Easy Methods to Save Money on Riverton Car Insurance

Are you intimidated by the number of car insurance companies in Riverton? Lot's of other consumers are too. You have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into more work than you anticipated to find the perfect company for you.

It's important to compare prices every six months because rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal on your last policy a different company probably has better rates today. So just block out anything you think you know about car insurance because you're going to learn the proper way to find lower rates on car insurance.

The purpose of this article is to help educate you on how car insurance quotes work and some money-saving tips. If you currently have car insurance, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using these techniques. But Utah car owners do need to know the way companies price insurance differently and take advantage of how the system works.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but discounts can save money and there are some available to reduce the price significantly. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of quoting, but some must be inquired about before you will receive the discount.

Discount for Good Grades - Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
Multiple Vehicles - Having multiple vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Multi-policy Discount - If you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you may save 10% to 20% off each policy.
Early Switch Discount - Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching to them prior to your current policy expiring. It's a savings of about 10%.
No Charge for an Accident - Some insurance companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
Claim Free - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts compared to drivers who are more careless.
Homeowners Discount - Being a homeowner may trigger a car insurance policy discount due to the fact that maintaining a home requires personal responsibility.
Payment Method - If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save up to 5%.
Clubs and Organizations - Belonging to a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break on your policy.

Consumers should know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free car insurance policy, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will help reduce your premiums.

How to Lower your Car Insurance Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that help determine your car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get better car insurance rates.

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

How's your driving record? - Your driving record has a big impact on rates. Drivers who don't get tickets have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Just one ticket can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers who get flagrant violations such as DUI or reckless driving may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
Do you know your deductibles? - Physical damage coverage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. A few examples of covered claims are a windshield shattered by a rock, collision with an animal, and burglary. Your deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend in the event of a claim. The more money you have to pay, the less your car insurance will be.
Your location is important - Choosing to live in a small town has it's advantages when it comes to car insurance. City drivers tend to have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Less people living in that area means a lower chance of having an accident and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
What type of vehicle do you drive? - The performance level of the vehicle you drive makes a big difference in your rates. The lowest rates tend to be for low performance passenger vehicles, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
Liability coverage is peace of mind - Liability coverage provides coverage in the event that you are found to be at fault for personal injury or accident damage. Liability insurance provides legal defense coverage up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability is cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so buy as much as you can afford.
Do you know you're credit rating? - Your credit history is a important factor in calculating your car insurance rates. Therefore, if your credit rating is not that good, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your rating. People with high credit scores tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with lower credit scores.

The car insurance bait and switch

Companies like State Farm and Allstate continually stream ads in print and on television. All the ads say the same thing that you'll save big after switching your coverage to them. But how can every company make the same claim?

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that earns them a profit. An example of a preferred risk could be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no driving citations, and has great credit. A customer who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to this ideal profile will be charged more money which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ad wording is "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much money. That's the way companies can advertise the savings.

That is why drivers should get as many quotes as possible. Because you never know which car insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Much more information about car insurance in Utah is available on the Utah Insurance Department website located here. Consumers can file complaints about a company, report car insurance fraud, and view agent and company licensing information.

Also read more on NAIC.org's Understanding your Policy and this directory of insurance agents in Riverton Utah.

Final considerations

We just showed you many ways to reduce car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the better chance you'll have of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from a small local company.

Discount car insurance can be purchased from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Riverton, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

When you buy insurance online, don't be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.