Comparison Shop Cottondale Auto Insurance Prices With These Tricks

Purchasing the cheapest Cottondale auto insurance on the web can be challenging for consumers not familiar with comparison shopping online. With dozens of companies in the marketplace, how can you effectively compare every company to locate the best price?

It's important to compare prices quite often because prices are constantly changing. Just because you found the best deal a few years ago you may be paying too much now. Starting now, ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the proper way to find lower rates on auto insurance.

Free Quotes for Auto Insurance in Cottondale, Alabama

Most major insurance companies like State Farm and Allstate allow you to get coverage prices directly from their websites. This process is quite simple as you simply enter your coverage information into the quote form. Behind the scenes, the company's rating system will obtain credit information and your driving record and returns a price based on these factors.

This helps simplify price comparisons, but having to visit many different websites and enter the same data into a form is repetitive and time-consuming. Unfortunately, it is important to perform this step in order to find a lower rate.

A less time-consuming method to locate the lowest prices uses one form that analyzes rates from several different companies. It's a real time-saver, eliminates form submissions, and makes quoting online a little more enjoyable. After sending the form, it is rated and you can select any one of the returned quotes.

If a lower price is quoted, it's easy to complete the application and buy the policy. The entire process only takes a few minutes and could lower your rates considerably.

To find out how much you're overpaying now, click here and input your coverage information. If you have a policy now, it's recommended that you enter the coverage information exactly as shown on your declarations page. This way, you will receive a fair comparison based on similar coverages.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

It's important that you understand the rating factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates enables informed choices that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

The following are some of the factors auto insurance companies consider when setting your rates.

Careful drivers pay lower rates - Even a single speeding ticket can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Careful drivers have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who get flagrant violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to keep their license.
Older drivers save more - Teen drivers in Alabama are known to be less responsible when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Adding a young driver to your auto insurance policy can really hurt. More mature drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel.
Discounts for married couples - Being married can get you a discount on your auto insurance policy. Marriage means you're more mature and it's proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Pleasure use saves money - Driving more miles in a year's time the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies apply a rate based on their usage. Autos that are left in the garage can get a lower rate as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Verify your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage, because it can save money.
Liability insurance protects assets - 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. Liability insurance provides legal defense coverage up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability is cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so drivers should carry high limits.

More discounts equal less premium

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that you may not know about. Certain discounts will be applied when you quote, but some must be manually applied prior to getting the savings.

Good Student Discount - Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
Resident Student - Any of your kids who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may be able to be covered for less.
Accident Waiver - Certain companies will forgive one accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
Auto/Life Discount - Some companies give a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
Multiple Vehicles - Having multiple vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.

It's important to note that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like you could get a free auto insurance policy, you're out of luck. But any discount will bring down your premiums.

For a list of providers who offer auto insurance discounts in Alabama, click this link.

It's not one size fits all

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a cookie cutter policy. Everyone's needs are different.

Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine if you might need an agent's assistance.

Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Alabama?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Cottondale?
I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, complete this form.

More information is available on the Alabama Department of Insurance website located here. Alabama consumers can file complaints about a company, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and get help finding coverage.

Other useful links include III.org's auto insurance page and this directory of insurance agents in Cottondale Alabama.

Do the work, save more money

You just read some good ideas how to lower your auto insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even discover the lowest rates come from a small local company.

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don't reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Lower-priced auto insurance can be sourced online and also from your neighborhood Cottondale agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers may not provide online quoting and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.