How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Golden Meadow

No one in their right mind looks forward to paying for auto insurance, especially knowing the cost is too high.

Big companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive all promote huge savings with ads and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and find the best price available.

It's important to price shop coverage occasionally since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best rates last year you can probably find a better price now. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance online, so we're going to give you some great ways to quit paying high auto insurance rates.

If you currently have car insurance, you stand a good chance to be able to reduce your rates substantially using this strategy. Finding the best rates in Golden Meadow is not that difficult. Although Louisiana vehicle owners do need to know how big insurance companies price online insurance.

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

Better credit scores mean better rates - Your credit score is a important factor in determining your rates. If your credit is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by improving your credit score. Consumers who have high credit scores tend to be less risk to insure than drivers who have poor credit.
Multiple policies with one company can save - Most companies give discounts to people who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can add up to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
Your job and insurance rates - Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Occupations like real estate brokers, architects and dentists are shown to have the highest average rates because of high stress levels and long work hours. Other occupations such as scientists, historians and homemakers pay the least.
Special features that cut premiums - Owning a car with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can help prevent your car from being stolen.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies offering auto insurance don't always advertise every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so the following is a list of some of the best known as well as the least known auto insurance savings.

Anti-lock Brake Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Anti-theft System - Anti-theft and alarm systems help deter theft and will save you 10% or more.
No Claims - Good drivers with no accidents pay less compared to accident-prone drivers.
Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
Homeowners Savings - Being a homeowner may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
Drivers Ed for Students - Cut your cost by having your teen driver take driver's ed class in school.
Defensive Driver - Taking a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So even though it sounds like you could get a free auto insurance policy, you won't be that lucky.

To choose providers offering auto insurance discounts in Golden Meadow, follow this link.

How can Allstate and Progressive save drivers who switch?

Companies like Allstate and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on television and other media. All the ads say the same thing about savings if you switch your policy. How can each company say the same thing?

Different companies have a certain "appetite" for the right customer that makes them money. A good example of a preferred risk might be profiled as between 30 and 50, owns a home, and drives newer vehicles. A propective insured who fits that profile receives the best rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who are not a match for the requirements will be charged a higher premium which usually ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that kind of money. That is how companies can truthfully claim big savings. That is why you should get as many quotes as possible. It's not possible to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

Tailor your coverage to you

When buying coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone's situation is a little different so your insurance needs to address that. For instance, these questions might point out whether you might need professional guidance.

Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.

Even more information can be read at the Louisiana Department of Insurance website. Louisiana drivers can find out industry alerts, read consumer alerts, read industry bulletins, and view a list of available companies.

Final considerations

When trying to cut insurance costs, it's not a good idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. Too many times, an insured cut full coverage and found out when filing a claim that it was a big mistake. The aim is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

The cheapest auto insurance can be found on the web in addition to many Golden Meadow insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection. A few companies do not provide online price quotes and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.