Easy Methods to Pay Less on Augusta Auto Insurance

Finding affordable Augusta auto insurance over the internet can seem to be impossible for people who are new to comparison shopping online. With so many choices of insurers available, how can consumers effectively compare them all to find the best pricing?

It's important to check auto insurance prices quite often since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So just ignore everything you know about auto insurance because it's time to teach you the proper way to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

This article will help you learn how car insurance quotes work. If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to save some money using these techniques. West Virginia drivers only need an understanding of the proper way to find the lowest price over the internet.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there are discounts available to reduce the price significantly. Some trigger automatically when you quote, but some must be manually applied prior to getting the savings. If you don't get every credit you deserve, you're paying more than you need to.

Life Insurance - Larger companies have a break if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
College Student - Kids in college who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may be able to be covered for less.
Bundle and Save - When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same insurance company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
Anti-theft Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
Military Rewards - Being on active duty in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
Early Switch Discount - Some insurance companies reward drivers for signing up before your current expiration date. It's a savings of about 10%.
Good Student Discount - A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.

It's important to understand that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce your premiums.

To see a list of companies who offer auto insurance discounts in West Virginia, click here to view.

Free Quotes for Auto Insurance in Augusta, West Virginia

There are multiple methods to compare auto insurance quotes, but some are easier and takes less work. You can waste a lot of time driving to insurance companies in Augusta, or you could save time and use online quotes to get the quickest rates.

Many insurance companies participate in an industry program that enables customers to only type in their quote data once, and each company then returns a price quote for coverage. This saves time by eliminating repetitive form submissions to each individual auto insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

The only downside to comparing rates this way is you cannot specify which carriers you want to price. So if you want to choose specific providers to compare rates, we have a listing of auto insurance companies in West Virginia. Click to view list.

It's up to you which method you use, but make darn sure you compare apples-to-apples information on every quote you get. If you use higher or lower deductibles it will be impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Augusta.

What determines how much you pay?

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the different types of things that help determine auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

The following are some of the factors companies use to determine rates.

More people means more accidents - Residing in a rural area can be a good thing when buying auto insurance. Drivers who live in large cities have much more traffic and longer commute times. Less people living in that area means fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
Mature drivers pay less - Teenage drivers in West Virginia are known to be more careless when driving so auto insurance rates are higher. Parents adding a young driver to your policy can break the bank. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel.
Consolidate policies to earn discounts - Many insurers will give a discount to people who buy several policies from them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, you still need to compare rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.
The type of vehicle makes a difference - The performance of the vehicle you own makes a significant difference in your rates. The lowest rates are for lower performance four cylinder passenger cars, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
Traffic citations inflate rates - Just one speeding ticket can increase rates by twenty percent. Good drivers have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Everyone's needs are different.

Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether or not you would benefit from an agent's advice.

When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in West Virginia?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?

If you're not sure about those questions then you might want to talk to an agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form. It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.

The auto insurance bait and switch

West Virginia drivers can't get away from ads for car insurance savings by companies like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to make an identical promise of big savings after switching to them.

But how can every company say the same thing?

All companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that is profitable for them. An example of a desirable insured might be profiled as between 25 and 40, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A propective insured who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and therefore will save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don't measure up to this ideal profile will have to pay a higher premium and ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save money. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do.

Because of the profiling, drivers must get as many comparisons as possible. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

In the end, you save

When shopping online for auto insurance, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.

People change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as delays in paying claims, not issuing a premium refund, policy non-renewal or unfair underwriting practices. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new insurance company is actually quite simple.

In this article, we covered some good ideas how you can compare auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the most savings is with a small local company.

More sites with auto insurance information

Additional auto insurance information is available on the West Virginia Insurance Commission website located here. West Virginia drivers can view agent and company licensing information, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and read consumer alerts.

Additional helpful sites include Wikipedia and this page where you can research Augusta insurance agents.