How to Know You're Throwing Money Away for Auto Insurance in Buckeye

Are you sick and tired of paying out the nose each month for car insurance? You're in the same situation as the majority of other car owners in West Virginia. Having so many different company options, it can be hard to find the cheapest car insurance company.

It's important to get comparison quotes once or twice a year because insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding auto insurance online but we're going to give you some great ways to reduce your auto insurance bill.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

Clean credit earns discounts - Your credit history is a big factor in your rate calculation. If your credit history is not that good, you could save money insuring your by improving your rating. Consumers who have good credit tend to be less risk to insure than those with lower credit scores.
Car features impact rates - Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder your vehicle from being stolen.
Teen drivers pay high rates - Teen drivers in West Virginia are known to be less responsible in a vehicle so auto insurance rates are higher. Mature drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
Discounts for multiple policies - Many auto insurance companies give discounts to customers who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, it's still a good idea to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still find better rates by splitting coverages up.
Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance - Cars with high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. Safer cars have better occupant injury protection and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims passed on to you as lower rates.
An active claims history can cost you - Insurance companies in West Virginia give discounts to drivers who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Where do you drive? - Driving more miles every year the higher your rates will be. The majority of insurers apply a rate based on their usage. Autos left parked in the garage get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your auto insurance coverage properly reflects the proper vehicle usage.

Fast and Easy Buckeye Auto Insurance Quotes

Reducing your insurance rates is not a difficult process. Consumers just need to spend a few minutes on the computer comparing rate quotes from different insurance companies. This can be accomplished in a couple of different ways.

The fastest way consumers can analyze rates is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This form keeps you from doing repetitive form entry for every auto insurance company. Taking the time to complete one form will get you rate comparisons direct from many companies.
A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online requires you to visit each company website and complete a new quote form. For examples sake, let's assume you want rates from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to take the time to go to each site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is quicker.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Buckeye, click here.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just double check that you are using apples-to-apples coverage information on every quote. If you use unequal deductibles or liability limits then you won't be able to make a fair comparison in Buckeye.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Auto insurance companies do not advertise every available discount very well, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance. If you don't get every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags can receive discounts up to 30%.
Payment Method - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
Resident Student - Any of your kids living away from home attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
Anti-theft Discount - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
Military Discounts - Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.

It's important to note that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like it's possible to get free car insurance, you're out of luck.

To choose providers who offer auto insurance discounts in West Virginia, click this link.

Save $429 a year? Really?

West Virginia consumers can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance from companies such as State Farm and Allstate. All the ads make the same claim that you can save after switching your policy.

But how can every company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All companies can use profiling for the right customer that makes them money. A good example of a preferred risk could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no tickets, and has a short commute. A driver who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Consumers who don't qualify for this ideal profile will be charged higher rates which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. That's why insurance companies can make the claims of big savings. That is why you need to quote coverage with many companies. It is impossible to predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Additional detailed information can be read at the West Virginia Insurance Commission website. West Virginia consumers can find out industry alerts, view a list of available companies, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and read consumer alerts.

Other informative sites include NAIC.org's Understanding your Policy and this directory of Buckeye insurance agents.

And the best car insurance company is...

In this article, we presented some good ideas how to compare auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the lowest priced auto insurance comes from some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers often have lower prices on specific markets compared to the large companies like .

As you shop your coverage around, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where an insured dropped full coverage and found out when filing a claim that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.