Tightwads Guide to Saving on Dry Ridge Auto Insurance

Expensive auto insurance can dwindle your bank account and put the squeeze on your family's finances. Comparison shopping is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to lower your monthly bill.

With consumers having so many companies to choose from, it is hard for the average consumer to choose the most cost effective insurance company.

It's important to get comparison quotes quite often since insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the lowest rates last year you may be paying too much now. Starting right now, ignore everything you know about auto insurance because it's time to teach you the tricks you need to know to save on auto insurance.

Free Dry Ridge Auto Insurance Quotes

There are several ways to compare rate quotes from local Dry Ridge auto insurance companies. The recommended way to find competitive insurance rates consists of shopping online. This can be accomplished in several different ways.

The first (and easiest) way consumers can analyze rates is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This easy form saves time by eliminating separate forms for each company. One form gets you price quotes from several companies.

A harder way to compare rate quotes requires a trip to each individual company website to complete a price quote. For example, let's say you want comparison quotes from , and . You would have to visit each site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is quicker.

To view a list of companies in Dry Ridge, click here.

The least recommended way of getting rate comparisons is to waste gas driving to and from local Dry Ridge insurance agencies. The ability to buy insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you want the trained guidance of a licensed agent. However, consumers can compare the best prices online and still use a local agent and we'll touch on that later.

It's your choice how you get your quotes, but make darn sure you compare apples-to-apples quote information with each company. If you compare mixed coverages then you won't be able to make an equal comparison in Dry Ridge. Quoting even small variations in coverages could mean much higher rates. And when comparison shopping, having more price comparisons gives you a better chance of getting a better price.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

It's important that you understand the different types of things that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

Shown below are a few of the "ingredients" that factor into rates.

Pay less after the wedding - Having a spouse helps lower the price on your policy. It usually means you are more responsible and statistics show married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Older drivers save more - Teenage drivers in Kentucky have a tendency to be more careless when driving so auto insurance rates are higher. If you've ever had to add a youthful driver onto your auto insurance can really hurt. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations.
Increase deductibles and save - Physical damage coverage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered are collision with another vehicle, collision with an animal, and windstorm damage. Deductibles for physical damage are how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The higher the amount the insured has to pay upfront, the bigger discount you will receive.
Clean credit earns discounts - Credit score is a big factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. Consumers who have high credit ratings tend to be less risk to insure than those with lower credit scores. So if your credit is low, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your rating.
Allowing your policy to lapse raises rates - Driving without insurance can get your license suspended and your next policy will cost more because you let your coverage lapse. Not only will you pay more, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance can result in a revoked license or a big fine.Then you may be required to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with the Kentucky DMV.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance companies don't list all their discounts very well, so we break down some of the best known and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.

Sign Online - Some insurance companies give back up to $50 for buying your policy online.
Senior Discount - Older drivers may receive a discount up to 10%.
Own a Home - Owning a house in Dry Ridge can help you save on auto insurance because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
Passive Restraints - Factory air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts of 20% or more.
Seat Belts Save - Requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could save 15% off your medical payments premium.
No Claims - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially as compared to frequent claim filers.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

For a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in Kentucky, click here to view.

How to know if you need help

When it comes to choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions may help you determine whether your personal situation might need an agent's assistance.

Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?

If you're not sure about those questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you don't have a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Even more information can be found at the Kentucky Department of Insurance website. Kentucky drivers can get help finding coverage, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, report car insurance fraud, and find out industry alerts.

Other useful links include this site for Kentucky auto insurance information and see this list of insurance agents in Dry Ridge.

Do the work, save more money

Cheap auto insurance can be sourced on the web in addition to many Dry Ridge insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not provide online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, don't be tempted to reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your aim should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price.

Throughout this article, we presented many tips how you can lower your auto insurance rates. It's most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may even find the lowest rates come from some of the smallest insurance companies. Smaller companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than their larger competitors like .