Easy Ways to Cut Costs on Hampton Auto Insurance

Price shopping your Hampton auto insurance is challenging for consumers new to buying insurance online. People have so many options available that it can quickly become more work than you anticipated to locate the lowest price in Hampton.

It's important to price shop coverage before your policy renews since insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the best rates a year ago you will most likely find a better rate today. Don't believe everything you read about auto insurance on the web, but we're going to give you some great ways to put money back in your pocket.

The purpose of this post is to let you in on the most effective way to quote insurance and some tricks to saving. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will most likely be able to reduce your rates substantially using this strategy. But Virginia vehicle owners do need to know the methods companies use to sell online.

These discounts can lower your rates

Car insurance can cost a lot, buy you may qualify for discounts that you may not know about. Most are applied at the time of quoting, but some may not be applied and must be specifically requested before you will receive the discount.

  • Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.
  • No Claims - Claim-free drivers pay less compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • One Accident Forgiven - Certain companies allow you one accident before your rates go up if you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.
  • New Vehicle Savings - Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Payment Method - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.
  • Military Discounts - Being on active duty in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
  • Drivers Education - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver's ed class if it's offered in school.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount with certain companies.
  • Good Students Pay Less - Performing well in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
  • Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most only cut specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will bring down the cost of coverage.

Virginia auto insurance

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate continually stream ads on television and other media. All the ads make an identical promise that you'll save big after switching your policy. How does each company say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies can use profiling for the right customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a preferred risk might be profiled as over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and has excellent credit. A propective insured who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Potential insureds who are not a match for these standards will be charged more money and ends up with business not being written. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that kind of money. That's why companies can make those claims.

That is why you should get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict the company that will have the lowest rates.

Learn more today

Much more information about auto insurance in Virginia can be read on the Virginia Bureau of Insurance website found here. Virginia drivers can find out industry alerts, read industry bulletins, and get help finding coverage.

Also read more on NAIC.org's Understanding your Policy and this directory of Hampton insurance agents.

Final considerations

Throughout this article, we presented some good ideas how you can reduce auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with a small mutual company.

People change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including poor customer service, high rates after DUI convictions, an unsatisfactory settlement offer and even delays in paying claims. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a new auto insurance company is less work than it seems.

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be sourced on the web in addition to many Hampton insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.