Easy Methods to Cut Costs on Greenwood Auto Insurance

Finding lower rates for Greenwood auto insurance is nearly impossible for consumers new to comparison shopping online. Drivers have so many options that it can turn into a challenge to compare prices in Greenwood.

The purpose of this post is to instruct you on the best way to quote coverages and some tips to save money. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will most likely be able to cut costs considerably using this information. Mississippi drivers only need an understanding of how to compare company rates on the web.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you can get discounts that you may not know about. Most are applied when you complete an application, but less common discounts must be asked for before they will apply. If you don't get every credit available, you are throwing money away.

No Accidents - Claim-free drivers pay much less when compared to drivers who are more careless.
Pay Now and Pay Less - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
Homeowners Pay Less - Simply owning a home can help you save on auto insurance because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.
Passive Restraint Discount - Cars that have air bags can receive discounts of up to 25% or more.
Low Mileage Discounts - Low mileage vehicles could be rewarded with discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
One Accident Forgiven - Some insurance companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear for a particular time prior to the accident.
Multiple Policy Discount - If you have multiple policies with one company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.

It's important to understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Just because it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, it doesn't quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

Good Decisions Result in Lower 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. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to big savings.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting prices.

Do you work long hours in a high stress job? - Careers like judges, business owners and stock brokers tend to have the highest rates because of job stress and lots of time spent at work. On the other hand, occupations like farmers, students and retirees receive lower rates.
Car features impact rates - Driving a car with an alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder car theft.
Low deductibles can be expensive - Deductibles for physical damage define the amount you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. Physical damage insurance, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, and burglary. The more you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
Traffic violations increase rates - A bad driving record has a big impact on rates. Even one citation can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Careful drivers have lower premiums than their less careful counterparts. If you have dangerous violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find they need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to prevent a license revocation.
Little extras can really add up - There are quite a few extra bells and whistles that can waste your money on your auto insurance policy. Things like vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness and term life insurance may be costing you every month. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but if they're wasting money remove them from your policy.
Pay less if you're married - Having a wife or husband helps lower the price on your policy. Having a significant other means you're more mature and responsible and it's proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
More people means more accidents - Being located in less populated areas can save you money when insuring your vehicles. Drivers who live in large cities tend to have traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft.

Is there truth in advertising?

Mississippi consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance by Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. They all make an identical promise of big savings if you change to their company.

But how can every company make almost identical claims?

All the different companies can use profiling for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a driver they prefer could possibly be over the age of 40, has no tickets, and has great credit. A driver who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Consumers who don't measure up to this ideal profile will be quoted higher rates and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That's why insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings.

This emphasizes why drivers should compare many company's rates. It is impossible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

More Mississippi auto insurance information

Additional auto insurance information is located on the Mississippi Insurance Department website located here. Mississippi consumers can read industry bulletins, view a list of available companies, and report car insurance fraud.

Also read more on this online resource for auto insurance quotes in Mississippi and this list of insurance agents in Greenwood.

And the best car insurance company is...

People leave their current company for a number of reasons such as high rates after DUI convictions, extreme rates for teen drivers, lack of trust in their agent and even poor customer service. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new insurance company is less work than it seems.

Low-cost auto insurance can be sourced online and also from your neighborhood Greenwood agents, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, don't be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where an insured dropped liability coverage limits only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your strategy should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.