Think you have an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? You’re in good company because there are many drivers thinking the same thing. Vehicle owners have many insurance companies to choose from, and although it’s nice to have a selection, having more insurance companies makes it harder to get the best deal.
Buying car insurance is quite easy. If you have car insurance now, you should be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. But drivers do need to know how big insurance companies determine prices and use this information to your advantage.
Car insurance is not cheap nor is it fun to buy but you may be missing some discounts that could help you make your next renewal payment. Certain discounts will be applied when you get a quote, but a few need to be asked about in order for you to get them. If you are not receiving all the discounts you qualify for, you are just wasting money.
Please keep in mind that some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don’t profit that way.
Car insurance companies that may offer these discounts possibly include:
Check with all the companies which discounts they offer. Some discounts listed above might not apply in your area.
Big name companies like State Farm and Allstate regularly use television and radio advertisements. All the companies try to convey promises that drivers can save some big amount if you move your car insurance coverage to their company. How do they all save you money? It’s all in the wording.
Companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver that earns them the most money. An example of this type of driver could be between the ages of 40 and 55, carries high limits, and the vehicle is rated for pleasure use. A customer that fits those parameters will get low rates and will most likely save a lot of money.
Drivers who don’t qualify for those standards will see higher rates and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say “people that switch” not “all people who quote” save that much. This is how insurance companies can confidently make claims like that. Because of these techniques, you need to compare quotes as often as possible. It is just not possible to predict which car insurance company will have the best auto insurance rates.
While you’re price shopping online, it’s a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. Too many times, drivers have reduced liability coverage limits and learned later that it was a big mistake. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.
Some car insurance companies do not offer the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller providers only sell through local independent agencies. Lower-priced car insurance can be purchased online and also from your neighborhood agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates.