Free Guide to Cutting Costs on Anacortes Car Insurance Online

Have you had enough of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? You're in the same situation as many other drivers in Washington. With consumers having so many choices of insurance companies, it's nearly impossible to find the lowest price insurance company.

It's important to compare rates before your policy renews due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best price last year you can probably find a better price now. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because you're about to learn how to quote online to buy cheaper car insurance.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

  • Drive less and save money - The higher the mileage driven every year the more you will pay for car insurance. Most insurance companies charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Autos not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Ask your agent if your car insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the correct usage for each vehicle.
  • Your stress level may be raising your rates - Jobs such as lawyers, executives and stock brokers tend to have the highest rates in part from high stress levels and lots of time spent at work. On the other hand, occupations such as farmers, students and retirees receive lower rates.
  • Don't buy coverages you don't need - There are quite a few extra bells and whistles that you can buy when buying car insurance. Things like rental car reimbursement, towing coverage and term life insurance may be wasting your money. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but if they're wasting money remove them from your policy.
  • Bad driving skills means higher rates - Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than their less careful counterparts. Only having one moving violation can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Drivers who have dangerous citations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.
  • With age comes lower rates - Youthful drivers in Washington have a tendency to be more careless in a vehicle so car insurance rates are higher. Mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and get fewer tickets.
  • Big city or small town - Being located in less populated areas can be a good thing when talking about car insurance. Drivers in populated areas regularly have much more traffic and longer commute times. Lower population translates into fewer accidents.
  • Multiple policies with one company can save - Some car insurance companies will give a discount to insureds who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount it's in your best interest to comparison shop to ensure the best deal. Drivers may still find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.
  • Choose a safe vehicle and save - Vehicles with good safety scores tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles reduce injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims passed on to you as lower rates.

Washington car insurance quotes

These discounts can lower your rates

Auto insurance companies don't list all their discounts very well, so we took the time to find both the well known and the harder-to-find ways to save on car insurance. If you don't get every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Save with a New Car - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • No Accidents - Claim-free drivers can save substantially as compared to accident-prone drivers.
  • Safety Course Discount - Taking part in a defensive driving course could save 5% or more if your company offers it.
  • Good Students Pay Less - This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply up until you turn 25.
  • College Student - Any of your kids who attend school more than 100 miles from home and don't have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.

As a disclaimer on discounts, many deductions do not apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like all those discounts means the company will pay you, car insurance companies aren't that generous.

To choose companies with discount car insurance rates in Washington, click this link.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Consumers in Washington can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to make the same claim about savings if you change to their company.

But how can every company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

All the different companies can use profiling for the driver that makes them money. For example, a desirable insured might be a mature driver, is a homeowner, and drives newer vehicles. Any driver who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Potential customers who are not a match for this ideal profile will have to pay a higher premium which leads to the customer not buying. The ad wording is "drivers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That's why companies can truthfully claim big savings. Because of the profiling, you should quote coverage with many companies. You cannot predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Learn more today

Even more information can be found at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website. Visitors are able to file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read industry bulletins, discover disciplinary actions, and file complaints about a company.

Other informative sites include Auto Insurance 101 and this page where you can research Anacortes insurance agents.

Best coverage at the best price

When trying to cut insurance costs, don't be tempted to buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, an accident victim reduced physical damage coverage only to discover later that it was a big mistake. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price.

Cheap car insurance is attainable both online and also from your neighborhood Anacortes agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. A few companies may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.