Car Insurance in Chelsea - 10 Discounts You Might be Losing Out On

Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can empty your savings account and make it hard to pay other bills. Comparison shopping is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to help make ends meet.

You have so many to pick from, and although it's a good thing to have multiple companies, lots of choices makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to shop coverage around yearly since rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest rates last year a different company probably has better rates today. So just ignore everything you know about car insurance because we're going to show you the tricks you need to know to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

Buying car insurance in Chelsea is not that difficult. Basically, anyone who carries car insurance stands a good chance to be able to lower their premiums. Although Alabama consumers do need to know how big insurance companies price online insurance and use this information to your advantage.

Save big with these ten discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't list every available discount very clearly, so we break down both the well known as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using.

Anti-lock Brake System - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.
Multi-policy Discount - If you have multiple policies with the same company you could get a discount of at least 10% off all policies.
Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase life insurance.
Low Mileage - Driving fewer miles can earn discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Own a Home - Being a homeowner can help you save on car insurance because owning a home is proof that your finances are in order.
Seat Belts Save - Drivers who require all occupants to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off with certain companies.
Resident Student - Kids in college who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have a car may qualify for this discount.
Claim Free - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially compared to drivers who are more careless.
Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So when the math indicates adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won't be that lucky.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When it comes to buying adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a "best" method to buy coverage. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions can help discover if your situation might need professional guidance.

Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?

If you're not sure about those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.

Car insurance ads bend the truth

Companies like Allstate and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. All the ads make an identical promise about savings if you switch your coverage to them. How does each company claim to save you money?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For example, a preferred risk might be between 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and has great credit. Any new insured who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and most likely will save when switching.

Potential customers who fall outside these standards will be charged a higher premium and ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings. That is why drivers should get quotes from several different companies. It's just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

Learn more about car insurance in Alabama

Even more information can be found at the Alabama Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to find out industry alerts, view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and report car insurance fraud.

Also read more on BankRate.com's Car Insurance: When not to Skimp and this directory of Chelsea insurance agents.

Final considerations

As you prepare to switch companies, make sure you don't skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The aim is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

The cheapest car insurance can be found both online as well as from independent agents in Chelsea, so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.