How to Know You're Spending Too Much for Auto Insurance in Lilly

Expensive auto insurance can take a big chunk out of your personal savings and make it hard to pay other bills. Comparison shopping is a smart way to help make ends meet.

Numerous battle for your business, and because of this it can be hard to compare and get the definite lowest rate

It's important to do rate comparisons yearly because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal two years ago you can probably find a better price now. Starting now, ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the only way to remove unneeded coverages and save money.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Lilly

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

  • Your spouse saves you money - Being married can actually save you money when buying auto insurance. It is viewed as being more responsible and it's proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • Big city or small town - Residing in a rural area can be a good thing when talking about auto insurance. Less people living in that area means fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. City drivers have much more traffic to deal with and longer commute times. More time commuting means more change of being in an accident.
  • Multi-policy discounts can save money - Most companies will give a discount to insureds who carry more than one policy. It's known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can be anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal.
  • Add-on coverages can add up - There are many add-on coverages that you can buy when buying auto insurance. Coverages like roadside assistance, towing coverage and motor club memberships are examples of these. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but if you don't need them get rid of them and save.
  • Battle of the sexes - Statistics have proven that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. That doesn't necessarily mean that women are better drivers. Women and men tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but the males cause more damage. They also get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.

Take advantage of discounts

Companies don't always publicize all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list both the well known as well as the least known auto insurance savings.

  • Accident Waiver - A few companies will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
  • Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
  • Anti-theft Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems can help prevent theft and will save you 10% or more.
  • Drive Less and Save - Driving fewer miles can qualify you for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Organization Discounts - Being a member of certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break on auto insurance.
  • Defensive Driver - Completing a defensive driving course could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

To choose companies offering auto insurance discounts in Lilly, follow this link.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. They all seem to say the same thing about savings if you switch to them. How do they all claim to save you money?

All companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that makes them money. An example of a desirable insured might be a mature driver, has no prior claims, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and most likely will cut their rates substantially.

Consumers who don't qualify for the "perfect" profile will have to pay higher rates which usually ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "people who quote" save money. This is how companies can truthfully state the savings. Because of the profiling, you should compare many company's rates. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

How to know if you need help

When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no perfect coverage plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. These are some specific questions can help discover whether your personal situation would benefit from professional advice.

  • I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
  • What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
  • Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
  • Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
  • Am I getting all the discounts available?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Learn more about auto insurance in Pennsylvania

Even more information is available at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department website. Visitors are able to get help finding coverage, view agent and company licensing information, read consumer alerts, and discover disciplinary actions.

Pennsylvania auto insurance quotes

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

Cheap auto insurance can be found both online and with local Lilly insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

When buying insurance coverage, you should never buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford.