Comparing Cheap Niles Auto Insurance

Tired of not being able to afford each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other Ohio consumers. You have so many to pick from, and even though it's nice to have multiple companies, lots of choices makes it harder to compare rates.

This article will let you in on how to effectively get price quotes. If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. Ohio vehicle owners just need to know the most efficient way to get comparison quotes on the web.

Take advantage of discounts

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be applied at the time you complete a quote, but a few need to be manually applied prior to getting the savings. If you're not getting every credit available, you are throwing money away.

  • Use Seat Belts - Requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
  • Claim Free - Claim-free drivers can save substantially when compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Safety Course Discount - Completing a course in driver safety could save 5% or more if you qualify.
  • Discount for Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Participating in a qualifying organization could qualify you for a break when shopping for auto insurance.
  • Save over 55 - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive a small decrease in premiums.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with a few auto insurance companies.
  • Anti-theft Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Pay Now and Pay Less - If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save up to 5%.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will bring down your overall premium however.

Tips to Get Lower Niles Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices.

Shown below are a few of the "ingredients" used by your company to calculate prices.

  • Always keep insurance in force - Not having insurance is a misdemeanor and as a result your rates will increase for letting your coverage have a gap. Not only will you pay more, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance will get you a steep fine or even jail time.You may need to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with the Ohio DMV.
  • Your stress level may be raising your rates - Careers like lawyers, architects and financial analysts have higher average rates due to stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. Conversely, professions such as farmers, engineers and retirees get better rates.
  • Extra coverages can waste money - There are quite a few extra bells and whistles that can waste your money on your auto insurance policy. Coverages for roadside assistance, accident forgiveness and additional equipment coverage are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea initially, but now you might not need them so eliminate them to save money.
  • Please use or commuting - The higher the mileage driven every year the higher your rate. Almost all companies apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles left parked in the garage qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Make sure your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle.
  • Liability coverage is peace of mind - Your policy's liability coverage will protect you when a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. It will provide for a legal defense starting from day one. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • Older drivers pay less - Teen drivers in Ohio have a tendency to be careless and easily distracted in a vehicle so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.
  • Too many auto insurance claims drive up costs - Companies in Ohio provide lower rates to people who do not file claims often. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can expect either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Auto insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • Consolidate policies to earn discounts - Some companies provide better rates to customers 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 compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money. Drivers may still find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Ohio consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance from the likes of Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. They all say the same thing that you'll save big if you change your coverage to them.

How does each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All companies can use profiling for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For example, a driver they prefer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile receives the best rates and most likely will save when switching.

Potential customers who don't qualify for these standards will be quoted a more expensive rate which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. That's why companies can advertise the way they do.

This emphasizes why drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Much more information about auto insurance in Ohio can be found on the website for the Ohio Department of Insurance found here. Ohio consumers can find a variety of consumer forms, read industry bulletins, discover disciplinary actions, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Also read more on this site for auto insurance information in Ohio and this list of agents in Niles, OH.

A tidy conclusion

Discount auto insurance is attainable online as well as from independent agents in Niles, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

When shopping online for auto insurance, make sure you don't skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where an accident victim reduced physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your strategy should be to buy enough coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.