Tightwads Guide to Saving on St Paris Auto Insurance

Are you tired of scraping the payment together each month for car insurance? You're in the same situation as millions of other consumers.

Having so many different company options, it's nearly impossible to locate the lowest price car insurance company.

It's important to check auto insurance prices before your policy renews since insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the lowest price on your last policy a different company probably has better rates today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you're about to learn one of the easiest ways to get good coverage at a lower rate.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Car insurance companies do not list all their discounts very well, so we researched some of the best known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving.

Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in St Paris can save you money because of the fact that having a home shows financial diligence.
Accident Free - Claim-free drivers pay much less as compared to drivers who are more careless.
Military Rewards - Being deployed with a military unit can result in better rates.
Bundle and Save - If you have multiple policies with one company you will save up to 20% off your total premium.
Employee of Federal Government - Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.

Keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears it's possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn't work that way.

What determines how much you pay?

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine rates.

Bump up deductibles to save - Physical damage coverage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims are a windshield shattered by a rock, damage caused by hail, or theft. The deductibles are how much you are required to spend out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The more you're willing to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
Rates may be lower depending on your job - Jobs such as judges, social workers and stock brokers tend to pay the highest rates because of high stress and lengthy work days. On the other hand, occupations like farmers, students and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
Lower rates with optional equipment - Driving a car with an alarm system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft devices such as GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all hinder auto theft.
More than one policy can earn a discount - The majority of insurance companies will give a discount to people who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you still need to compare other company rates to make sure you are getting the best deal. Consumers may find better rates by splitting coverages up.
An active claims history can cost you - Car insurance companies in Ohio generally give discounts to drivers who file claims infrequently. If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
A clean driving record saves money - Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Just one citation can increase rates twenty percent or more. Good drivers have lower premiums than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who have severe citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to drive a vehicle legally.
Better crash test results mean better rates - Cars with high safety ratings get lower rates. These vehicles result in less severe injuries and better occupant protection translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims passed on to you as lower rates.
Sex matters - The statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, don't assume that women are better drivers. Women and men have accidents in similar numbers, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also get more serious tickets like reckless driving and DUI.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive regularly use television and radio advertisements. They all seem to have a common claim that you can save if you move to them. But how can every company say the same thing?

All companies can use profiling for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a desirable insured might be profiled as between 25 and 40, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Drivers who don't qualify for this ideal profile will have to pay a higher premium and this can result in business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That's why insurance companies can advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, drivers should get as many comparisons as possible. It's not possible to predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Additional detailed information is located at the Ohio Department of Insurance website. Ohio drivers can report car insurance fraud, read industry bulletins, view a list of available companies, and read consumer alerts.

Also read more on this page for Ohio auto insurance and this page for help finding agents in St Paris, OH.

Do the work, save more money

Affordable auto insurance is possible on the web and with local St Paris insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

When you buy insurance online, do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, an accident victim reduced liability coverage limits only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford.