Easy Tips to Pay Less on Port Vincent Auto Insurance

Finding lower rates for Port Vincent auto insurance is nearly impossible for consumers not familiar with shopping for insurance online. People have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into more work than you anticipated to find the best price in Port Vincent.

It's important to compare prices before your policy renews because insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the best deal a year ago you can probably find a better price now. So forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're about to learn the only way to find lower rates on auto insurance.

This article will let you in on how car insurance quotes work and some tricks to saving. If you have car insurance now, you will be able to save some money using this information. Louisiana consumers only need to know the most effective way to compare company rates over the internet.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

The following are some of the factors used by your company to calculate rates.

More miles equals more premium - Driving more miles every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Almost all companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars left parked in the garage can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage, because it can save money.
Occupation reflects on rates - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Jobs such as doctors, social workers and financial analysts have higher average rates attributed to high stress levels and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations like farmers, engineers and performers get better rates.
Having a spouse can save you money - Being married can get you a discount on auto insurance. It translates into being more responsible and it's statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
Drive a safer car and pay less - Cars with high safety ratings get lower rates. These vehicles protect occupants better and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.
With age comes lower rates - Teen drivers in Louisiana are known to be more careless in a vehicle so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
Traffic violations increase rates - Your driving citation history has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Just one speeding ticket can bump up the cost twenty percent or more. Drivers who don't get tickets receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations such as DUI or reckless driving may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to keep their license.
Do you need those extra coverages? - There are a ton of extra bells and whistles that you can buy on your auto insurance policy. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and additional equipment coverage are some examples. These may sound like a good investment at first, but now you might not need them so eliminate them to save money.
How many coverages with the same company - Many insurance companies will give a discount to customers who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you may still want to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money. You may still find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.

Be sure to get all your discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not know about. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you get a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested before you will receive the discount. If you're not getting every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

Discount for New Cars - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
Claim Free - Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts as compared to accident-prone drivers.
One Accident Forgiven - Certain companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
Life Insurance Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles can qualify you for a substantially lower rate.
Multiple Vehicles - Buying insurance for multiple vehicles with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
Air Bag Discount - Factory air bags may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don't apply to the entire cost. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like you can get free auto insurance, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will bring down the amount you have to pay.

To choose companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Louisiana, click here.

Is there truth in advertising?

Louisiana consumers can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance from the likes of GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to have a common claim about savings after switching your coverage to them.

How does each company make almost identical claims?

All companies can use profiling for the type of customer that makes them money. An example of a desirable insured could possibly be a mature driver, is a homeowner, and has excellent credit. A driver that hits that "sweet spot" will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Drivers who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay higher premiums and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. That's why companies can truthfully make those claims.

Because of the profiling, you should get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict the company that will have the lowest rates.

Additional information is available on the Louisiana Department of Insurance website through this link. Louisiana consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read industry bulletins, and get help finding coverage.

Other informative sites include Auto Insurance 101 and this page where you can research Port Vincent insurance agents.

A tidy conclusion

While you're price shopping online, make sure you don't buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time they didn't purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate.

Drivers change insurance companies for many reasons like delays in paying claims, high rates after DUI convictions, an unsatisfactory settlement offer or even delays in responding to claim requests. Regardless of your reason, finding the right auto insurance provider is easier than you think.

The cheapest auto insurance can be sourced online as well as from independent agents in Port Vincent, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies don't offer online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.