Wheeling Auto Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Cutting costs on Wheeling auto insurance is challenging for consumers new to buying insurance online. Drivers have so many options available that it can be a challenge to locate the lowest price in Wheeling.

It's important to get comparison quotes once or twice a year since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best price last year a different company probably has better rates today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate the only way to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

This information will instruct you on how to effectively get price quotes and some tips to save money. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. But West Virginia vehicle owners do need to know the way companies price online insurance and apply this information to your search.

How much can you save with discounts?

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but companies offer discounts that many people don't even know exist. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of quoting, but less common discounts must be asked for before you will receive the discount.

  • Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in Wheeling may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because owning a home is proof that your finances are in order.
  • Military Discounts - Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.
  • Theft Prevention Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Drivers Education - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course in school.
  • Defensive Driver - Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could save 5% or more if you qualify.
  • New Vehicle Savings - Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off with select insurance companies.
  • Passive Restraints - Factory air bags may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.
  • Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.

Consumers should know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will bring down the amount you have to pay.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining auto insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are a few of the "ingredients" that factor into rates.

  • Marriage pays dividends - Having a spouse can actually save you money when buying auto insurance. It usually means you are more mature than a single person and statistics show drivers who are married are more cautious.
  • Save money with special equipment - Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder your car from being stolen.
  • Multiple policies with one company can save - Most companies will give a discount to people who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, it's still a good idea to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still be able to find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.
  • Keep rates low by being claim-free - Car insurance companies in West Virginia provide lower rates to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you file claims often, you can expect either higher rates or even cancellation. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • Extra coverages can waste money - There are many extra bells and whistles that you can buy if you aren't careful. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and membership fees are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea initially, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
  • Where do you drive? - The more miles you rack up on your car every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. The majority of insurers price each vehicle's coverage based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your auto insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven.
  • Clean credit earns discounts - Credit score is a big factor in your rate calculation. If your credit is lower than you'd like, you could potentially save money when insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Consumers who have good credit tend to be less risk to insure as compared to drivers with poor credit.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. They all seem to say the same thing that you'll save big if you switch your policy. How does each company say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies can use profiling for the right customer that earns them a profit. For example, a desirable insured might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and drives newer vehicles. A propective insured who fits that profile receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential insureds who don't meet these standards will have to pay more money which usually ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. That's why companies can claim big savings.

Because of the profiling, drivers should get as many quotes as possible. It's not possible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

More West Virginia auto insurance information

Much more information about auto insurance in West Virginia can be found on the West Virginia Insurance Commission website found here. West Virginia drivers can get help finding coverage, view a list of available companies, and read consumer alerts.

compare Wheeling auto insurance rates

Do the work, save more money

Discount auto insurance can be found on the web in addition to many Wheeling insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. A few companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

Consumers switch companies for a variety of reasons including an unsatisfactory settlement offer, unfair underwriting practices, policy cancellation and even extreme rates for teen drivers. It doesn't matter what your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is less work than it seems.

When trying to cut insurance costs, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, an insured dropped physical damage coverage only to discover later that it was a big mistake. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at the best price.