Free Guide to Paying Less for Carlisle Auto Insurance Online

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me when I say you're not the only one.

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

It's important to compare rates at least once a year since insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best price a year ago a different company probably has better rates today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate one of the easiest ways to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

The purpose of this post is to tell you how to effectively get price quotes and some tricks to saving. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. Nevertheless, Arkansas vehicle owners do need to know the methods companies use to determine prices and apply this information to your search.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but there could be available discounts to help offset the cost. Most are applied at quote time, but less common discounts must be specifically requested in order for you to get them.

Sign Online - A handful of insurance companies give back up to $50 simply for signing over the internet.
Drive Less and Save - Keeping the miles down can earn a substantially lower rate.
Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
Senior Discount - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for better auto insurance rates.
Life Insurance Discount - Larger companies have a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
Seat Belt Usage - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could save 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
Federal Government Employee - Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.
Passive Restraints - Factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don't profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down the amount you have to pay.

You have some control over your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

The list below includes a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Being married is a good thing - Having a spouse actually saves money on auto insurance. It means you're more mature and responsible and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.
Drive a safer car and pay less - Vehicles with good safety scores get lower rates. These vehicles reduce injuries and better occupant protection means lower claim amounts and thus lower rates.
Lower rates with optional equipment - Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart auto theft.
Sex matters - Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that men are worse drivers. They both have accidents in similar percentages, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also get more serious tickets like reckless driving and DUI.
Where do you drive? - The more you drive in a year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies price each vehicle's coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy shows the correct driver usage.
Allowing your policy to lapse raises rates - Not having insurance can get your license suspended and you will pay a penalty because you let your insurance lapse. Not only will rates go up, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance might get you a license revocation or jail time.Then you may be required to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the Arkansas DMV.
More claims means more premium - Car insurance companies in Arkansas generally give lower rates to policyholders who are claim-free. If you file claims often, you can expect higher rates. Insurance coverage is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.

Is there truth in advertising?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive regularly use television and radio advertisements. They all seem to have a common claim of big savings if you move to their company. How does each company say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that earns them a profit. For example, a desirable insured might be profiled as over the age of 40, has no tickets, and has excellent credit. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay more money and this can result in business not being written. The ads state "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That's the way insurance companies can confidently make those claims.

Because of the profiling, drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It's not possible to predict which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates.

Find out more about auto insurance

Additional auto insurance information can be found on the website for the Arkansas Insurance Department found here. Arkansas drivers can get help finding coverage, find disaster information, view a list of available companies, and learn about insurance regulations.

Do the work, save more money

Cost effective auto insurance is possible on the web and also from your neighborhood Carlisle agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

While you're price shopping online, it's very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, an insured dropped physical damage coverage only to discover later they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price.