Top Ways to Save on Augusta Auto Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Trust us, you are not the only one feeling buyer's remorse. Multiple compete for your business, so it can be very hard to choose a to discover the definitive lowest price

It's important to compare rates at least once a year because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest price last year you can probably find a better price now. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because I'm going to let you in on the secrets to the only way to reduce your cost while improving coverage.

If you have insurance now or need new coverage, you will benefit by learning to find better prices and possibly find even better coverage. Finding affordable coverage in Augusta is easy if you know what you're doing. Arkansas vehicle owners just need to know the best way to compare company rates online.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

  • Marriage brings a discount - Having a wife or husband can actually save you money when buying auto insurance. It means you're more mature than a single person and it's proven that being married results in fewer claims.
  • Don't buy coverages you don't need - There are many extra coverages that you can buy on your auto insurance policy. Coverages like vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and term life insurance are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but if they're wasting money get rid of them and save.
  • Bundling policies can get discounts - Most companies will give a discount to customers who have multiple policies with them. It's known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even though this discount sounds good, you still need to comparison shop to ensure the best deal. You may still be able to find a better deal by buying insurance from more than one company.
  • Don't sacrifice liability coverage - Liability insurance provides coverage if ever a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides legal defense starting from day one. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • Adjust deductibles and save - 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 could be a windshield shattered by a rock, damage caused by hail, or theft. Your deductibles are how much you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. The more you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be.
  • Your location affects your rates - Choosing to live in a rural area can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Drivers in populated Arkansas areas regularly have much more traffic to deal with and much longer commute distances. Higher commute times means higher likelihood of an accident.
  • With age comes lower rates - Older insureds are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers. Teen drivers are statistically proven to be careless and easily distracted when behind the wheel therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but there could be available discounts that many people don't even know exist. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time of purchase, but less common discounts must be asked for prior to receiving the credit. If they aren't giving you every credit possible, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Sign Online - Certain companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
  • Defensive Driver - Completing a course in driver safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
  • Anti-theft Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems can help prevent theft and will save you 10% or more.
  • Organization Discounts - Participating in certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break on auto insurance.
  • Multi-car Discount - Buying insurance for more than one vehicle with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Discount for Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with lower rates if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
  • College Student - Children who are attending college and do not have a car can receive lower rates.
  • Discount for New Cars - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
  • No Charge for an Accident - A few companies will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
  • Discount for Good Grades - This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.

Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply the the whole policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will cut the amount you have to pay.

To choose companies offering auto insurance discounts in Augusta, follow this link.

Is there truth in advertising?

Arkansas consumers can't ignore all the ads that promise big savings by State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to say the same thing that you'll save big if you switch to their company.

How do they all make almost identical claims?

All companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no tickets, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile will have to pay higher prices which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That's the way companies can advertise the savings.

Because of the profiling, you should get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know which auto insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

Find out more about auto insurance

Much more information about auto insurance in Arkansas is located on the website for the Arkansas Insurance Department located here. Arkansas consumers can get help finding coverage, discover disciplinary actions, read consumer alerts, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

auto insurance in Augusta

A tidy conclusion

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be found online and also from your neighborhood Augusta agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, never buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, an insured dropped liability coverage limits only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.