Tightwads Guide for Saving on Alexandria Car Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy overpriced car insurance? Believe me when I say many Alexandria consumers feel financially strained by their car insurance policy. Companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive continually bombard you with catchy ads and it is difficult to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

Quick Alexandria Car Insurance Quotes

Getting better car insurance pricing doesn't have to be difficult. Consumers just need to take a couple of minutes comparing rate quotes online from several insurance companies. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in a couple of different ways.

The first (and easiest) way to compare a lot of rates at once is a comparison rater form click here to open form in new window. This method saves time by eliminating separate forms to each individual car insurance company. Completing one form compares rates from several companies.

A slightly less efficient method to shop for car insurance online is going to the website of each company to complete a price quote. For examples sake, let's assume you want to compare rates from , and . To find out each rate you need to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, and that's why the first method is more popular.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Alexandria, click here.

The least efficient method to compare rates is to spend your day driving to insurance agents' offices. Buying insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you have a need for the professional advice only provided by licensed agents. You can, however, compare the best prices online but buy from a local insurance agent and you'll learn how to do that later.

Whichever way you use, compare exactly the same coverage limits and deductibles for every company. If the quotes have different liability limits it will be very difficult to decipher which rate is best in Alexandria.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

It's important that you understand some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to big savings.

Your job and insurance rates - Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for car insurance? Careers like doctors, architects and dentists tend to have the highest average rates in part from high stress and lots of time spent at work. Other occupations like actors, historians and homemakers receive lower rates.
Policy add-ons can waste money - There are many extra coverages that can waste your money when buying car insurance. Insurance for vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness and term life insurance are examples of these. These coverages may sound good when talking to your agent, but if they're wasting money eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
Bundling policies can get discounts - Most companies provide better rates to insureds who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can be anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even with this discount, it's in your best interest to shop around to ensure the best deal. You may still be able to find a better deal by splitting coverages up.
Lower rates with optional equipment - Choosing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart your car from being stolen.
Older drivers save more - Older insureds are more cautious drivers, file fewer claims and are safer drivers. Youthful drivers are statistically proven to be less responsible when behind the wheel and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher.
Marriage pays dividends - Being married can actually save you money when buying car insurance. Having a significant other means you're more mature it has been statistically shown that being married results in fewer claims.
Battle of the sexes - Statistics demonstrate women are more cautious behind the wheel. That doesn't necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. They both have accidents at about the same rate, but the men cause more damage. Men also statistically get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving. Young males tend to get in the most accidents and thus pay the highest rates.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Auto insurance companies don't always advertise every discount in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list both the well known and the harder-to-find car insurance savings. If you aren't receiving every discount possible, you're just leaving money on the table.

No Accidents - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts when compared to frequent claim filers.
Defensive Driver - Taking part in a defensive driving course could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.
Theft Prevention System - Anti-theft and alarm systems help deter theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.
Distant Student - Children who live away from home and do not have a car can receive lower rates.

Keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn't work that way.

For a list of insurance companies offering car insurance discounts in Alexandria, follow this link.

Additional detailed information is available at the Indiana Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read industry bulletins, discover disciplinary actions, read consumer alerts, and view a list of available companies.

A tidy conclusion

Affordable car insurance can be found both online and also from your neighborhood Alexandria agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who may not provide online quoting and these smaller companies work with independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, it's not a good idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. There are too many instances where an insured dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.