How to Find Low-Cost Mentor Auto Insurance

Are you intimidated by the crazy number of auto insurance companies in Mentor? You're not the only one! People have so many options available that it can turn into a challenge to locate the lowest price.

It's important to price shop coverage every six months because prices are constantly changing. If you had the best price a couple years back a different company probably has better rates today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're about to learn the fastest and easiest way to buy cheaper auto insurance.

More discounts equal less premium

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, buy you may qualify for discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Most are applied at the time you complete a quote, but a few need to be asked about prior to getting the savings.

Sign Online - Some insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks just for signing your application online.
Clubs and Organizations - Participating in a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break on auto insurance.
Federal Government Employee - Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% with select insurance companies.
Discount for Good Grades - Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. This discount can apply up to age 25.
Driver's Ed - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course in high school.

It's important to note that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like you could get a free auto insurance policy, you're out of luck. But any discount will help reduce your premiums.

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

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

Marriage brings a discount - Having a spouse actually saves money when buying auto insurance. It usually means you are more mature it has been statistically shown that being married results in fewer claims.
Liability insurance protects assets - The liability section of your policy provides coverage if ever a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. Liability insurance provides for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
Small claims can cost you - Car insurance companies in Ohio provide discounts to drivers who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you frequently file small claims, you can expect higher rates. Car insurance is designed for the large, substantial claims.
Careful drivers pay lower rates - Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Just one moving violation may increase your cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers with clean records tend to pay less for car insurance than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who have severe citations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to drive a vehicle legally.
Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates - Choosing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft devices such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can thwart your car from being stolen.
Allowing your policy to lapse raises rates - Driving without insurance is a misdemeanor and auto insurance companies will penalize you for letting your insurance lapse. And not only will insurance be more expensive, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance can result in a steep fine or even jail time.Then you may be required to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the Ohio DMV.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive regularly use ads in print and on television. They all seem to say the same thing that you can save if you move your policy. But how can every company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that earns them a profit. For example, a desirable insured could possibly be over the age of 40, has no driving citations, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will get very good rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Potential customers who do not match this ideal profile will have to pay a more expensive rate which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say "drivers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that kind of money. That's the way insurance companies can advertise the way they do.

Because of the profiling, drivers should compare as many rates as you can. It's impossible to know which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More information can be found on the Ohio Department of Insurance website. Click here for link. Ohio consumers can get help finding coverage, find out which companies have the most complaints, and download brochures.

Also read more on this site for Ohio auto insurance information and see this list of insurance agents in Mentor.

Affordable insurance is out there

Lower-priced auto insurance is definitely available online in addition to many Mentor insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

Consumers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including an unsatisfactory settlement offer, questionable increases in premium, extreme rates for teen drivers and even poor customer service. It doesn't matter why you want to switch switching auto insurance companies is less work than it seems.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, don't be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, someone sacrificed physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price.