Top Ways to Save on Ville Platte Auto Insurance

Nobody looks forward to paying for auto insurance, especially knowing their premiums are too high.

Big companies like GEICO and Progressive all claim big savings with advertising and it can be hard to sift through the bull and find the best price available.

It's important to price shop coverage occasionally since insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the lowest price a year ago a different company probably has better rates today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're about to find out one of the easiest ways to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

If you currently have car insurance, you should be able to cut costs considerably using these methods. Buying car insurance in Ville Platte is quite easy. Nevertheless, Louisiana vehicle owners do need to know how companies determine prices because it can help you find the best coverage.

Save big with these discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, buy you may qualify for discounts to help offset the cost. Some trigger automatically when you purchase, but less common discounts must be specifically requested before being credited.

Accident Forgiveness - A handful of insurance companies allow you one accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims for a certain period of time.
Anti-theft System - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
Drivers Ed for Students - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course in high school.
No Claims - Good drivers with no accidents pay much less as compared to drivers who are more careless.
Pay Upfront and Save - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.
Homeowners Savings - Owning a house in Ville Platte may earn you a small savings because of the fact that having a home shows financial diligence.
Federal Employees - Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% with select insurance companies.

It's important to understand that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it doesn't quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will reduce your overall premium however.

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces that factor into rates.

Sex matters - Statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, don't assume that men are WORSE drivers than women. Men and women tend to get into accidents in similar numbers, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also have more aggressive citations like reckless driving and DUI.
How many coverages with the same company - The majority of auto insurance companies will give a discount to people who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. If you currently are using one company, it's still a good idea to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
You might want pay the small claims yourself - Car insurance companies in Louisiana give cheaper rates to policyholders who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Car insurance is intended to be relied upon for larger claims.
Rates may be lower depending on your job - Jobs such as judges, executives and dentists are shown to have the highest average rates due to job stress and long work hours. Other professions such as scientists, historians and the unemployed pay the least.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Every situation is different so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions might point out if your situation would benefit from an agent's advice.

Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?

If it's difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all seem to make the same claim of big savings if you move your policy. How can each company say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies have a certain "appetite" for the right customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a desirable insured might be profiled as between 25 and 40, owns a home, and has excellent credit. A propective insured who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who fall outside the requirements will have to pay higher prices which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. That is how insurance companies can confidently make those claims.

Because of the profiling, drivers should compare as many rates as you can. It's not possible to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

Additional auto insurance information is located on the website for the Louisiana Department of Insurance found here. Louisiana drivers can learn about insurance regulations, read consumer alerts, download brochures, and read industry bulletins.

Final considerations

Low-cost auto insurance is possible on the web in addition to many Ville Platte insurance agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

While you're price shopping online, it's a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, an insured cut liability coverage limits only to discover later they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price.