Tightwads Tips for Saving on Herndon Auto Insurance

Scraping up a payment for overpriced auto insurance can overdraw your bank account, especially in this economy. Doing a price comparison is a smart way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket. Drivers have so many to pick from, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, too many choices makes it more difficult to compare rates.

It's important to compare prices quite often because prices are constantly changing. Just because you had the best price six months ago a different company probably has better rates today. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate the proper way to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.

Pricing the cheapest coverage in Herndon is quite easy. If you have insurance now or are looking for a new policy, you can learn to find the best rates while maintaining coverages. Pennsylvania vehicle owners just need to know the proper methods to find the lowest price online.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not even be aware of. A few discounts will automatically apply when you get a quote, but a few need to be requested specifically before you will receive the discount. If you're not getting every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

  • Discount for Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
  • Save with a New Car - Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Good Student Discount - Performing well in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
  • Sign Online - A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
  • Lower Rates for Military - Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.
  • Drivers Education - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course in school.
  • Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save up to 5%.
  • Own a Home - Owning a house in Herndon may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because owning a home is proof that your finances are in order.
  • Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. Just because it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will bring down your premiums.

Pennsylvania auto insurance quotes

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with big savings.

  • Your location is important - Residing in less populated areas can be a good thing when talking about auto insurance. City drivers tend to have much more traffic and longer commute times. Lower population means a lower chance of having an accident.
  • Older drivers pay less - Youthful drivers in Pennsylvania are statistically proven to be more careless when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Having to add a youthful driver onto a policy can be quite pricey. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel.
  • Cautious drivers pay less - Drivers who don't get tickets tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Just one ticket can bump up the cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who have serious citations like DUI or reckless driving may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
  • Lower miles equals lower premium - The more miles you rack up on your car in a year's time the more you will pay for auto insurance. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven.
  • Your spouse saves you money - Having a spouse can actually save you money when buying auto insurance. It translates into being more mature than a single person it has been statistically shown that married drivers get in fewer accidents.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a perfect coverage plan. Everyone's situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether or not you might need professional guidance.

  • When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
  • Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?
  • Should I buy only the required Pennsylvania minimum liability coverage?
  • What are the financial responsibility laws in Pennsylvania?
  • Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
  • Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
  • What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
  • Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and may give you better protection.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Consumers in Pennsylvania get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings from the likes of GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to say the same thing that you'll save big if you switch your coverage to them.

How does each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For example, a desirable insured might be between 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has a high credit rating. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and therefore will save when switching.

Drivers who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay higher premiums which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads state "drivers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much money. This is how companies can state the savings.

Because of the profiling, drivers should compare as many rates as you can. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

More sites with auto insurance information

Much more information about auto insurance in Pennsylvania can be found on the website for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. Click here for link. Visitors are able to view agent and company licensing information, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, file complaints about a company, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Also read more on Wikipedia and this page where you can research Herndon insurance agents.

Herndon auto insurance comparison

And the best car insurance company is...

As you restructure your insurance plan, make sure you don't skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many instances, drivers have reduced physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that they should have had better coverage. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price.

We covered a lot of tips how to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the best prices are with a smaller regional carrier. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates as compared to the big name companies such as .

Discount auto insurance is available both online as well as from independent agents in Herndon, so compare prices from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.