Tightwads Guide for Saving on Fort Washington Car Insurance

No one in their right mind looks forward to paying for car insurance, particularly when their premiums are through the roof.

Companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive continually bombard you with ad campaigns and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates occasionally due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the lowest rates a year ago you can probably find a lower rate today. Starting now, forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because I'm going to teach you the tricks you need to know to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.

If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. Buying car insurance in Fort Washington is easy if you know what you're doing. But Maryland consumers do need to know how insurance companies sell insurance online and use this information to your advantage.

Fort Washington Car Insurance Quote Comparison

There are several ways of comparing rates from different Fort Washington insurance companies. The best method to find competitive insurance rates is simply to get online rate quotes. This can be done using a couple different methods.

The recommended way to get quotes for comparison is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This easy form eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions for every car insurance company. A single form will return quotes from multiple companies.
A slightly less efficient method to compare rate quotes is to take the time to go to each individual company website and fill out their own 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 information, which is why the first method is more popular. To view a list of companies in Fort Washington, click here.
The least recommended method to compare rates is to drive around to insurance agents' offices. Buying insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you require the personal advice of a local agent. However, consumers can get the lowest quotes online and still use a local agent and you'll learn how to do that later.

It's your choice how you get your quotes, but make absolute certain that you use exactly the same coverages and limits for every quote you compare. If you use different deductibles it's impossible to determine the best price in Fort Washington. Quoting even small variations in insurance coverages may cause a big price difference. And when quoting car insurance, remember that obtaining a wide range of quotes will increase your chances of finding a lower rate.

Take advantage of discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that you may not even be aware of. Some discounts apply automatically at the time of purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested prior to receiving the credit.

Accident Forgiveness - A handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident before raising your premiums as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
Anti-lock Brake System - Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.
Passive Restraint Discount - Factory air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
Payment Discounts - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
College Student - Kids in college who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have a car may qualify for this discount.
Sign Online - Certain companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.
Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with better rates if you take out a life insurance policy as well.
Save with a New Car - Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
Seat Belts Save - Drivers who require all occupants to wear their seat belts could save 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
No Accidents - Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially as compared to bad drivers.

Drivers should understand that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will reduce your overall premium however.

To see a list of companies offering car insurance discounts in Fort Washington, click here to view.

How to know if you need help

When choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Everyone's situation is a little different so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions might point out whether your personal situation may require specific advice.

Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Fort Washington?
Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?

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. 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.

For more Maryland car insurance information

Much more information about car insurance in Maryland can be found on the website for the Maryland Insurance Administration located here. Visitors are able to learn about insurance regulations, find out industry alerts, view a list of available companies, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.