Blacksburg Auto Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Are you overwhelmed by the dozens of auto insurance company choices in Blacksburg? Many other drivers are as well. People have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into more work than you anticipated to find the lowest price.

It's important to get comparison quotes at least once a year because prices are constantly changing. Just because you had the lowest price a few years ago a different company probably has better rates today. There is a lot of bad information regarding auto insurance online but I'm going to show you some great ways to find cheap auto insurance.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies don't list all their discounts very clearly, so we researched both the well known and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings.

Sign Online - A few companies may give you up to $50 just for signing your application over the internet.
Defensive Driver - Successfully completing a defensive driving course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.
Discount for Good Grades - Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.
Homeowners Discount - Owning a house in Blacksburg may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because owning a home shows financial diligence.
Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.

It's important to note that most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think adding up those discounts means a free policy, you're out of luck.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are a partial list of the pieces that factor into rates.

Marriage pays dividends - Having a wife or husband can actually save you money when buying auto insurance. It usually means you are more mature it has been statistically shown that being married results in fewer claims.
Don't get talked into coverage you don't need - There are many extra coverages that you can buy when buying auto insurance. Coverages for rental car reimbursement, towing coverage and membership fees are examples of these. These coverages may sound good when talking to your agent, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
Cautious drivers pay less - Your driving citation history has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Drivers with clean records tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Just one speeding ticket may increase your cost forty percent or more. Drivers who have serious citations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may need to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
Adjust deductibles and save - Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered would be running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, and rolling your vehicle. Your deductibles are how much you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. The more the insured has to pay upfront, the less your auto insurance will be.
Your car's features help determine rates - Choosing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can thwart your car from being stolen.
Drive less and save money - The more miles you rack up on your car in a year the more you will pay for auto insurance. The majority of insurers charge to insure your cars based on their usage. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Double check that your auto insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Allowing your policy to lapse raises rates - Allowing your auto insurance policy to lapse is a fast way to increase your auto insurance rates. And not only will your rates increase, but not being able to provide proof of insurance may earn you a steep fine or even jail time.Then you may be required to file a SR-22 with the South Carolina motor vehicle department.

How can State Farm, GEICO and Progressive save drivers who switch?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on television and other media. They all seem to say the same thing that you can save if you switch your policy. How does each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a desirable insured might be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has a short commute. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Potential customers who are not a match for these standards will have to pay higher prices which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say "drivers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that kind of money. That's the way insurance companies can make the claims of big savings. Because of the profiling, drivers should compare many company's rates. It's impossible to know which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Find out more about auto insurance

Additional detailed information is located at the South Carolina Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to get help finding coverage, discover disciplinary actions, and file complaints about a company.

Affordable insurance is out there

Lower-priced auto insurance is available both online in addition to many Blacksburg insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance providers do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

We covered many ways to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from a lesser-known regional company.

Consumers switch companies for any number of reasons including an unsatisfactory settlement offer, questionable increases in premium, poor customer service and even high rates after DUI convictions. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, switching auto insurance companies is less work than it seems.