Free Guide to Paying Less for Gretna Car Insurance Online

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Trust us when we tell you you're not alone.

There are many to pick from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, it makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to check car insurance prices at least once a year because rates are constantly changing. If you had the lowest rates a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Starting right now, block out anything you think you know about car insurance because you're going to learn the tricks you need to know to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that come into play when calculating your car insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with big savings.

Sex matters - Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that women are better drivers. They both have accidents in similar percentages, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also have more aggressive citations such as reckless driving.
Choose a safe vehicle and save - Vehicles with good safety scores tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles result in less severe injuries and fewer injuries means lower claim amounts and thus lower rates.
Save money with special equipment - Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Anti-theft devices like GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.
Where you live can impact rates - Choosing to live in less populated areas can be a good thing when it comes to car insurance. Drivers in populated areas regularly have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer people means fewer accidents.
Performance makes a difference - The performance level of the vehicle you own makes a big difference in determining your rates. The lowest base rates are generally reserved for low performance passenger models, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
Better credit means lower rates - Credit rating is a big factor in calculating your car insurance rates. Drivers with excellent credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records as compared to drivers with lower credit scores. If your credit rating can use some improvement, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit.
Never allow your policy to lapse - Not having insurance is illegal and your next policy will cost more because you let your insurance lapse. Not only will rates go up, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance might get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.Then you may be required to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the Louisiana DMV.

Quick Gretna Car Insurance Quotes

Shopping for lower car insurance rates can take time and effort if you don't understand the fastest way to get free quotes. You can spend your afternoon talking to local insurance agents in Gretna, or you could use online quotes to get prices fast.

Most of the larger companies participate in an industry program that allows shoppers to submit one quote, and every company then gives them pricing based on the submitted data. This system prevents you from having to do form submissions to each individual car insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

The only drawback to using this type of form is you don't know exactly which providers to receive prices from. So if you want to select specific insurance companies to receive pricing from, we put together a list of companies who write car insurance in Louisiana. View list of Louisiana insurance companies.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just compare identical deductibles and coverage limits with each company. If each company quotes different values for each quote you can't possibly make an equal comparison in Gretna. Having just a slight variation in coverages can make a big difference in price. Just keep in mind that quoting more helps you find better pricing.

Be sure to get all your discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but there are discounts available to help offset the cost. Some discounts apply automatically at the time of quoting, but lesser-known reductions have to be manually applied before you will receive the discount.

55 and Retired - If you're over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for reduced rates.
Drive Less and Save - Keeping the miles down can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
Pay Upfront and Save - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you may save approximately 10% to 15%.
Sign Early and Save - Some companies give discounts for switching to them prior to your current policy expiration. It can save you around 10%.
Passive Restraints - Factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will bring down the amount you have to pay.

To choose companies with the best car insurance discounts in Louisiana, click this link.

Is there truth in advertising?

Car insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm regularly use television and radio advertisements. They all seem to make the same claim about savings if you move to them. How does each company make the same claim? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a desirable insured could be over the age of 50, has no tickets, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay more money which leads to business going elsewhere. The ad wording is "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That's the way companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

Because of the profiling, you need to compare as many rates as you can. Because you never know which car insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional information can be found on the website for the Louisiana Department of Insurance found here. Consumers can learn about insurance regulations, find disaster information, view a list of available companies, and view agent and company licensing information.

Other informative sites include this Car Insurance FAQ and this page of insurance agents in Gretna.

Shop smart and save

When shopping online for car insurance, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price.

Cheaper car insurance is possible from both online companies and with local Gretna insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some car insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.