Tightwads Tips for Saving on Lawton Auto Insurance

Are you sick and tired of trying to scrape together enough money each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other drivers in Oklahoma.

Consumers have many to pick from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

Buying car insurance in Lawton is easy if you know what you're doing. If you currently have car insurance, you will most likely be able to cut costs considerably using these methods. But Oklahoma drivers do need to know the way insurance companies market on the web because it can help you find the best coverage.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that could result in better auto insurance rates.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

Safer cars are cheaper to insure - Safer cars can get you lower premiums. Safe vehicles reduce injuries and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.
A lapse in coverage is a bad thing - Not having insurance is a misdemeanor and as a result your rates will increase for letting your coverage have a gap. Not only will you pay more, but not being able to provide proof of insurance can result in a revoked license or a big fine.You may then be required to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the Oklahoma motor vehicle department.
Small claims can cost you - Auto insurance companies in Oklahoma award lower rates to people who are claim-free. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Car insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Where do you drive? - The more you drive every year the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Most insurance companies apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks that are left in the garage receive lower rates than those used for commuting. Verify your auto insurance policy shows the correct driver usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Don't get talked into coverage you don't need - There are a lot of extra bells and whistles that you can get tricked into buying on your auto insurance policy. Coverages for roadside assistance, accidental death and term life insurance may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea initially, but if they're wasting money eliminate them to save money.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Occupations such as judges, business owners and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates due to stressful work requirements and long work hours. Conversely, professions such as farmers, engineers and the unemployed receive lower rates.
How credit affects auto insurance rates - A driver's credit rating is a big factor in your rate calculation. Drivers who have high credit ratings tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than those with lower ratings. So if your credit history can use some improvement, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit.
Traffic violations increase rates - Whether or not you get tickets has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Only having one citation can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Careful drivers get better rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers with severe tickets like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence are required to file a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to drive a vehicle legally.

Save big with these discounts

Companies don't always publicize all available discounts very clearly, so we researched both well-publicized and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.

Service Members Pay Less - Being on active duty in the military can result in better rates.
Seat Belts Save - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% depending on your company.
Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
Defensive Driving Course - Taking a course in driver safety could save 5% or more if your company offers it.
Discount for New Cars - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
No Accidents - Claim-free drivers pay much less when compared with accident-prone drivers.
Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Keeping the miles down could be rewarded with discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Passive Restraints - Vehicles equipped with air bags may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.

Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Just because you may think you could get a free auto insurance policy, companies don't profit that way.

To choose insurers with the best auto insurance discounts in Oklahoma, click here to view.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

21st Century, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads on TV and radio. All the companies make an identical promise that you'll save big if you move to their company. How does each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies can use profiling for the driver that makes them money. For instance, a profitable customer could possibly be a mature driver, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A driver who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and most likely will save when switching.

Drivers who fall outside these standards must pay a higher premium and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. That's why companies can advertise the savings. This illustrates why you should get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

More detailed Oklahoma auto insurance information is located at the Oklahoma Insurance Department website. Oklahoma consumers can find disaster information, find a variety of consumer forms, download brochures, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Other informative sites include this page for auto insurance prices in Oklahoma and this page of Lawton insurance agents.

Shop smart and save

Discount auto insurance is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood Lawton agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best selection. There are still a few companies who may not provide online price quotes and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, make sure you don't buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where an accident victim reduced liability coverage limits only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.