Tightwads Guide for Saving on Ellenton Car Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can overdraw your savings account and put the squeeze on your family's finances. Comparing price quotes is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to make sure you're not throwing money away. Big companies like GEICO and Progressive continually bombard you with advertising and it is difficult to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

If you have a policy now or need new coverage, you will benefit by learning to find better prices while maintaining coverages. Buying car insurance in Ellenton is quite easy. Florida drivers only need an understanding of the best way to get comparison quotes on the web.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates enables informed choices that could result in lower car insurance prices.

Increase deductibles and save - Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before your car insurance pays a claim. Physical damage coverage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply would be colliding with a building, damage from fire, or theft. The more money you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.
With age comes lower rates - More mature drivers are more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations. Youthful drivers have a tendency to get distracted easily when driving and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher.
Protect yourself with liability coverage - Your policy's liability coverage is the protection if you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It will provide legal defense coverage starting from day one. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not cut corners here.
Do you work long hours in a high stress job? - Occupations such as doctors, business owners and dentists tend to have the highest average rates attributed to job stress and lengthy work days. Other professions such as pilots, historians and retirees receive lower rates.
More people means more accidents - Residing in a rural area is a positive aspect when talking about car insurance. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. City drivers have more traffic problems and a longer drive to work. More time commuting means more change of being in an accident.

Take advantage of discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't list all available discounts in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list both the well known and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using. If you aren't receiving every discount you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

Multiple Cars - Insuring all your vehicles with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you may receive better car insurance rates.
Organization Discounts - Being a member of a civic or occupational organization is a good way to get lower rates when buying car insurance.
Government Employees - Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% depending on your company.
Student in College - Kids in college who live away from home and don't have a car may qualify for this discount.
Auto/Home Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
Anti-theft Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.

It's important to understand that most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when it seems like it's possible to get free car insurance, it doesn't quite work that way.

To choose insurers with discount car insurance rates in Ellenton, click here to view.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Consumers in Florida can't ignore all the ads for car insurance savings by Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies make an identical promise of big savings if you change to their company.

How can each company claim to save you money?

All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. An example of a profitable customer might be between the ages of 40 and 55, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. Any driver who meets those qualifications gets the lowest rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Drivers who don't qualify for the requirements must pay higher premiums and ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say "people who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings. This illustrates why you should get quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

How to know if you need help

When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Everyone's needs are different so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions may help you determine whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.

Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
Do I qualify for additional discounts?
Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?

If you're not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.

More tips and info about car insurance is available at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website. Visitors are able to report car insurance fraud, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, find out which companies have the most complaints, and read industry bulletins.

Best coverage at the best price

Low-cost car insurance can be sourced both online and also from your neighborhood Ellenton agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who may not provide online price quotes and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When you buy insurance online, it's a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. In too many instances, drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.