How to Get Low-Cost Opelousas Auto Insurance

Buying affordable Opelousas auto insurance on the internet can seem to be impossible for people who are new to buying insurance online. With so many choices of choices, how can consumers possibly compare them all to find the lowest rates?

Buying car insurance in Opelousas is quite easy. If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you can follow these tips to get lower rates and possibly find even better coverage. Louisiana drivers only need an understanding of the most effective way to get comparison rates online.

Save big with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always publicize every discount very well, so we researched both well-publicized and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings. If you don't get every credit you deserve, you're paying more than you need to.

Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you can actually save on your bill.
Accident Waiver - Some insurance companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
Anti-lock Brake Discount - Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.
Theft Prevention Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
Defensive Driver - Successfully completing a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill and easily recoup the cost of the course.
Early Signing - Some companies give discounts for switching policies before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
Multi-car Discount - Insuring more than one vehicle on the same auto insurance policy can get a discount on all vehicles.

It's important to understand that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way.

To see a list of insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Louisiana, follow this link.

Auto Insurance Prices in Opelousas, Louisiana

Finding cheaper auto insurance prices is actually quite simple. You just have to spend a few minutes on the computer comparing rates online from several insurance companies. This can be accomplished in a couple of different ways.

The best way to get quotes is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This method prevents you from having to do separate quotation requests for each company you want a rate for. One form submission compares rates from auto insurance companies with the best prices. This is by far the quickest method.
A less efficient way to get quotes online is going to the website of each company to complete their respective quote request forms. For examples sake, we'll pretend you want comparison quotes from , and . To get each rate you have to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is quicker.

To view a list of companies in Opelousas, click here.

Which method you use is up to you, but ensure you are comparing apples-to-apples coverage limits and deductibles on every quote you get. If you use different liability limits you can't possibly determine which rate is truly the best in Opelousas.

What determines how much you pay?

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

Lower rates with optional equipment - Purchasing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft features like GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.
Battle of the sexes - Statistics have proven women tend to be less risk to insure than men. That doesn't necessarily mean that women are better drivers. Both sexes tend to get into accidents in similar numbers, but the men cause more damage. Men also statistically get cited for more serious violations such as DWI and reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 are the most expensive to insure and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
Better credit means lower rates - Having a bad credit score is a big factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. So if your credit history is lower than you'd like, you could pay less to insure your by improving your rating. Drivers with good credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with poor credit.
Multiple policies with one company can save - Most companies provide better rates to customers who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, it's still a good idea to compare rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Add-on coverages can add up - There are many add-on coverages that can waste your money on your auto insurance policy. Things like roadside assistance, accident forgiveness and motor club memberships are examples of these. They may seem good initially, but if you don't need them remove them from your policy.
Traffic violations increase rates - Even one citation can increase rates by as much as thirty percent. Good drivers get better rates than bad drivers. If you have serious violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may find they need to file a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to continue driving.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Louisiana consumers can't get away from ads for car insurance savings by companies like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all say the same thing of big savings if you switch to them.

But how can every company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For instance, a driver they prefer could possibly be a mature driver, insures multiple vehicles, and drives newer vehicles. A driver who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and most likely will save a lot of money.

Drivers who fall outside this ideal profile will be quoted a higher premium which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save money. This is how insurance companies can confidently claim big savings. This emphasizes why drivers must get as many quotes as possible. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

Best coverage at the best price

Consumers switch companies for a variety of reasons including unfair underwriting practices, denial of a claim, policy cancellation or policy non-renewal. Whatever your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is actually quite simple.

Low-cost auto insurance can be found online and with local Opelousas insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best selection. A few companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

When trying to cut insurance costs, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced liability coverage limits only to discover later that it was a big mistake. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.

For more Louisiana auto insurance information

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the Louisiana Department of Insurance website. Louisiana consumers can view a list of available companies, learn about insurance regulations, and find out industry alerts.

Additional helpful sites include this site for auto insurance rates in Louisiana and this list of insurance agents in Opelousas, LA.