How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Car Insurance in Hiram

I can't think of anyone who likes paying for car insurance, especially when the cost is way too high. Numerous battle for your hard-earned dollar, and it can be difficult to compare rates to find the absolute lowest rate

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that help determine your car insurance rates. Understanding what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that could result in big savings.

Policy add-ons can waste money - There are a ton of additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your policy. Coverages like rental car reimbursement, accidental death and motor club memberships may be costing you every month. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but if you don't need them get rid of them and save.
How's your driving record? - Good drivers tend to pay less for car insurance compared to drivers with tickets. Even one moving violation can increase rates twenty percent or more. Drivers with flagrant tickets like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions are required to submit a SR-22 form with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
Drive less and save money - Driving more miles each year the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Most companies rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Ask your agent if your car insurance coverage is showing the proper vehicle usage.
Type of vehicle determines base rates - The type of vehicle you are insuring makes a big difference in how high your rates are. Small economy passenger cars generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.

These discounts can lower your rates

Companies offering auto insurance do not list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find some of the more common and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using. If they aren't giving you every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

Driver Safety - Taking part in a driver safety course can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
Good Student - This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
Early Switch Discount - Select companies give a discount for switching to them prior to your current policy expiration. It's a savings of about 10%.
55 and Retired - If you're over the age of 55, you may be able to get reduced rates.
Student Driver Training - Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll in driver's education if it's offered in school.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, car insurance companies aren't that generous.

To choose insurers who offer car insurance discounts in Hiram, click here to view.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Consumers can't ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance by companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies make an identical promise about savings after switching to them.

How do they all make the same claim? This is how they do it.

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer could be a mature driver, a clean driving record, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer who meets those qualifications gets the lowest rates and as a result will probably cut their rates substantially.

Drivers who are not a match for the "perfect" profile must pay a higher premium and ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "drivers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save money. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. This illustrates why you should get as many quotes as possible. Because you never know which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Different people need different coverages

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no best way to insure your cars. Every insured's situation is different so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions may help highlight whether you would benefit from professional advice.

Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
Should I buy only the required Ohio minimum liability coverage?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?

If you're not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and may give you better protection.

Additional Ohio consumer information

Even more information can be found at the Ohio Department of Insurance website. Consumers can discover disciplinary actions, file complaints about a company, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and learn about specific coverages.

A tidy conclusion

Cheap car insurance can be purchased from both online companies and with local Hiram insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best selection. Some car insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

We just showed you some good ideas how you can save on car insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the best price on car insurance is with a lesser-known regional company. Some small companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than the large multi-state companies such as .

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, you should never buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where someone dropped physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.