How to Know You're Wasting Money for Auto Insurance in Albany

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy overpriced auto insurance? Trust us, there are lots of people in the same boat.

Numerous battle to insure your vehicles, so it can be very hard to choose a to discover the definitive lowest rate

It's important to compare rates every six months since insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price a few years ago you may be paying too much now. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because I'm going to let you in on the secrets to one of the best ways to get good coverage at a lower rate.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to lower your premiums substantially using these techniques. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Albany is easy if you know what you're doing. But Georgia vehicle owners do need to know the methods companies use to compete online and apply this information to your search.

Comprehensive Albany Auto Insurance Comparison

Most major insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm give prices on the web. Getting online quotes is quite easy as you just type in the coverages you want into the quote form. Behind the scenes, their system will obtain information on your driving record and credit history and returns a price quote based on these factors. Online price quotes simplifies rate comparisons, but the time required to go to many different websites and enter the same data into a form is monotonous and tiresome. Unfortunately, it is important to perform this step in order to get a lower rate.

A less time-consuming method to lower your rates requires only one form that gets price quotes from a bunch of companies at once. It's a real time-saver, requires much less work on your part, and makes rate comparisons much more enjoyable. After sending the form, your coverage is rated and you can select any of the returned quotes. If a lower price is quoted, you can simply submit the application and buy the new coverage. This process takes 15 minutes at the most and you will know how your current rates stack up.

To quickly find out how much you're overpaying now, click here and fill out the form. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you copy the coverage information just like they are on your policy. This way, you will have a fair comparison based on similar coverages.

Albany auto insurance comparison

You have some control over your rates

It's important that you understand the rating factors that help determine auto insurance rates. Understanding what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

  • Older drivers save more - Older insureds are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel. Teenage drivers are known to be careless and easily distracted when behind the wheel therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
  • Do you know your deductibles? - Physical damage insurance, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are a windshield shattered by a rock, vandalism, and burglary. Physical damage deductibles are how much you are required to spend before a claim is paid by your company. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be.
  • Men pay higher rates - Statistics demonstrate that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. They both cause accidents in similar percentages, but the males have costlier accidents. They also have more aggressive citations like reckless driving and DUI. Teenage male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and thus pay the highest rates.
  • Safer cars cost less to insure - Vehicles with good safety scores tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles reduce injuries and better occupant protection means lower claim amounts and lower rates for you.
  • Save money with special equipment - Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.
  • Pleasure use saves money - Driving more miles in a year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies price each vehicle's coverage based on how the vehicle is used. Autos not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your auto insurance coverage is showing the proper vehicle usage.

More discounts equal less premium

Companies offering auto insurance don't list all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find some of the best known as well as the least known ways to save on auto insurance.

  • Senior Discount - Older drivers may be able to get better auto insurance rates.
  • Multiple Vehicles - Having multiple vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
  • New Vehicle Savings - Adding a new car to your policy can save up to 30% due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • No Accidents - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially as compared to frequent claim filers.
  • Service Members Pay Less - Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
  • Discount for Good Grades - Getting good grades can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
  • Homeowners Discount - Owning a house in Albany may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
  • Sign Online - A handful of insurance companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
  • Student Driver Training - Require your teen driver to complete a driver education course if it's offered in school.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn't make money that way.

For a list of companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Albany, click this link.

More detailed Georgia auto insurance information can be found at the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner website. Georgia drivers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, report car insurance fraud, learn about insurance regulations, and find disaster information.

Shop smart and save

As you shop your coverage around, you should never reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where someone sacrificed physical damage coverage only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be bought on the web and also from your neighborhood Albany agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers may not provide online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.