Tightwads Guide to Saving on Selbyville Auto Insurance

Are you tired of trying to scrape together enough money each month for car insurance? You're in the same situation as many other Delaware drivers.

With consumers having so many options when it comes to auto insurance, it can be impossible to find the cheapest provider.

Finding the best rates in Selbyville is easy if you know what you're doing. Just about every vehicle owner who is required by state law to have auto insurance stands a good chance to be able to save money. But Delaware consumers do need to know how insurance companies sell online and use this information to your advantage.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

Safer cars cost less to insure - Cars with high safety ratings get lower rates. Safe vehicles protect occupants better and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims passed on to you as lower rates.
Occupation reflects on rates - Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for auto insurance? Occupations such as lawyers, social workers and stock brokers have the highest rates attributed to stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. On the other hand, occupations such as farmers, students and performers get better rates.
Women pay lower rates - The statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Women and men are in accidents in similar percentages, but the male of the species have costlier accidents. Men also tend to get more serious tickets like DUI and reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are several times more likely to be in an accident and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
Cautious drivers pay less - Whether or not you get tickets has a big impact on rates. Drivers who don't get tickets receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Even a single ticket can bump up the cost by twenty percent. Drivers with flagrant tickets like DUI or reckless driving are required to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
Being married is a good thing - Having a spouse can get you a discount on auto insurance. Having a spouse translates into being more mature than a single person and it's statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
Don't sacrifice liability coverage - Liability coverage will protect you if you are found liable for personal injury or accident damage. Liability provides for a legal defense starting from day one. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not skimp.
Frequent auto insurance claims increase rates - If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance companies in Delaware generally give discounts to people who do not file claims often. Auto insurance is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
More miles equals more premium - Driving more miles every year the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars based on how the vehicle is used. Cars left parked in the garage qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your auto insurance coverage properly reflects the proper vehicle usage.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies don't necessarily list all available discounts very well, so we break down both the well known and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving.

Lower Rates for Military - Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.
Claim Free - Claim-free drivers can save substantially when compared with accident-prone drivers.
One Accident Forgiven - Some insurance companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you haven't had any claims prior to the accident.
Good Students Pay Less - This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
Paperless Signup - Certain companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up online.
Organization Discounts - Being a member of a professional or civic organization may earn a discount when buying auto insurance.
Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Fewer annual miles can earn a substantially lower rate.
Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% depending on your company.
Save with a New Car - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
Air Bag Discount - Vehicles equipped with air bags can receive discounts of more than 20%.

Drivers should understand that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way.

To choose insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in Delaware, click here.

How can 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm save drivers who switch?

21st Century, Allstate and State Farm continually stream ads on television and other media. All the companies have a common claim that you'll save big after switching your coverage to them. But how can every company claim to save you money?

All companies can use profiling for the type of customer that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer might be over the age of 50, is a homeowner, and has excellent credit. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Potential customers who are not a match for this ideal profile must pay higher prices and this can result in the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "people who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much money. That's why companies can make those claims. This illustrates why you should compare many company's rates. It's impossible to know the company that will have the lowest rates.

Learn more today

More detailed Delaware auto insurance information can be found at the Delaware Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to find disaster information, read industry bulletins, learn about insurance regulations, and file complaints about a company.

Other informative sites include this page for auto insurance prices in Delaware and this page of Selbyville insurance agents.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be sourced both online as well as from independent agents in Selbyville, and you should be comparing both so you have a total pricing picture. Some companies don't offer online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

We covered a lot of techniques to save on auto insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising. Some small companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates than the large multi-state companies such as .