How to Know You're Spending Too Much for Auto Insurance in Erie

Expensive auto insurance can dwindle your personal savings and force you to make sacrifices. Shopping your coverage around is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to cut your insurance bill.

Insurance companies such as GEICO and Progressive promote their brand names with advertising and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies don't necessarily list every discount in a way that's easy to find, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.

Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount with a few auto insurance companies.
Life Insurance - Some companies give better rates if you take out auto and life insurance together.
Lower Rates for Military - Being on active duty in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
Claim Free - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially when compared to drivers who are more careless.
Low Mileage Discounts - Low mileage vehicles can earn discounted rates on garaged vehicles.

It's important to note that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, you're out of luck.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to big savings.

Shown below are a few of the "ingredients" used by your company to calculate prices.

High numbers of claims are not good - Companies in Kansas award cheaper rates to drivers who do not file claims often. If you frequently file small claims, you can expect either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Insurance coverage is designed for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
Please use or commuting - The higher the mileage driven in a year's time the higher your rate. Almost all companies apply a rate based on their usage. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your auto insurance declarations sheet is rated on the correct usage for each vehicle.
Better crash test results mean better rates - Vehicles with good safety scores can get you lower premiums. The safest vehicles protect occupants better and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Your stress level may be raising your rates - Careers like lawyers, business owners and dentists have the highest average rates due to high stress and lots of time spent at work. Other jobs such as pilots, historians and retirees get better rates.
Liability insurance protects assets - Your policy's liability coverage is the protection when a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. Liability insurance provides for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not cut corners here.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether or not you might need an agent's assistance.

Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?

If you're not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

The auto insurance bait and switch

Auto insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO consistently run ads in print and on television. They all make an identical promise that you can save if you change your coverage to them. How can each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For example, a driver they prefer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and chooses high deductibles. A driver who meets those qualifications gets the lowest rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to the requirements will be quoted more money and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much money. This is how insurance companies can state the savings. This emphasizes why drivers should compare many company's rates. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

Learn more about auto insurance in Kansas

Additional detailed information can be found at the Kansas Insurance Department website. Kansas consumers can download brochures, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, find disaster information, and read industry bulletins.

Final considerations

When buying insurance coverage, it's a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to discover later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your strategy should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price while still protecting your assets.

Lower-priced auto insurance is attainable online as well as from independent agents in Erie, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.