Easy Methods to Pay Less on Fort Walton Bch Car Insurance

Beginners to shopping for insurance online may find finding low-cost Fort Walton Bch car insurance is harder than they anticipated.

It's important to compare prices periodically because rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price last year there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Don't believe everything you read about car insurance on the internet, so I'm going to show you some great ways to reduce your car insurance bill.

Finding affordable coverage in Fort Walton Bch is easy if you know what you're doing. If you have a current car insurance policy or need a new policy, you will benefit by learning to find the best rates and still get good coverage. Florida vehicle owners just need to know the tricks to compare rates over the internet.

How to Lower your Car Insurance Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine your car insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with lower car insurance prices.

  • Men pay higher rates - Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Women and men have accidents in similar numbers, but the males have costlier accidents. They also get more serious tickets such as reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and are penalized with high car insurance rates.
  • How's your driving record? - Drivers who don't get tickets have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Even a single ticket can bump up the cost twenty percent or more. Drivers who have flagrant citations like DUI or reckless driving may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
  • Teen drivers pay high rates - Young drivers in Florida are known to be more careless behind the wheel so they pay higher car insurance rates. Having to add a teen driver onto a policy can break the bank. Older drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
  • Your location affects your rates - Living in a rural area can be a good thing when it comes to car insurance. Urban drivers regularly have much more traffic and longer commute times. Less people living in that area means a lower chance of having an accident as well as less vandalism and auto theft.

Fort Walton Bch Car Insurance Comparisons

Reducing your insurance rates isn't really that difficult. Consumers just need to spend a little time getting comparison quotes provided by online insurance companies. This can be done using a couple different methods.

  1. The fastest way to compare a lot of rates at once is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This type of form keeps you from doing separate quotation requests for every car insurance company. Just one form will get you rate comparisons from car insurance companies with the best prices. It's definitely the quickest method.
  2. Another way to shop for car insurance online requires you to visit each individual company website and complete a new quote form. For instance, we'll assume you want to compare , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is more popular.

    For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Fort Walton Bch, click here.

However you get your quotes, be sure to compare identical coverage information on every quote. If your comparisons have unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be impossible to make a fair comparison in Fort Walton Bch.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies don't always publicize all their discounts very clearly, so we researched some of the more common as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Accident Forgiveness - Certain companies will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
  • Good Student - This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.
  • College Student - Youth drivers who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
  • Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you may earn up to 20% off your total premium.
  • Homeowners Savings - Owning a house in Fort Walton Bch can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
  • Multiple Vehicles - Buying insurance for multiple vehicles with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Federal Employees - Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
  • Anti-lock Brakes - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can reduce accidents and will save you 10% or more.
  • Life Insurance Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
  • Driver Safety - Completing a driver safety course can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.

Drivers should understand that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates it's possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn't make money that way.

To choose companies who offer car insurance discounts in Florida, click here.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Consumers can't ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance from the likes of State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to have a common claim that you'll save big after switching your coverage to them.

How does each company make the same claim?

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured could be over the age of 50, a clean driving record, and drives newer vehicles. A customer that hits that "sweet spot" receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Consumers who don't qualify for these standards will have to pay higher rates and this can result in business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. That is how companies can claim big savings. Because of the profiling, you need to get a wide range of price quotes. Because you never know which company will give you the biggest savings.

Insurance agents can help

When buying the best car insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a best way to insure your cars. Everyone's needs are different.

For example, these questions may help highlight whether your personal situation may require specific advice.

  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Florida?
  • Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
  • What are the best liability limits?
  • Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
  • When do I need to add a new car to my policy?

If you can't answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

More detailed Florida car insurance information is located at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website. Consumers can learn about insurance regulations, file complaints about a company, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Other informative sites include this site for Florida car insurance information and see this list of insurance agents in Fort Walton Bch.

Florida car insurance

In the end, you save

Budget-conscious car insurance can be bought from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Fort Walton Bch, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. A few companies don't offer online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

We just showed you a lot of techniques to compare car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from a small local company.

When trying to cut insurance costs, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many cases, someone dropped collision coverage and learned later that it was a big mistake. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.