Proven Ways to Save on Lakewood Auto Insurance

Are you sick and tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? You are no different than the majority of other car owners in Pennsylvania.

Multiple compete for your hard-earned dollar, so it's not easy to compare every and get the best coverage at the lowest price

It's important to get comparison quotes once or twice a year because insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best price a few years ago you may be paying too much now. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because I'm going to let you in on the secrets to one of the easiest ways to get good coverage at a lower rate.

How to Compare Auto Insurance Costs in Lakewood

There are several ways of comparing rate quotes and find the best price. The recommended way to compare insurance prices consists of shopping online. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

The first (and easiest) way consumers can analyze rates is to use a rate comparison form click to view form in new window. This easy form eliminates the need for separate quotes for every auto insurance company. Taking the time to complete one form will return price quotes instantly.

A less efficient way to get quotes online consists of visiting the website for each individual company to complete their respective quote request forms. For instance, let's assume you want rates from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is more popular. To view a list of companies in Lakewood, click here.

It's your choice how you get your quotes, but double check that you are using the exact same deductibles and coverage limits on every quote you get. If your comparisons have different values for each quote it will be impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Lakewood. Quoting even small variations in coverages could mean much higher rates. It's important to know that having more price comparisons will enable you to find better pricing.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

It's important that you understand the different types of things that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes a few of the "ingredients" that factor into your rates.

Consolidate policies to earn discounts - The majority of insurers give discounts to customers who carry more than one policy. It's known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to five, ten or even twenty percent. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to shop around to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. Consumers may find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.
Too many auto insurance claims drive up costs - Insurance companies in Pennsylvania award better rates to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can expect higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Special features that cut premiums - Driving a car with an alarm system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder car theft.
Liability coverage protects you - The liability section of your policy will protect you in the event that a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It will provide for a legal defense starting from day one. Liability is cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
Safer occupants lowers premiums - Cars with high safety ratings can get you lower premiums. Safer cars have better occupant injury protection and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and lower rates for you.
Rates may be lower depending on your job - Occupations like lawyers, business owners and accountants are shown to have higher rates than average because of high stress levels and lengthy work days. On the flip side, professions such as farmers, athletes and the unemployed pay the least.
Pay less after the wedding - Having a spouse actually saves money on your policy. Marriage usually means you are more responsible and it's proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.

Save big with these discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but companies offer discounts to help offset the cost. Certain discounts will be applied when you quote, but less common discounts must be manually applied prior to getting the savings.

Anti-theft Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and will save you 10% or more.
Student Driver Training - Require your teen driver to take driver's ed class in high school.
Pay Upfront and Save - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time rather than paying monthly you could save 5% or more.
Club Memberships - Participating in certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
Military Discounts - Being on active duty in the military can result in better rates.
No Claims - Claim-free drivers can save substantially compared to frequent claim filers.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Just because you may think you can get free auto insurance, auto insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will cut your overall premium however.

For a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Lakewood, click here to view.

Additional information can be found on the website for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department located here. Pennsylvania consumers can read consumer alerts, download brochures, view a list of available companies, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Final considerations

When shopping online for auto insurance, never reduce needed coverages to save money. Too many times, an insured dropped physical damage coverage only to discover later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The aim is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Cheap auto insurance is possible online in addition to many Lakewood insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies do not provide online quoting and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.