Gulfport Car Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Buying the cheapest Gulfport car insurance online is intimidating for beginners to online price comaprisons. Since there are so many online companies available, how can you possibly compare every one to find the best available rates?

Take advantage of discounts

Companies do not advertise every discount very clearly, so we researched some of the more common and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving. If you're not getting every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

  • No Accidents - Drivers who don't have accidents pay much less when compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Accident Waiver - Certain companies permit an accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear for a certain period of time.
  • Good Student Discount - Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.
  • Distant Student - Youth drivers who are attending college and do not have a car may qualify for this discount.
  • Anti-lock Brakes - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • New Car Discount - Buying coverage on a new vehicle is cheaper compared to insuring an older model.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don't apply to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So when the math indicates you could get a free car insurance policy, you won't be that lucky.

Gulfport Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that go into determining your car insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that will entitle you to better car insurance rates.

Listed below are a partial list of the pieces car insurance companies consider when setting prices.

  • Your occupation can affect rates - Did you know your job can affect your rates? Careers like judges, social workers and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates attributed to high stress levels and long work hours. Conversely, professions such as pilots, engineers and homemakers receive lower rates.
  • Are you male or female? - Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn't necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. Men and women tend to get into accidents in similar numbers, but the men cause more damage. Men also statistically get more serious tickets such as reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are several times more likely to be in an accident and therefore are the most expensive to insure.
  • Tickets mean higher rates - Careful drivers receive lower rates than bad drivers. Even a single moving violation can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. If you have serious violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find they need to file a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
  • Older drivers pay less - Young drivers in Mississippi are statistically proven to be careless and easily distracted when driving so they pay higher car insurance rates. If you've ever had to add a teen driver to your car insurance policy can really hurt. More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations.
  • More than one policy can earn a discount - Most insurance companies provide better rates to policyholders who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you may still want to compare other company rates to ensure the best deal.
  • More miles equals more premium - The more miles you rack up on your car in a year's time the higher your rate. Most insurance companies rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars that are left in the garage receive lower rates than those used for commuting. Verify your car insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven, because improper ratings can cost you money.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings by Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. They all have a common claim about savings if you switch to their company.

How does each company make the same claim?

Different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a driver they prefer could be between 25 and 40, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. Any new insured that hits that "sweet spot" will get the preferred rates and most likely will save when switching.

Potential insureds who don't qualify for these standards will be quoted more money and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ads state "people who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings. This emphasizes why drivers should compare many company's rates. It's just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

Even more information is located at the Mississippi Insurance Department website. Consumers can read industry bulletins, learn about insurance regulations, and file complaints about a company.

A tidy conclusion

Drivers switch companies for many reasons like high rates after DUI convictions, denial of a claim, poor customer service and even not issuing a premium refund. No matter why you want to switch, finding the right car insurance provider is less work than it seems.

Cheaper car insurance is available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Gulfport agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best chance of saving money. 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.

You just learned a lot of ways to reduce car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the most savings is with a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising.