How to Know You're Spending Too Much for Auto Insurance in Blaine

Expensive auto insurance can drain your personal savings and make it hard to pay other bills. Comparison shopping is a smart way to help make ends meet.

Drivers have multiple to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to have multiple companies, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies do not list every discount very clearly, so the following is a list of both well-publicized as well as the least known auto insurance savings.

  • Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with a few auto insurance companies.
  • Multiple Policy Discount - If you have multiple policies with one insurance company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • Save over 55 - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for better auto insurance rates.
  • Low Mileage Discounts - Driving fewer miles could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Paperwork-free - Certain companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying your policy over the internet.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like it's possible to get free car insurance, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so your insurance needs to address that. For instance, these questions can help discover whether you would benefit from professional advice.

  • Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
  • What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
  • Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Washington?
  • Should I buy additional glass protection?
  • Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
  • Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
  • Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

How can Progressive, Allstate and GEICO save drivers who switch?

Auto insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO constantly bombard you with ads on television and other media. They all say the same thing about savings if you switch to their company. How does each company make almost identical claims?

All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that earns them a profit. A good example of a driver they prefer could possibly be a mature driver, has no prior claims, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A driver 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 be quoted higher prices which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why you should get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Even more information can be read at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website. Washington consumers can download brochures, view agent and company licensing information, read consumer alerts, and learn about insurance regulations.

Washington auto insurance quotes

Final considerations

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's very important that you do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice full coverage and found out when filing a claim that the savings was not a smart move. Your strategy should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Cheap auto insurance can be found online and also from your neighborhood Blaine agents, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some auto insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.