Free Guide to Spending Less for Montrose Auto Insurance Online

Have you had enough of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? You're in the same situation as many other drivers in Pennsylvania. Since consumers have many online and local companies to choose from, it can be challenging to pick the right insurance company.

It's important to compare rates before your policy renews because insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the best deal last year the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So just forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're about to learn the only way to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't list all their discounts very well, so here is a list both well-publicized and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving. If you don't get every credit available, you're paying more than you need to.

Discount for New Cars - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can be considerably cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Employee of Federal Government - Being employed by or retired from a federal job could cut as much as 10% off with select insurance companies.
Early Signing - A few companies offer discounts for switching policies before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
Air Bag Discount - Factory air bags can receive discounts of 20% or more.
Defensive Driver - Successfully completing a course in driver safety could save 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
Life Insurance Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give a break if you buy life insurance.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some credits don't apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

To see a list of companies offering auto insurance discounts in Pennsylvania, click here.

How to Compare Montrose Auto Insurance Rates

There are multiple methods you can shop for auto insurance and some are easier and takes less work. You can waste a lot of time driving to insurance companies in Montrose, or you can utilize the web for quick rates.

Many insurance companies belong to an insurance system that enables customers to complete one form, and each company then returns a price quote determined by their information. This prevents consumers from doing repetitive form submissions to each individual auto insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

The only drawback to pricing coverage this way is you cannot specify which carriers you want to price. So if you prefer to pick from a list of companies to compare rates, we put together a list of low cost auto insurance companies in Pennsylvania. Click here for list of insurance companies in Pennsylvania.

Whichever method you choose, ensure you're using apples-to-apples coverages and limits with every price quote. If your comparisons have different deductibles it will be impossible to find the best deal in Montrose.

You have some control over your rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are some of the factors auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

The more you drive the more you pay - The more miles you rack up on your car every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars used primarily for pleasure use can get a lower rate as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Double check that your auto insurance policy properly reflects how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.
Keep rates low by being claim-free - Car insurance companies in Pennsylvania generally give discounts to insureds who are claim-free. If you frequently file small claims, you can look forward to either higher rates or even cancellation. Your insurance policy is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
What type of vehicle do you drive? - The make and model of the car you own makes a substantial difference in your rates. The most favorable rates are generally reserved for small economy passenger cars, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
Traffic violations increase rates - Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Just one speeding ticket can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Careful drivers receive lower rates than bad drivers. Drivers who have serious citations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
Extra add-on coverages are wasting money - There are many extra bells and whistles that you can buy on your auto insurance policy. Things like personal injury protection, towing coverage and term life insurance are some examples. These may sound like a good investment at first, but if they're wasting money remove them from your policy.
Big city or small town - Being located in small towns and rural areas can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Urban drivers have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
Are you male or female? - The statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. That doesn't necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. Both sexes cause accidents at about the same rate, but the males cause more damage. They also get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are several times more likely to be in an accident and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
Your occupation can affect rates - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Jobs such as doctors, social workers and stock brokers tend to have the highest rates attributed to high stress levels and long work days. On the other hand, jobs such as farmers, students and homemakers receive lower rates.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Pennsylvania consumers can't get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance by GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to have a common claim about savings if you switch to their company.

But how can every company make almost identical claims?

Insurance companies can use profiling for the driver that is profitable for them. An example of a desirable insured could possibly be between 25 and 40, is a homeowner, and drives newer vehicles. A driver that hits that "sweet spot" receives the best rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don't measure up to this ideal profile will have to pay a more expensive rate and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "people who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That's why companies can truthfully claim big savings. Because of the profiling, drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

A tidy conclusion

When trying to cut insurance costs, don't be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that it was a big mistake. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate.

In this article, we presented a lot of ways to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers could even find that the most savings is with an unexpected company. These smaller insurers may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments as compared to the big name companies such as .

Learn more today

Even more information is available at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department website. Pennsylvania consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, download brochures, learn about specific coverages, and file complaints about a company.

Additional helpful sites include Auto Insurance 101 and this page where you can research Montrose insurance agents.