Easy Techniques to Pay Less on Clackamas Auto Insurance

Buying the lowest cost Clackamas auto insurance on the internet may be impossible for people who are new to buying insurance on the web. With so many choices of choices, how can consumers even start to compare them all to find the cheapest rates?

It's important to check auto insurance prices on a regular basis because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest rates last year the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the tricks you need to know to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

Finding affordable coverage in Clackamas is easy if you know what you're doing. If you have insurance now or need a new policy, you can follow these tips to get lower rates while maintaining coverages. Oregon vehicle owners just need to know the most effective way to compare rates online.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies do not list all their discounts very clearly, so we break down both the well known and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings. If you're not getting every credit you deserve, you're paying more than you need to.

College Student - Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have a car can receive lower rates.
Accident Waiver - Certain companies will allow you to have one accident before raising your premiums as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
Anti-lock Brake Discount - Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
Early Signing - Select companies give a discount for buying a policy before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
Good Student Discount - A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
Own a Home - Owning a house in Clackamas may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because owning a home is proof that your finances are in order.
Use Seat Belts - Drivers who require all occupants to wear their seat belts could save 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
Government Employees - Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
Discount for Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Senior Citizens - Mature drivers may qualify for reduced rates.

Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like it's possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn't make money that way.

To see a list of companies offering auto insurance discounts in Oregon, follow this link.

Clackamas Auto Insurance Prices Online

Finding cheaper auto insurance prices is actually quite simple. Consumers just need to take a few minutes comparing rates provided by online insurance companies. This can be done using a couple different methods.

The best way to get quotes is a comparison rater form (click to open form in new window). This method eliminates the need for separate quotation requests for every auto insurance company. One form submission compares rates from auto insurance companies with the best prices. Recommended for those who want to invest the least amount of time.
A slightly less efficient method to shop for auto insurance online is going to each company's website and fill out their own quote form. For instance, we'll assume you want comparison quotes from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website and enter your information, and that's why the first method is more popular.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Clackamas, click here.
The least efficient way to compare rates is driving to insurance agents' offices. The internet has reduced the need for local agents unless you have a need for the personal advice of a local agent. You can, however, obtain prices from the web but buy from a local insurance agent. We'll cover that shortly.

Which method you use is up to you, but ensure you are comparing identical coverage limits and deductibles for every quote you compare. If you are comparing different liability limits you will not be able to determine the best price in Clackamas.

What determines how much you pay?

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

Mature drivers pay less - Youthful drivers in Oregon are statistically proven to be more careless when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Having to add a youthful driver to your policy can break the bank. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
Battle of the sexes - Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn't necessarily mean that women are better drivers. Women and men have accidents in similar percentages, but the males cause more damage. They also get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving. Teenage male drivers tend to get in the most accidents and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
Multiple policies with one company can save - Most companies will give a discount to insureds who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, it's in your best interest to compare rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Cautious drivers pay less - Good drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Just one ticket can increase rates by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who have serious citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
High deductibles save money - Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims would be running into the backend of another car, damage caused by hail, or theft. Your deductibles are how much you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. The higher the amount you're willing to pay, the bigger discount you will receive.
Your job and insurance rates - Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for auto insurance? Jobs such as lawyers, architects and financial analysts tend to pay higher average rates in part from stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations like pilots, engineers and homemakers have the lowest average rates.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Consumers in Oregon can't get away from ads for car insurance savings by companies like Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to say the same thing that you'll save big if you switch to them.

How does each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

All companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For example, a desirable insured might be a mature driver, insures multiple vehicles, and drives newer vehicles. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential customers who don't qualify for these standards will have to pay higher prices which usually ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. This is how companies can claim big savings. Because of the profiling, drivers must compare many company's rates. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

Best coverage at the best price

When trying to cut insurance costs, it's very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that it was a big mistake. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price.

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be found both online and with local Clackamas insurance agents, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

We covered a lot of information how to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers may even find the best price on auto insurance is with a lesser-known regional company.

More detailed Oregon auto insurance information can be found at the Oregon Insurance Division website. Visitors are able to read enforcement actions against agents and companies, learn about insurance regulations, and read consumer alerts.