Tightwads Tips for Saving on Butler Auto Insurance

I can't think of anyone who cherishes buying auto insurance, particularly when their premiums are too high.

Drivers have so many to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to have a selection, too many choices makes it more difficult to compare rates.

It's important to compare prices periodically because prices are constantly changing. If you had the lowest price last year the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate the fastest and easiest way to buy cheaper auto insurance.

The purpose of this article is to familiarize you with the best way to quote coverages and some tips to save money. If you currently have car insurance, you should be able to cut costs considerably using these methods. But Maryland consumers do need to know the methods companies use to market on the web because it can help you find the best coverage.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but discounts can save money and there are some available that can drop the cost substantially. Most are applied when you purchase, but less common discounts must be asked for before being credited.

Braking Control Discount - Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.
Claim Free - Good drivers with no accidents pay much less compared to bad drivers.
E-sign - Some insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
Memberships - Being a member of a qualifying organization could trigger savings on your policy.
Low Mileage - Keeping the miles down could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
Homeowners Savings - Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings because of the fact that having a home shows financial diligence.
Seat Belts Save more than Lives - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
Good Student - A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up to age 25.
Multi-policy Discount - When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same company you may earn 10% to 20% off each policy.

Drivers should understand that many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will bring down your overall premium however.

To see a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Maryland, click this link.

How to Get Butler Auto Insurance Comparison Quotes

There are several ways of comparing rates from different Butler insurance companies. The best method to compare insurance prices is simply to get online rate quotes. This can be done in several different ways.

The best way to compare a lot of rates at once is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This form keeps you from doing separate quotation requests for each company. Just one form gets you coverage quotes from auto insurance companies with the best prices.
A slightly less efficient method to compare rate quotes consists of going to the website for each individual company and fill out their own quote form. For example, let's assume you want to compare , and . You would have to visit each site to enter your coverage information, and that's why the first method is more popular. To view a list of companies in Butler, click here.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just be sure to compare identical coverages for each comparison quote. If you compare different limits and deductibles on each one you will not be able to determine the lowest rate in Butler. Having just a slight variation in insurance coverages can result in a big premium difference. Keep in mind that comparing a large number of companies helps locate lower pricing.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces used by your company to calculate your rates.

Do you know you're credit rating? - Your credit rating is a huge factor in determining your rates. People with excellent credit tend to be more responsible than those with lower ratings. So if your credit score can use some improvement, you could pay less to insure your by spending a little time repairing your credit.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Occupations like judges, executives and financial analysts have higher average rates in part from stressful work requirements and long work hours. Conversely, professions such as scientists, engineers and the unemployed get better rates.
Being married can save on auto insurance - Having a wife or husband actually saves money on your auto insurance policy. Marriage translates into being more mature than a single person it has been statistically shown that married couples file fewer claims.
Don't sacrifice liability coverage - The liability section of your policy is the coverage that protects you in the event that you are found liable for personal injury or accident damage. It will provide legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability is cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.

How to know if you need help

When choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a perfect coverage plan. Every insured's situation is different so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions may help highlight whether your personal situation could use an agent's help.

Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Companies like Allstate and Progressive regularly use ads on TV and radio. All the ads make the same claim that you'll save big if you move your coverage to them. How does each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that is profitable for them. For instance, a preferred risk might be over the age of 40, a clean driving record, and drives newer vehicles. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and most likely will save when switching.

Consumers who don't qualify for these standards will be charged higher prices which leads to the customer not buying. The ads say "drivers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. That is how companies can claim big savings.

That is why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know which company will give you the biggest savings.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

When trying to cut insurance costs, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, someone dropped liability coverage limits only to discover later that it was a big mistake. The aim is to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

We covered many ideas to compare auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more quotes you get, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Consumers could even find that the lowest premiums are with a lesser-known regional company. These smaller insurers may only write in your state and offer lower rates than their larger competitors like .

Much more information about auto insurance in Maryland is located on the website for the Maryland Insurance Administration. Click here for link. Visitors are able to find out industry alerts, read industry bulletins, get help finding coverage, and find out which companies have the most complaints.