How to Get Low-Cost Belleair Beach Auto Insurance

Cutting costs on Belleair Beach auto insurance is hard for consumers not familiar with comparison shopping online. There are so many options available that it can be a lot of work to find lower rates in Belleair Beach.

It's important to check auto insurance prices before your policy renews because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest price on your last policy there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're about to learn the only way to buy cheaper auto insurance.

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine rates.

Battle of the sexes - The statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. That doesn't necessarily mean that women are better drivers. Both sexes have accidents in similar numbers, but the males cause more damage. They also receive more costly citations like DUI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers tend to get in the most accidents and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
Keep rates low by being claim-free - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Car insurance companies in Florida award discounts to insureds who file claims infrequently. Your insurance policy is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Better credit means lower rates - Credit score is a huge factor in your rate calculation. If your credit score is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by improving your rating. Drivers with high credit ratings tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers who have poor credit.
More than one policy can earn a discount - Most insurers will give a discount to insureds who have multiple 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 make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still be able to find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.
Cautious drivers pay less - Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Good drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Even one moving violation can increase rates by twenty percent. Drivers who have serious citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
Liability coverage protects you - Liability insurance will protect you if ever you are found liable for damages from an accident. It provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
Drive less and save money - The more miles you rack up on your car every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most companies charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your auto insurance policy properly reflects how each vehicle is driven, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Save money with special equipment - Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft features like GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all hinder car theft.

Cheap Belleair Beach Auto Insurance Comparisons

There are several ways you can shop for auto insurance but one way is less time-consuming than others. You can spend your afternoon discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in Belleair Beach, or you can stay home and use online quoting to get the quickest rates.

Most of the larger companies participate in an industry program that allows shoppers to complete one form, and every company then gives them pricing. This saves time by eliminating quotation requests for each company you want a rate for. To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

One minor caviat to using this type of form is you are unable to specify which providers to receive prices from. So if you prefer to pick from a list of companies to compare rates, we put together a list of the cheapest auto insurance companies in Florida. Click here for list of insurance companies in Florida.

It's up to you which method you use, but ensure you're using apples-to-apples coverage limits and deductibles with each company. If you are comparing different liability limits you will not be able to make an equal comparison in Belleair Beach.

How much can you save with discounts?

Companies offering auto insurance don't always list all their discounts very well, so we researched both the well known and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using. If you don't get every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you may qualify for reduced rates.
Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off with select insurance companies.
Anti-lock Brake System - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
Theft Prevention Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
One Accident Forgiven - Some insurance companies will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don't have any claims for a set time period.
Good Students Pay Less - This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

To choose companies offering auto insurance discounts in Florida, click here to view.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

Consumers in Florida can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to make an identical promise about savings if you switch to them.

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

Insurance companies can use profiling for the type of driver that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured might be a mature driver, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who don't meet this ideal profile will have to pay more money and ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That's why companies can truthfully advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, you need to get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Even more information is located at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website. Visitors are able to learn about insurance regulations, download brochures, and find out industry alerts.

Other informative sites include this Car Insurance FAQ and this page of insurance agents in Belleair Beach.

A tidy conclusion

When you buy insurance online, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where an accident victim reduced liability coverage limits only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price.

People switch companies for any number of reasons including denial of a claim, extreme rates for teen drivers, policy cancellation or even poor customer service. It doesn't matter what your reason, switching auto insurance companies is easier than you think.

Cheap auto insurance can be found both online and with local Belleair Beach insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.