How to Know You're Throwing Money Away for Car Insurance in Haynesville

Are you sick and tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? You're in the same situation as many other Louisiana consumers.

Because there are so many companies to choose from, it can be hard to find the lowest price car insurance company.

It's important to shop coverage around once or twice a year due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best deal a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So forget all the misinformation about car insurance because I'm going to teach you the proper way to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

Tips to Get Lower Haynesville Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with better car insurance rates.

Shown below are some of the factors used by your company to calculate rates.

Please use or commuting - The higher the mileage driven every year the more you will pay for car insurance. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars based on their usage. Cars that are left in the garage can get a lower rate than those used for commuting. Verify your car insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the correct usage for each vehicle, because it can save money.
Car features impact rates - Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention devices such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all hinder auto theft.
Little extras can really add up - There are quite a few extra bells and whistles that you can buy when buying car insurance. Things like roadside assistance, towing coverage and additional equipment coverage are some examples. These coverages may sound good initially, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
Bad driving skills means higher rates - Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Drivers who don't get tickets get better rates than their less careful counterparts. Even a single speeding ticket can bump up the cost by twenty percent. Drivers who have dangerous citations such as DUI or reckless driving may need to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.
Men are more aggressive - The statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. Now that doesn't mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Men and women tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but the males tend to have more serious accidents. They also get more serious tickets like DUI and reckless driving.
Drive a safer car and pay less - Safer cars get lower rates. These vehicles protect occupants better and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims passed on to you as lower rates.
Your stress level may be raising your rates - Jobs such as doctors, social workers and stock brokers have the highest rates due to high stress and long work hours. On the other hand, professions such as farmers, students and retirees get better rates.

Compare the Market for Car Insurance in Haynesville

There are several ways of comparing rates and find the best price. One of the best ways to find competitive insurance rates is to get quotes online. This is very easy and can be done in several different ways.

The fastest way to find low rates is to use a rate comparison form click to view form in new window. This type of form keeps you from doing repetitive form entry for each company. Taking the time to complete one form will get you price quotes direct from many companies.
A slightly less efficient method to compare rate quotes requires a visit to the website for each individual company and complete a new quote form. For examples sake, let's assume you want rates from , and . You would have to take the time to go to each site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is quicker.

To view a list of companies in Haynesville, click here.
The most time-consuming way of getting rate comparisons is driving around to insurance agents' offices. Shopping for car insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you want the professional advice of a licensed agent. It is possible to find lower rates online and still use a local agent and you'll learn how to do that later.

However you get your quotes, double check that you are using apples-to-apples coverage limits on every quote. If the quotes have differing limits you can't possibly make a fair comparison in Haynesville. Slightly different limits may result in large price differences. It's important to know that comparing more company's prices gives you a better chance of getting better pricing.

Take advantage of discounts

Auto insurance companies don't always advertise all their discounts very well, so here is a list both the well known and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving.

Save with a New Car - Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
Driver's Ed - Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course if offered at their school.
Safety Course Discount - Taking a defensive driving course could save 5% or more if your company offers it.
Good Students Pay Less - This discount can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.
Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you may receive a small decrease in premiums.

Keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Just because it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it just doesn't work that way.

To choose companies with discount car insurance rates in Louisiana, click here.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Car insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive consistently run ads on TV and radio. They all seem to have a common claim that you can save if you change your coverage to them. But how can every company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies can use profiling for the type of customer that makes them money. An example of a desirable insured might be between 25 and 40, has no tickets, and has a short commute. Any driver that hits that "sweet spot" will get the preferred rates and most likely will save a lot of money.

Consumers who don't qualify for this ideal profile will have to pay higher rates and this can result in the customer not buying. The ads state "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. That's why insurance companies can make the claims of big savings. Because of the profiling, you need to quote coverage with many companies. You cannot predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Additional detailed information is available at the Louisiana Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, view a list of available companies, discover disciplinary actions, and file complaints about a company.

Other informative sites include Auto Insurance 101 and this page where you can research Haynesville insurance agents.

Shop smart and save

As you shop your coverage around, don't be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, an insured dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at the best price.

Affordable car insurance is attainable both online as well as from independent agents in Haynesville, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers don't offer online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.