How to Know You're Wasting Money for Auto Insurance in Ford City

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy overpriced auto insurance? Trust us when we tell you there are lots of people in the same boat.

Drivers have multiple to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to have a choice, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

It's important to compare prices at least once a year since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest rates two years ago you may be paying too much now. So block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because it's time to teach you the tricks you need to know to find lower rates on auto insurance.

Finding the cheapest protection in Ford City is not that difficult. In a nutshell, every driver who is required by state law to have auto insurance should be able to reduce their rates. But Pennsylvania vehicle owners do need to know how big insurance companies price insurance differently and use this information to your advantage.

How to Compare Ford City Auto Insurance Costs

The are a couple different ways of comparing rate quotes from auto insurance companies in your area. The recommended way to find competitive insurance rates is simply to get online rate quotes. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

The first (and easiest) way to compare a lot of rates at once is a comparison rater form click here to open form in new window. This form prevents you from having to do multiple quote forms for every auto insurance company. Completing one form gets rate comparisons from multiple low-cost companies.

A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online is spending the time to visit each company's website to request a price quote. For sake of this example, let's say you want to compare rates from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to spend time on each company's site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Ford City, click here.

The hardest method to get comparison rates is to spend time driving to and from local Ford City insurance agencies. Buying insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you require the personal advice of a local Ford City agent. Drivers can compare the best prices online but buy from a local insurance agent and we'll touch on that later.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just compare identical information for each price quote. If you enter higher or lower deductibles it will be impossible to truly determine the lowest rate in Ford City. Having just a slight variation in insurance coverages may cause a big price difference. Just keep in mind that obtaining a wide range of quotes helps locate the best price.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

It's important that you understand the rating factors that help determine auto insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

Do men or women drive better? - Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Women and men have accidents in similar percentages, but the males have costlier accidents. They also have more aggressive citations like reckless driving and DUI. Teenage male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and thus pay the highest rates.
Extra coverages can waste money - There are a ton of extra coverages that you can buy if you aren't careful. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and term life insurance may be wasting your money. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but if they're wasting money eliminate them to save money.
Your location affects your rates - Choosing to live in a rural area can be a good thing when buying auto insurance. Drivers in populated areas have to deal with much more traffic and longer commute times. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents.
Theft deterrents lower rates - Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.
Too many auto insurance claims drive up costs - Car insurance companies in Pennsylvania give lower rates to people who are claim-free. If you file claims often, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
Safe vehicles cost less to insure - Cars with high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles reduce injuries and better occupant protection means lower claim amounts and thus lower rates.
Traffic citations inflate rates - Your driving citation history has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Just one moving violation can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Careful drivers have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you can get discounts to reduce the price significantly. A few discounts will automatically apply when you get a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be specially asked for before you will receive the discount.

Senior Discount - Older drivers may be able to get better auto insurance rates.
Driver Safety - Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.
Auto/Life Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Payment Method - If paying your policy premium upfront rather than paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.
Drivers Education - Require your teen driver to complete a driver education course if it's offered in school.
Service Members Pay Less - Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
Discount for Good Grades - Getting good grades can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
Homeowners Discount - Owning a house in Ford City may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
No Accidents - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially as compared to frequent claim filers.
College Student - Any of your kids who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Most only cut individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will bring down the amount you have to pay.

For a list of companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Pennsylvania, click this link.

Much more information about auto insurance in Pennsylvania can be found on the website for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department located here. Pennsylvania drivers can learn about insurance regulations, discover disciplinary actions, view agent and company licensing information, and view a list of available companies.

Affordable insurance is out there

When buying insurance coverage, it's very important that you do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford.

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be purchased on the web and also from your neighborhood Ford City agents, so compare prices from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies may not provide online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.