How to Know You're Throwing Money Away for Car Insurance in Eagar

Have you had enough of not being able to afford each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as many other drivers in Arizona.

Insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive persitently shower you with advertising and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and find the best price available.

Save big with these discounts

Companies do not advertise every discount in a way that's easy to find, so the following is a list of some of the more common and the more hidden car insurance savings.

  • Drivers Ed for Students - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver's ed class in school.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% with a few car insurance companies.
  • Air Bag Discount - Cars that have air bags can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
  • Military Rewards - Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.

It's important to note that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you're out of luck.

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Why some people pay less for insurance in Eagar

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining your car insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to better car insurance rates.

Listed below are some of the items companies use to determine prices.

  • You might want pay the small claims yourself - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Companies in Arizona provide cheaper rates to drivers who file claims infrequently. Car insurance is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • Your credit rating is important - Having a bad credit score is a large factor in your rate calculation. So if your credit rating is lower than you'd like, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your credit score. Drivers with excellent credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than those with poor credit.
  • Consolidate policies to earn discounts - Most companies provide better rates to policyholders who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can add up to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even with this discount, you may still want to compare other company rates to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still be able to find better rates by splitting coverages up.
  • Your occupation can affect rates - Did you know your job can affect your rates? Careers like real estate brokers, architects and dentists tend to pay the highest average rates attributed to high stress and long work hours. Other professions such as farmers, historians and homemakers have the lowest average rates.
  • Are you male or female? - The statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. That doesn't necessarily mean that women are better drivers. Men and women tend to get into accidents at a similar rate, but the men cause more damage. Men also statistically get cited for more serious violations such as reckless driving. Young males are several times more likely to be in an accident and therefore are the most expensive to insure.
  • High crash test scores lower rates - Safer cars are cheaper to insure. The safest vehicles result in less severe injuries and fewer injuries translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders.
  • Never go without insurance - Allowing your coverage to lapse is a guaranteed way to bump up your car insurance costs. Not only will you pay more, failure to provide proof of insurance can result in a steep fine or even jail time.
  • Special features that cut premiums - Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features such as GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all hinder your car from being stolen.

Car insurance ads bend the truth

Car insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. They all say the same thing that you can save if you switch to them. How can each company make the same claim?

Different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that earns them a profit. A good example of a driver they prefer could be over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any new insured who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who fall outside the requirements will be quoted a higher premium which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads say "people who switch" not "people who quote" save money. That's why insurance companies can advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why drivers should compare many company's rates. It's just too difficult to predict the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional detailed information can be read at the Arizona Department of Insurance website. Consumers can download brochures, find out industry alerts, read consumer alerts, and read industry bulletins.

Do the work, save more money

You just learned a lot of tips how to reduce car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better chance you'll have of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the lowest premiums are with an unexpected company. Regional companies often have lower prices on specific markets than their larger competitors like .

When shopping online for car insurance, it's not a good idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many situations where an accident victim reduced collision coverage and discovered at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.