Free Guide to Spending Less for Barefoot Bay Auto Insurance Online

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can dwindle your checking account and make it hard to pay other bills. Comparison shopping is a great way to slash your bill and have more diposable income. Numerous battle for your insurance dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare to discover the definitive lowest price

It's important to compare rates yearly because insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal a year ago a different company probably has better rates today. Starting right now, ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're about to learn the proper way to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you can learn to find better prices and possibly find even better coverage. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Barefoot Bay is not that difficult. Florida consumers only need to know the most efficient way to shop their coverage around online.

More discounts equal less premium

Companies offering auto insurance don't necessarily list all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list both well-publicized and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving. If they aren't giving you every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

Accident Waiver - A few companies will allow you to have one accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims for a certain period of time.
Bundle and Save - If you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you could get a discount of 10% to 20% off each policy.
Anti-theft System - Vehicles with anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Clubs and Organizations - Participating in certain professional organizations may earn a discount on auto insurance.
Defensive Driver - Taking a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
Life Insurance Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy life insurance from them.
Save over 55 - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for better auto insurance rates.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don't apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free auto insurance policy, you won't be that lucky.

You have some control over your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

Listed below are some of the factors auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Having a spouse can save you money - Being married can actually save you money on auto insurance. It means you're more responsible it has been statistically shown that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Where you reside plays a part - Residing in a small town can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Lower population translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. City drivers regularly have much more traffic to deal with and longer commute times. Higher commute times translates into higher accident risk.
How many coverages with the same company - Most insurance companies will give a discount to customers who buy several policies from them. It's known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can be 10 percent or more. Even if you're getting this discount it's in your best interest to compare other company rates to ensure the best deal.
Don't skimp on liability - Liability insurance is the protection if ever a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense coverage up to the limits shown on your policy. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
Don't buy coverages you don't need - There are many add-on coverages that you can buy on your auto insurance policy. Coverages like personal injury protection, towing coverage and term life insurance are some examples. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but if they're wasting money get rid of them and save.

It's not one size fits all

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Every insured's situation is different and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover if you might need an agent's assistance.

I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?

If you can't answer these questions, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and may give you better protection.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Florida consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings by State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to have a common claim about savings if you switch to their company.

How do they all make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that earns them a profit. An example of a desirable insured could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and has excellent credit. A driver that hits that "sweet spot" will get very good rates and therefore will cut their rates substantially.

Potential insureds who do not match the "perfect" profile will have to pay more money and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say "drivers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. This is how companies can truthfully make those claims. Because of the profiling, drivers should get as many quotes as possible. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

Even more information is available at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website. Florida consumers can get help finding coverage, view agent and company licensing information, read consumer alerts, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

A tidy conclusion

The cheapest auto insurance can be found online and also from your neighborhood Barefoot Bay agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

While you're price shopping online, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage only to find out they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price.