Lower Online Lanham Auto Insurance Prices With These Techniques

If online auto insurance comparisons are new to you, you may be confused by the vast number of auto insurance companies all offering big savings in Lanham.

How much can you save with discounts?

Companies don't list every discount very well, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using. If you don't get every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

  • Service Members Pay Less - Being on active duty in the military could mean lower rates.
  • Early Signing - A few companies offer discounts for switching policies prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.
  • Anti-lock Brake System - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
  • Theft Prevention Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Multi-car Discount - Buying insurance for more than one vehicle on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
  • Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give a break if you buy life insurance.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

compare Lanham auto insurance rates

How much car insurance do I need?

When it comes to buying coverage for your vehicles, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Everyone's needs are different.

For example, these questions may help highlight if your insurance needs would benefit from an agent's advice.

  • Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
  • Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
  • When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?

If you're not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

Maryland consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance by State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all make an identical promise about savings if you switch to their company.

But how can every company make almost identical claims?

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that earns them a profit. A good example of a driver they prefer could possibly be between 25 and 40, a clean driving record, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who don't meet this ideal profile will be quoted more money and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why you should get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional Maryland consumer information

Even more information can be read at the Maryland Insurance Administration website. Maryland consumers can find disaster information, file complaints about a company, and find out industry alerts.

Also read more on this page for auto insurance prices in Maryland and this page of Lanham insurance agents.

Maryland auto insurance

A tidy conclusion

People switch companies for many reasons like unfair underwriting practices, high prices, policy cancellation and even lack of trust in their agent. It doesn't matter what your reason, finding the right auto insurance provider is less work than it seems.

You just read some good ideas how you can reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better chance you'll have of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the most savings is with an unexpected company.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many situations where someone dropped full coverage and found out when filing a claim that the savings was not a smart move. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.