How to Get Cheap La Grande Auto Insurance

Are you overwhelmed by the wide range of auto insurance choices in La Grande? You're not the only one! Drivers have so many options available that it can turn into more work than you anticipated to find better rates.

It's important to price shop coverage at least once a year since insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates a few years ago you can probably find a better price now. Don't believe everything you read about auto insurance on the internet, so we're going to give you some great ways to quit paying high auto insurance rates.

This information will tell you the most effective way to quote insurance. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you should be able to reduce your rates substantially using these methods. But Oregon vehicle owners do need to know the way companies compete online.

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that help determine auto insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

The following are some of the items that factor into your rates.

  • Consolidate policies to earn discounts - Many auto insurance companies give discounts to people who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, it's still a good idea to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still find a better deal by buying insurance from more than one company.
  • Extra add-on coverages are wasting money - There are a ton of extra coverages you can purchase if you aren't careful. Coverages for roadside assistance, better glass coverage and membership fees may be wasting your money. They may seem like a good idea initially, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
  • With age comes lower rates - Teenage drivers in Oregon are known to be less responsible when behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Older insureds tend to be more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations.
  • Where do you drive? - Driving more miles in a year the higher your rates will be. The majority of insurers price each vehicle's coverage based on how the vehicle is used. Autos used primarily for pleasure use get more affordable rates than those used for commuting. Double check that your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage.
  • Keep rates low by being claim-free - Insurance companies in Oregon give lower rates to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
  • Better credit scores mean better rates - Your credit history is a big factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. So if your credit is not that good, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Consumers who have good credit tend to be less risk to insure as compared to drivers with lower credit scores.
  • Don't sacrifice liability coverage - Liability coverage provides coverage in the event that a jury decides you are liable for damages caused by your negligence. It will provide you with a defense in court which can be incredibly expensive. Liability is cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so drivers should carry high limits.

La Grande auto insurance quote

Save big with these discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, buy you may qualify for discounts to cut the cost considerably. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of purchase, but some may not be applied and must be manually applied prior to receiving the credit.

  • Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Driver Safety - Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
  • Resident Student - Any of your kids living away from home attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
  • New Vehicle Savings - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Drivers Education - Cut your cost by having your teen driver take driver's ed class if it's offered in school.
  • Federal Government Employee - Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off with certain companies.
  • Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.
  • Organization Discounts - Affiliation with a qualifying organization could trigger savings on your policy.
  • Multi-policy Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you may save at least 10% off all policies.
  • Payment Method - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.

Drivers should understand that many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will bring down your overall premium however.

To choose providers who offer auto insurance discounts in Oregon, click this link.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Companies like Allstate and Progressive continually stream ads on TV and radio. All the ads make the same claim that you'll save big after switching your policy. How does each company say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that makes them money. A good example of a preferred risk might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A propective insured who matches those parameters receives the best rates and most likely will save when switching.

Potential customers who fall outside these standards will be charged higher prices which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. That's the way companies can advertise the way they do.

That is why you should compare as many rates as you can. It's not possible to predict which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Find out more about auto insurance

Much more information about auto insurance in Oregon can be read on the Oregon Insurance Division website found here. Oregon drivers can read consumer alerts, discover disciplinary actions, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Other informative sites include BankRate.com's Car Insurance: When not to Skimp and this La Grande agent directory.

auto insurance in La Grande

Shop smart and save

When shopping online for auto insurance, make sure you don't buy poor coverage just to save money. Too many times, an insured dropped full coverage and found out when filing a claim that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The aim is to buy enough coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be bought on the web in addition to many La Grande insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some auto insurance companies do not provide online price quotes and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

Insureds change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including policy non-renewal, delays in responding to claim requests, not issuing a premium refund or even delays in paying claims. Whatever your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is easier than you think.