How to Know You're Throwing Money Away for Auto Insurance in Spartansburg

Are you tired of scraping the payment together each month for car insurance? You're in the same situation as many other drivers in Pennsylvania. With so many options when it comes to auto insurance, it can be hard to find the most cost effective provider.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates enables informed choices that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

Shown below are a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

Liability insurance protects assets - Your policy's liability coverage will protect you if a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability provides for a legal defense starting from day one. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not skimp.
Do you work long hours in a high stress job? - Occupations such as lawyers, social workers and stock brokers tend to have the highest rates because of high stress and lengthy work days. On the other hand, occupations such as farmers, students and retirees receive lower rates.
Bump up deductibles to save - The deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. Coverage for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply could be colliding with a building, damage from fire, and burglary. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
How many coverages with the same company - Some insurance companies will award you with lower prices to customers who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you still need to comparison shop to ensure the best deal. Drivers may still find better rates by splitting coverages up.
Do you need those extra coverages? - There are quite a few extra bells and whistles that you can get tricked into buying on your auto insurance policy. Things like rental car reimbursement, accidental death and term life insurance are some examples. These coverages may sound good when you first buy your policy, but if they're wasting money remove them from your policy.
Rural vs Urban Areas - Being located in a rural area is a positive aspect when insuring your vehicles. Urban drivers regularly have more traffic problems and a longer drive to work. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents.
Pleasure use saves money - The higher the mileage driven every year the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Most insurance companies apply a rate based on their usage. Cars left parked in the garage qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your auto insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the correct usage for each vehicle.
Car features impact rates - Driving a car with an alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention devices such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder auto theft.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but there could be available discounts that you may not know about. Most are applied when you complete an application, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested before they will apply. If you don't get every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

Organization Discounts - Participating in a professional or civic organization may earn a discount when buying auto insurance.
No Accidents - Claim-free drivers can save substantially when compared with accident-prone drivers.
Multiple Cars - Buying coverage for all your vehicles with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Anti-theft Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
Safety Course Discount - Completing a course in driver safety could save 5% or more if your company offers it.

It's important to note that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like it's possible to get free car insurance, you're out of luck. But any discount will help reduce the cost of coverage.

To choose insurers with discount auto insurance rates in Pennsylvania, click here.

How can Allstate, GEICO and Progressive save drivers who switch?

Pennsylvania consumers can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies have a common claim that you can save if you change to their company.

But how can every company make almost identical claims?

All companies can use profiling for the driver that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer could possibly be over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and has excellent credit. A driver that hits that "sweet spot" will get very good rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Consumers who are not a match for this ideal profile must pay higher rates and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say "customers that switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That's why insurance companies can make those claims.

This illustrates why you should get as many comparisons as possible. It is impossible to predict the company that will have the lowest rates.

More information can be found on the website for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department located here. Pennsylvania consumers can find out which companies have the most complaints, read industry bulletins, report car insurance fraud, and read consumer alerts.

Other informative sites include this link for Pennsylvania auto insurance quotes and this link which helps you find a Spartansburg agent.

And the best car insurance company is...

Lower-priced auto insurance can be sourced online and also from your neighborhood Spartansburg agents, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies may not provide online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

While you're price shopping online, do not buy poor coverage just to save money. In too many instances, an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your focus should be to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.