Best Way to Find Cheaper Collinsville Auto Insurance

Shopping for the most affordable Collinsville auto insurance on the web can be rather challenging for beginners to shopping for insurance online. When there are so many companies in the marketplace, how can consumers even start to compare every one to find the best price?

It's important to take a look at other company's rates quite often because insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the best price two years ago you can probably find a better price now. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because I'm going to let you in on the secrets to the quickest way to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

Collinsville Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what influences your rates enables informed choices that can help you get big savings.

Shown below are a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting your rates.

  • Traffic violations increase rates - Even a single moving violation can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Careful drivers get better rates than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who get dangerous violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to prevent a license revocation.
  • With age comes lower rates - More mature drivers tend to be more responsible, file fewer claims and are safer drivers. Teen drivers have a tendency to be less responsible when driving therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
  • Do you have enough liability coverage? - Your policy's liability coverage is the protection in the event that a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • Little extras can really add up - There are quite a few add-on coverages you can purchase on your auto insurance policy. Coverages like vanishing deductibles, better glass coverage and term life insurance may be wasting your money. These coverages may sound good initially, but if they're wasting money get rid of them and save.
  • Where you live - Residing in less populated areas has it's advantages when insuring your vehicles. Fewer people translates into fewer accidents. City drivers regularly have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Higher commute times means higher likelihood of an accident.

Virginia auto insurance

Be sure to get all your discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that you may not know about. Most are applied at the time of purchase, but a few need to be specially asked for prior to receiving the credit. If they aren't giving you every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Good Student Discount - This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply up until you turn 25.
  • Save over 55 - If you're over the age of 55, you may receive better auto insurance rates.
  • Organization Discounts - Participating in certain professional organizations could trigger savings on your policy.
  • Safety Course Discount - Taking part in a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.
  • Multi-policy Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you could get a discount of approximately 10% to 15%.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, it just doesn't work that way. But any discount will cut the amount you have to pay.

To choose providers with discount auto insurance rates in Collinsville, click this link.

Is there truth in advertising?

Virginia consumers can't ignore all the ads for car insurance savings by State Farm and Allstate. All the ads make the same claim that you can save if you change to their company.

How do they all make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. For example, a preferred risk could possibly be over the age of 40, insures multiple vehicles, and chooses high deductibles. A driver who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile will be charged higher prices which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. This is how insurance companies can state the savings.

That is why you should quote coverage with many companies. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Every situation is different.

For example, these questions may help you determine whether or not you could use an agent's help.

  • Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Virginia?
  • Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
  • Are rental cars covered under my policy?
  • Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
  • What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
  • Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
  • Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?

If it's difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.

More sites with auto insurance information

More information can be found on the Virginia Bureau of Insurance website found here. Virginia consumers can file complaints about a company, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Collinsville auto insurance comparison

And the best car insurance company is...

In this article, we presented some good ideas how to save on auto insurance. It's most important to understand that the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the lowest premiums are with some of the smallest insurance companies.

When buying insurance coverage, never buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your goal should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Affordable auto insurance can be sourced online and also from your neighborhood Collinsville agents, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.