Proven Ways to Save on Gearhart Auto Insurance

Nobody cherishes buying auto insurance, in particular when they are paying too much. Multiple compete for your business, and it can be difficult to compare rates to find the lowest price

It's important to compare prices occasionally because prices are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best deal last year a different company probably has better rates today. So forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the only way to find lower rates on auto insurance.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't always advertise every available discount in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list both well-publicized and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance. If they aren't giving you every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

  • Discount for Swiching Early - Some companies give discounts for switching policies prior to your current policy expiring. The savings is around 10%.
  • Anti-theft Discount - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Low Mileage - Low mileage vehicles can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Participating in certain professional organizations could trigger savings on your policy.
  • Multiple Cars - Buying insurance for all your vehicles on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • Homeowners Savings - Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings because maintaining a house requires personal responsibility.

As a disclaimer on discounts, many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Just because you may think it's possible to get free car insurance, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

Oregon auto insurance

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

Shown below are some of the factors used by your company to calculate your rates.

  • Careful drivers pay lower rates - Even a single speeding ticket can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers who don't get tickets get better rates than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who get dangerous violations such as DUI or reckless driving may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to prevent a license revocation.
  • Multiple policies with one company can save - Some auto insurance companies give discounts to customers who have multiple policies with them. It's known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can be ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money.
  • Safe vehicles cost less to insure - Cars with high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. Safer cars protect occupants better and lower injury rates means less money paid by your insurance company and lower rates for you.
  • Liability coverage protects you - Your policy's liability coverage is the coverage that protects you in the event that a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. It provides legal defense coverage starting from day one. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no cookie cutter policy. Every situation is different so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions might point out whether or not you could use an agent's help.

  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
  • Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
  • Are rental cars covered under my policy?
  • Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
  • Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
  • Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and you can get the answers you need.

Is there truth in advertising?

Oregon consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance from the likes of State Farm and Allstate. All the ads make the same claim about savings if you change your coverage to them.

How do they all make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that earns them a profit. An example of a preferred risk could possibly be over the age of 40, owns a home, and drives newer vehicles. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Consumers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile will be charged higher rates which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. That is how companies can truthfully claim big savings. That is why drivers should get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know which company will give you the biggest savings.

Even more information is available at the Oregon Insurance Division website. Oregon consumers can file complaints about a company, read consumer alerts, find disaster information, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Gearhart auto insurance quote

Best coverage at the best price

You just read many ideas to reduce auto insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with some of the smallest insurance companies. Regional companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments compared to the large companies like .

When trying to cut insurance costs, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many cases where an insured cut comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Cheap auto insurance is attainable online as well as from independent agents in Gearhart, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis. A few companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.