How to Know You're Spending Too Much for Auto Insurance in Wexford

Scraping up a payment for overpriced auto insurance can overdraw your bank account and put a big crunch on your finances. Doing a price comparison is a smart way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.

Because you have many choices, it's nearly impossible to find the cheapest insurance company.

This article will help you learn how car insurance quotes work and some tips to save money. If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using these methods. But Pennsylvania vehicle owners do need to know the way companies sell online and take advantage of how the system works.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that help determine auto insurance rates. 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.

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

Add-on coverages can add up - There are a ton of add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren't careful. Things like roadside assistance, accidental death and additional equipment coverage are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea when talking to your agent, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
With age comes lower rates - Teenage drivers in Pennsylvania are known to get distracted easily when driving so auto insurance rates are higher. Having to add a young driver onto a policy can break the bank. More mature drivers are more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.
Women pay lower rates - Statistics have proven women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Women and men tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but the male of the species have costlier accidents. Men also tend to get cited for more serious violations like reckless driving and DUI. Teenage male drivers tend to get in the most accidents and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
Bundling policies can get discounts - Many companies will award you with lower prices to people who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, it's in your best interest to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money.
Occupation reflects on rates - Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Occupations such as doctors, architects and stock brokers have the highest rates in part from stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. On the other hand, professions such as pilots, students and performers get better rates.

Save big with these discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not know about. Certain discounts will be applied when you quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for before you get the savings.

Driver Safety - Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.
Student in College - Children who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
Accident Waiver - Some insurance companies will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you haven't had any claims prior to the accident.
Auto/Home Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
Claim Free - Drivers who don't have accidents can earn big discounts when compared with accident-prone drivers.
Organization Discounts - Affiliation with a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break when buying auto insurance.
Driver's Ed - Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll in driver's education if it's offered in school.
Anti-lock Brake Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can reduce accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
Lower Rates for Military - Having a deployed family member may qualify for rate reductions.
Good Student Discount - This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.

Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. Even though it may seem like it's possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will help reduce your overall premium however.

To choose insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in Pennsylvania, follow this link.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

21st Century, Allstate and State Farm continually stream ads on TV and radio. All the companies say the same thing that you'll save big after switching your coverage to them. But how can every company say the same thing? This is how they do it.

All companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that makes them money. An example of a profitable customer might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. A propective insured who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and most likely will save a lot of money.

Drivers who fall outside this ideal profile must pay a higher premium which usually ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say "drivers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. This is how companies can advertise the savings.

This illustrates why you should get as many comparisons as possible. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone's situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. These are some specific questions may help you determine if your situation might need an agent's assistance.

Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Wexford?
Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
Do I qualify for additional discounts?
What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?

If you don't know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Much more information about auto insurance in Pennsylvania is available on the website for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. Click here for link. Pennsylvania drivers can discover disciplinary actions, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, learn about insurance regulations, and read consumer alerts.

Other informative sites include this resource for Pennsylvania auto insurance prices and this link which helps you find a Wexford agent.

Shop smart and save

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be sourced on the web as well as from independent agents in Wexford, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who don't offer online price quotes and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.