Proven Techniques to Save on La Crosse Car Insurance

Overpriced car insurance can drain your savings account and put a big crunch on your finances. Shopping your coverage around is free and is an excellent way to tighten up your finances.

You have so many to pick from, and even though it's nice to be able to choose, lots of choices makes it harder to compare rates.

Learn How to Buy Car Insurance Cheaper

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that help determine the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to big savings.

More claims means more premium - If you file claims often, you can expect higher rates. Companies in Virginia give lower rates to drivers who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Insurance coverage is intended for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
Where you live - Residing in less populated areas can save you money when talking about car insurance. Drivers in populated areas regularly have traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Less people living in that area means reduced accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
Teen drivers pay high rates - Youthful drivers in Virginia are known to be careless and easily distracted when driving so they pay higher car insurance rates. Adding a young driver onto your car insurance can be quite pricey. More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.
Men pay higher rates - Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean men are WORSE drivers than women. They both tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but the men have costlier accidents. Men also statistically have more aggressive citations like DUI and reckless driving. Young males are most likely to cause an accident and are penalized with high car insurance rates.
Discounts for married couples - Being married can get you a discount on your car insurance policy. Having a significant other usually means you are more mature and it's proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.

Compare Car Insurance Today

There are several ways of comparing rates from local La Crosse car insurance companies. One of the best ways to find the cheapest insurance rates is to get quotes online. This is very easy and can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The fastest way consumers can make multiple comparisons is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This form eliminates the need for repetitive form entry to each individual car insurance company. A single, simple form will get you rate comparisons direct from many companies.
A slightly less efficient method to compare rate quotes requires you to visit the website of each company and fill out their own quote form. For examples sake, let's assume you want comparison quotes from , and . To find out each rate you need to take the time to go to each site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is more popular. To view a list of companies in La Crosse, click here.
The hardest way to get comparison rates is to spend time driving to insurance agents' offices. The ability to buy insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you require the professional advice only provided by licensed La Crosse agents. Drivers can find lower rates online and still use a local agent and you'll learn how to do that later.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just make sure you use identical coverage information for every quote you compare. If you use unequal deductibles or liability limits it's impossible to determine the best price in La Crosse. Having just a slight variation in limits may result in large price differences. And when comparing car insurance rates, know that comparing more company's prices helps you find the best offered rates.

Take advantage of discounts

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts to cut the cost considerably. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time of purchase, but some must be manually applied prior to receiving the credit.

Government Employees - Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount with a few car insurance companies.
Auto/Life Discount - Some companies give a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
Distant Student - Any of your kids who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you may be able to get a discount up to 10%.
Paperwork-free - A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 just for signing your application over the internet.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn't work that way. But any discount will bring down your overall premium however.

To choose insurance companies who offer car insurance discounts in Virginia, click this link.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Car insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO continually stream ads on TV and radio. They all make the same claim that you can save after switching your policy. How does each company claim to save you money?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that makes them money. An example of a driver they prefer might be between 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and has a short commute. Any driver who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and most likely will save when switching.

Potential customers who don't qualify for these standards will be quoted higher prices which leads to the customer not buying. The ads state "customers that switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can make the claims of big savings.

This emphasizes why you need to get quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

How to know if you need help

When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a perfect coverage plan. Everyone's situation is a little different so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions can help discover whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.

Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

More information is available on the website for the Virginia Bureau of Insurance located here. Visitors are able to download brochures, view agent and company licensing information, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and learn about insurance regulations.

Other informative sites include this online resource for car insurance quotes in Virginia and this list of insurance agents in La Crosse.

Final considerations

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your strategy should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Affordable car insurance can be bought both online in addition to many La Crosse insurance agents, so compare prices from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance providers do not provide online price quotes and these smaller companies work with independent agents.