Tightwads Guide for Saving on Aiea Auto Insurance

No one looks forward to paying for auto insurance, especially knowing they are paying too much. Big-name insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive all claim big savings with ads and it is difficult to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

If you are insured now or need new coverage, you can learn to get lower rates while maximizing coverage. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Aiea is easy if you know what you're doing. Hawaii vehicle owners just need to know the tricks to shop their coverage around online.

More discounts equal less premium

Companies that sell car insurance don't necessarily list all available discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we researched some of the best known and the more hidden auto insurance savings. If you aren't receiving every discount you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

Defensive Driving Course - Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more if you qualify.
Anti-theft Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems help deter theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Drivers Ed for Students - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver's education in high school.
Military Rewards - Having a deployed family member can result in better rates.
Air Bag Discount - Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
Accident Free - Good drivers with no accidents pay much less when compared with drivers who are more careless.
Pay Upfront and Save - If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can actually save on your bill.
Discount for Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with better rates if you take out a life insurance policy as well.
Paperless Signup - Certain companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.

Consumers should know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don't profit that way.

What determines how much you pay?

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

Do you need those extra coverages? - There are a lot of additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren't careful. Insurance for personal injury protection, accidental death and motor club memberships are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea at first, but if you don't need them eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
Multi-policy discounts can save money - The majority of companies will award you with lower prices to people who buy several policies from them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even though this discount sounds good, you may still want to compare other company rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Frequent auto insurance claims increase rates - Auto insurance companies in Hawaii provide cheaper rates to people who file claims infrequently. If you frequently file small claims, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for larger claims.
Safer occupants lowers premiums - Cars with high safety ratings are cheaper to insure. Safe vehicles result in less severe injuries and better occupant protection means less money paid by your insurance company and more competitive rates for policyholders.

It's not one size fits all

When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Everyone's needs are different so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if you may require specific advice.

Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, then you may want to think about talking to an 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. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Hawaii drivers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance by companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies say the same thing that you'll save big if you move to them.

How can each company say the same thing?

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a profitable customer might be profiled as over the age of 50, owns a home, and chooses high deductibles. A propective insured who fits that profile receives the best rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Drivers who do not match the requirements must pay higher premiums which usually ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say "people who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save money. That is how companies can state the savings. This illustrates why drivers should get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

For more Hawaii car insurance information

More detailed Hawaii auto insurance information is located at the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs website. Hawaii drivers can discover disciplinary actions, read consumer alerts, download brochures, and find disaster information.

In the end, you save

Discount auto insurance is possible on the web and with local Aiea insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When buying insurance coverage, it's not a good idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut collision coverage and learned later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.