Free Guide to Spending Less for Abingdon Auto Insurance Online

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can take a big chunk out of your savings account and force you to make sacrifices. Comparing price quotes is a great way to tighten up your finances.

There are many to pick from, and even though it's nice to have a selection, it makes it harder to compare rates.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Abingdon is quite easy. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to save some money using these techniques. Nevertheless, Virginia vehicle owners do need to know the methods companies use to determine prices and take advantage of how the system works.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't always list every discount very clearly, so here is a list some of the best known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving.

Government Employees - Being employed by or retired from a federal job could cut as much as 10% off with a few auto insurance companies.
Senior Discount - Mature drivers can possibly qualify for reduced rates.
Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you can actually save on your bill.
New Vehicle Savings - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can be considerably cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Military Rewards - Being deployed with a military unit can result in better rates.
Passive Restraint Discount - Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
Drivers Education - Have your child successfully complete driver's ed class in high school.
Accident Free - Drivers who don't have accidents can earn big discounts when compared to bad drivers.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don't profit that way.

To see a list of insurance companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Virginia, click here.

Free Quotes for Auto Insurance in Abingdon, Virginia

There are multiple methods to compare auto insurance quotes, and some are more efficient than others. You can waste a lot of time driving to agents in Abingdon, or you could save time and use the internet to get prices fast.

Many insurance companies participate in an industry program that enables customers to only type in their quote data once, and at least one company returns a competitive quote based on that information. This prevents consumers from doing repetitive form submissions to each individual auto insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

The only downside to getting quotes like this is that you can't choose which carriers to get quotes from. So if you want to choose from a list of companies for rate comparison, we have a listing of auto insurance companies in Virginia. View list of Virginia insurance companies.

However you get your quotes, make darn sure you compare identical deductibles and coverage limits for each comparison quote. If the quotes have different values for each quote it's impossible to determine the lowest rate in Abingdon. Slightly different coverage limits can make a big difference in price. And when comparison shopping, quoting more helps you find better pricing.

What determines how much you pay?

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

The list below includes some of the factors companies use to determine prices.

Rates may be lower depending on your job - Careers like doctors, social workers and financial analysts tend to pay higher average rates because of job stress and long work days. Conversely, jobs such as pilots, engineers and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
Sex matters - Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that women are better drivers. Both sexes cause accidents at about the same rate, but the men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also statistically get more serious tickets like reckless driving and DUI.
Optional equipment can affect rates - Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft devices like GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all aid in stopping auto theft.
Proper usage rating affects rates - The more you drive in a year's time the higher your rate. Most companies price each vehicle's coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars used primarily for pleasure use can get a lower rate as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Double check that your auto insurance policy shows the correct driver usage, because it can save money.
Drive a safer car and pay less - Vehicles with high crash test scores get lower rates. The safest vehicles result in less severe injuries and better occupant protection translates into savings for insurance companies and thus lower rates.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Everyone's situation is a little different and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether or not you could use an agent's help.

Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?

If you can't answer these questions, you may need to chat with an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

The auto insurance bait and switch

Auto insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO regularly use ads in print and on television. They all have a common claim of big savings if you move to them. How does each company say the same thing?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that is profitable for them. An example of a driver they prefer might be profiled as over the age of 40, insures multiple vehicles, and has excellent credit. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" will get the preferred rates and therefore will save when switching.

Consumers who don't measure up to these standards will be quoted higher prices and this can result in business not being written. The ads state "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save money. This is how insurance companies can confidently make those claims. This emphasizes why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

Affordable insurance is out there

While you're price shopping online, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

In this article, we covered a lot of techniques to compare auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with some of the lesser-known companies. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates as compared to the big name companies such as .

More sites with auto insurance information

More tips and info about auto insurance is available at the Virginia Bureau of Insurance website. Virginia drivers can read industry bulletins, learn about insurance regulations, view a list of available companies, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Additional helpful sites include this online resource for auto insurance quotes in Virginia and this list of insurance agents in Abingdon.