How to Find Cheaper Fort Thomas Car Insurance

Cutting costs on Fort Thomas car insurance is a challenge for people who are new to buying insurance online. There are so many choices that it can be a ton of work to find lower rates in Fort Thomas.

Cheap Fort Thomas Car Insurance Comparisons

There are several ways you can shop for car insurance and some are easier and takes less work. You could spend your day discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in Fort Thomas, or you could save time and use online quoting to get pricing more quickly.

All the larger companies participate in an industry program that allows shoppers to complete one form, and each company returns a rated price determined by their information. This saves time by eliminating quotation requests for each company you want a rate for. To submit your quote information now, click here (opens in new window).

One minor caviat to comparing rates this way is you are unable to specify which companies you want pricing from. So if you prefer to pick individual companies to compare rates, we put together a list of car insurance companies in Kentucky. Click here for list of insurance companies in Kentucky.

It's up to you which method you use, but ensure you're using the exact same coverage limits and deductibles on every quote you get. If your comparisons have different liability limits it will be impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Fort Thomas.

What determines how much you pay?

It's important that you understand the different types of things that go into determining your car insurance rates. Understanding what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that could result in better car insurance rates.

Listed below are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine premiums.

Liability coverage protects you - Liability insurance will protect you if you are found to be at fault for damages from an accident. It provides legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
Small claims can cost you - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Auto insurance companies in Kentucky award better rates to insureds who file claims infrequently. Car insurance is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Discounts for multiple policies - Most insurers will award you with lower prices to policyholders who have multiple policies with them. It's known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can amount to five, ten or even twenty percent. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still be able to find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.
Extra coverages can waste money - There are many extra bells and whistles that you can get tricked into buying on your policy. Coverages like vanishing deductibles, accidental death and motor club memberships may be costing you every month. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but if you don't need them get rid of them and save.
Type of vehicle determines base rates - The make and model of the car you are insuring makes a big difference in determining your rates. Small economy passenger cars usually have the lowest rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
How's your driving record? - Whether or not you get tickets impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Good drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Even one moving violation can increase rates by twenty percent. Drivers with serious tickets like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions are required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
Big city or small town - Being located in a small town is a positive aspect when it comes to car insurance. Less people living in that area means fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Drivers who live in large Kentucky cities have to deal with more traffic problems and longer commute times. More time on the road means higher likelihood of an accident.
Better credit means lower rates - A driver's credit score is a important factor in your rate calculation. If your credit rating is lower than you'd like, you could be paying less to insure your by repairing your credit. Drivers with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers who have poor credit.

How much can you save with discounts?

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but there are discounts available that many people don't even know exist. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you quote, but less common discounts must be manually applied prior to getting the savings. If they aren't giving you every credit available, you're just leaving money on the table.

Club Memberships - Belonging to certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates when buying car insurance.
Employee of Federal Government - Simply working for the federal government can earn a discount up to 10% depending on your company.
Anti-theft System - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and will save you 10% or more.
Defensive Driver - Taking a driver safety course could save 5% or more depending on where you live.
Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching to them before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
Good Students Pay Less - Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. A few only apply to individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free car insurance policy, car insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will cut the amount you have to pay.

For a list of insurers offering car insurance discounts in Fort Thomas, click here to view.

Additional information is located on the Kentucky Department of Insurance website located here. Consumers can find out which companies have the most complaints, download brochures, and read consumer alerts.

And the best car insurance company is...

Cheap car insurance can be found from both online companies and with local Fort Thomas insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers do not offer online quoting and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

People switch companies for a number of reasons such as questionable increases in premium, extreme rates for teen drivers, policy non-renewal and high prices. It doesn't matter what your reason, choosing a new insurance company is not as hard as you think.

As you shop your coverage around, you should never reduce needed coverages to save money. In too many instances, an accident victim reduced liability coverage limits only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.