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

Consumers can't ignore all the ads that promise big savings by State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all have a common claim that you'll save big after switching to their company.

How does each company make the same claim?

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that makes them money. A good example of a driver they prefer could be over the age of 50, has no tickets, and drives newer vehicles. A customer that hits that "sweet spot" receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Consumers who don't meet these standards will be quoted higher rates and this can result in business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That's the way companies can claim big savings.

This emphasizes why you should get a wide range of price quotes. Because you never know which car insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

Find out more about car insurance

Much more information about car insurance in Delaware can be read on the website for the Delaware Department of Insurance located here. Consumers can view a list of available companies, discover disciplinary actions, get help finding coverage, and view agent and company licensing information.

Other informative sites include this site for car insurance rates in Delaware and this list of insurance agents in Felton, DE.

And the best car insurance company is...

Budget-conscious car insurance can be sourced from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Felton agents, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. A few companies may not provide online price quotes and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.

When trying to cut insurance costs, make sure you don't buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where an insured dropped collision coverage and discovered at claim time that it was a big mistake. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.