Free Guide to Paying Less for Willowick Auto Insurance Online

Expensive auto insurance can overdraw your bank account and make it hard to pay other bills. Comparison shopping is a smart way to lower your monthly bill. Numerous battle for your hard-earned dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare to find the lowest price

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but discounts can save money and there are some available that many people don't even know exist. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you quote, but a few must be asked about before you get the savings. If they aren't giving you every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

  • Multi-car Discount - Buying insurance for more than one vehicle on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • Auto/Home Discount - If you have multiple policies with one company you could get a discount of at least 10% off all policies.
  • Theft Prevention Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Participating in certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break when buying auto insurance.
  • Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Driving fewer miles could be rewarded with lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Use Seat Belts - Drivers who require all occupants to use their safety belts can save 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, auto insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will cut the amount you have to pay.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Higher deductibles cost less - Your deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. Physical damage insurance, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims could be colliding with a building, collision with an animal, and burglary. The more you have to pay, the bigger discount you will receive.
  • Big city or small town - Residing in small towns and rural areas is a positive aspect when insuring your vehicles. Fewer people means a lower chance of having an accident as well as less vandalism and auto theft. City drivers regularly have more traffic problems and longer commute times. Higher commute times means higher likelihood of an accident.
  • One company can mean more discounts - Most companies will award you with lower prices to customers who have multiple policies with them. It's known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money.
  • Liability coverage protects you - Liability insurance is the protection if a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. It provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • Drive a safer car and pay less - Vehicles with high crash test scores are cheaper to insure. Safe vehicles protect occupants better and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies and lower rates for you.

Insurance agents can help

When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Every situation is different so your insurance needs to address that. For example, these questions can help discover whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.

  • Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
  • What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
  • Are rental cars covered under my policy?
  • Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
  • Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
  • Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and you can get the answers you need.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Ohio consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings from the likes of Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies say the same thing about savings if you switch your coverage to them.

How do they all make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a profitable customer could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no prior claims, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A driver who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Drivers who don't qualify for the "perfect" profile must pay a higher premium which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

This illustrates why drivers should compare as many rates as you can. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Learn more about auto insurance in Ohio

Additional information is located on the website for the Ohio Department of Insurance found here. Ohio consumers can report car insurance fraud, view agent and company licensing information, read consumer alerts, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Ohio auto insurance quotes

Best coverage at the best price

Cheap auto insurance can be found online as well as from independent agents in Willowick, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best selection. Some auto insurance companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice collision coverage and learned later that the savings was not a smart move. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.