Lakewood Car Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Are you intimidated by the dozens of car insurance company choices in Lakewood? Lot's of other consumers are too. There are so many choices that it can turn into a real hassle to locate the lowest price.

It's important to compare prices every six months due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the lowest price two years ago a different company probably has better rates today. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because you're about to learn how to quote online to find great coverage at a great price.

Shopping for the lowest cost car insurance in Lakewood is easy if you know what you're doing. Just about every driver who has to buy car insurance should be able to reduce their rates. Nevertheless, Washington consumers do need to know how the larger insurance companies market insurance on the web because it can help you find the best coverage.

These discounts can lower your rates

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you can get discounts to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you quote, but less common discounts must be specially asked for before you get the savings.

Discount for Good Grades - Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.
Clubs and Organizations - Being a member of a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break on your policy.
Safety Course Discount - Successfully completing a defensive driving course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.
Resident Student - Children who are attending college and don't have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
Multiple Cars - Buying coverage for all your vehicles on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
Save with a New Car - Putting insurance coverage on a new car is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
No Accidents - Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay much less compared to drivers who are more careless.

It's important to understand that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce the cost of coverage.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates enables informed choices that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

Bad driving skills means higher rates - Your driving record has a big impact on rates. Careful drivers receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. Just one citation can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Drivers who get dangerous violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.
Protect yourself with liability coverage - Your policy's liability coverage provides coverage in the event that you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so buy as much as you can afford.
Add-on coverages can add up - There are quite a few extra coverages you can purchase when buying car insurance. Things like rental car reimbursement, better glass coverage and term life insurance are examples of these. They may seem good at first, but if they're wasting money remove them from your policy.
Older drivers pay less - Youthful drivers in Washington have a tendency to be less responsible when behind the wheel so car insurance rates are higher. Older insureds tend to be more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets.
Do you know your deductibles? - Physical damage coverage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply would be colliding with a building, damage from fire, and rolling your vehicle. Your deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The more you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your car insurance will be.
More miles equals more premium - The higher the mileage driven in a year the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies charge to insure your cars determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Double check that your car insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the correct usage for each vehicle, because improper ratings can cost you money.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate consistently run ads on television and other media. All the ads say the same thing of big savings if you change to their company. But how can every company claim to save you money?

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a preferred risk might be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no driving citations, and chooses high deductibles. Any driver who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Drivers who are not a match for this ideal profile will be charged a higher premium which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads state "people who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That's the way insurance companies can confidently state the savings.

That is why drivers should get as many quotes as possible. You cannot predict which car insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

Learn more about Washington car insurance

Additional car insurance information is located on the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website through this link. Visitors are able to file complaints about a company, find out which companies have the most complaints, and discover disciplinary actions.

Also read more on NAIC.org's Understanding your Policy and this directory of insurance agents in Lakewood Washington.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

We just presented a lot of information how to reduce car insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest priced car insurance comes from a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising.

Low-cost car insurance is attainable both online and also from your neighborhood Lakewood agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

When buying insurance coverage, don't be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed liability coverage limits only to discover later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your goal should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.