Tightwads Instructions on Saving on Elwood Auto Insurance

Scraping up a payment for overpriced auto insurance can drain your checking account and put a big crunch on your finances. Doing a price comparison is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to cut your insurance bill.

Lots of contend for your business, and because of this it can be hard to compare to find the lowest price

It's important to compare prices quite often because insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates last year you can probably find a better price now. There is a lot of bad information regarding auto insurance on the web, but I'm going to show you some great ways to quit paying high auto insurance rates.

If you currently have car insurance, you will most likely be able to reduce your rates substantially using these methods. Buying car insurance in Elwood is easy if you know what you're doing. But Indiana drivers do need to know the methods companies use to compete online.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

The following are some of the items used by your company to calculate rates.

  • Pay less after the wedding - Getting married can get you a discount on your policy. It translates into being more mature than a single person and statistics show married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • With age comes lower rates - More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations. Teen drivers are known to be careless and easily distracted when driving therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
  • Liability coverage is peace of mind - Liability coverage is the protection if ever a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. It will provide you with a defense in court up to the limits shown on your policy. This coverage is very inexpensive when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not cut corners here.
  • Your auto insurance rates can be influenced by your job - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Jobs such as real estate brokers, business owners and accountants have higher rates than average due to stressful work requirements and long work hours. On the flip side, professions such as pilots, athletes and performers get better rates.
  • Extra coverages can waste money - There are a ton of add-on coverages that you can buy on your auto insurance policy. Coverages like roadside assistance, towing coverage and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea initially, but now you might not need them so get rid of them and save.

Take advantage of discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but discounts can save money and there are some available to cut the cost considerably. Most are applied at the time of purchase, but some may not be applied and must be asked for prior to receiving the credit.

  • Sign Online - Some insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
  • College Student - Kids in college living away from home attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
  • Save over 55 - If you're over the age of 55, you may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
  • Organization Discounts - Participating in certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates on auto insurance.
  • Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles could qualify for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
  • Claim Free - Drivers who don't have accidents pay less as compared to accident-prone drivers.
  • Driver Safety - Taking a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.
  • Anti-theft System - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Student Driver Training - Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course if it's offered in school.

Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will cut your overall premium however.

To choose companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Elwood, click here to view.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive continually stream ads on TV and radio. They all seem to make an identical promise that you'll save big after switching your coverage to them. How do they all make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that makes them money. A good example of a desirable insured could possibly be over the age of 40, insures multiple vehicles, and drives newer vehicles. A driver who meets those qualifications gets the lowest rates and most likely will cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't qualify for the "perfect" profile will have to pay higher prices and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. This is how companies can claim big savings.

Because of the profiling, you should get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

How to know if you need help

When buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions may help you determine whether your personal situation could use an agent's help.

  • Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
  • Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Elwood?
  • Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
  • Are rental cars covered under my policy?
  • Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
  • Do I qualify for additional discounts?
  • Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
  • Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?

If you're not sure about those questions, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Much more information about auto insurance in Indiana can be read on the website for the Indiana Department of Insurance found here. Indiana consumers can get help finding coverage, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, find out which companies have the most complaints, and read industry bulletins.

Elwood auto insurance comparison

Shop smart and save

Discount auto insurance can be bought online as well as from independent agents in Elwood, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies don't offer online price quotes and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

When trying to cut insurance costs, never buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, drivers have reduced collision coverage and discovered at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price.