Tightwads Guide to Saving on Lexington Car Insurance

Nobody likes having to buy car insurance, particularly when they are paying too much.

With so many insurance companies to choose from, it can be hard to pick the cheapest insurer.

It's important to check car insurance prices occasionally due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates two years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding car insurance on the internet, so we're going to give you some great ways to save money.

How much can you save with discounts?

Companies don't always publicize every available discount very well, so the following is a list of both the well known and also the lesser-known car insurance savings.

Anti-lock Brake Discount - Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can reduce accidents and will save you 10% or more.
Resident Student - Children living away from home attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
Save with a New Car - Insuring a new car can be considerably cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts up to 30%.
Driver's Ed - Have your child take driver's ed class if it's offered in school.

Keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So when the math indicates you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it just doesn't work that way.

To see a list of providers who offer car insurance discounts in Mississippi, follow this link.

Automobile Insurance Quotes in Lexington, MS

Effectively comparing car insurance prices is a ton of work if you aren't aware of the most efficient way. You can waste a lot of time talking about coverages with insurance agencies in Lexington, or you could use the web to get the quickest rates.

Many insurance companies participate in an industry program that allows shoppers to enter their coverage request one time, and at least one company can give them a price for coverage. This eliminates the need for quote requests for each company you want a rate for.

To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

The one disadvantage to using this type of system is you are unable to specify which carriers you want to price. If you would rather choose individual companies to compare, we have assembled a list of companies who write car insurance in Mississippi. Click to view list.

Whichever way you use, make absolute certain that you use apples-to-apples coverage information on every quote. If you use unequal deductibles or liability limits then you won't be able to make a fair comparison in Lexington. Just a small difference in limits can make a big difference in price. And when quoting car insurance, remember that quoting more provides better odds of finding the best offered rates.

What determines how much you pay?

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that help determine the rates you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get better car insurance rates.

Better credit means lower rates - Your credit history is a big factor in determining your rates. If your credit score is not that good, you could pay less to insure your by improving your rating. Drivers with good credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than those with lower credit scores.
Multi-policy discounts can save money - Many companies give discounts to insureds who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, it's still a good idea to compare rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Mature drivers pay less - Youthful drivers in Mississippi are known to be less responsible behind the wheel so car insurance rates are higher. Adding a teenage driver to your policy can really hurt. Older drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers.
Car features impact rates - Owning a car with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention features such as GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can help prevent your car from being stolen.

How much car insurance do I need?

When choosing coverage for your vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Every situation is different so your insurance needs to address that. For example, these questions might point out if your insurance needs would benefit from professional advice.

Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Mississippi?
What are Mississippi no-fault laws?
Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?
Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.

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

Companies like Allstate and Progressive continually stream television and radio advertisements. All the ads say the same thing that you can save after switching to them. But how can every company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of driver that is profitable for them. A good example of a preferred risk might be a mature driver, owns a home, and chooses high deductibles. Any driver who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Consumers who don't meet this ideal profile will be charged higher rates which usually ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That is how insurance companies can state the savings. That is why drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. You cannot predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

Affordable insurance is out there

When buying insurance coverage, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, an insured cut collision coverage and discovered at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The aim is to buy enough coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

We just presented many ways to compare car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the best price on car insurance is with some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost compared to the large companies like .

Affordable car insurance can be bought both online and with local Lexington insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

Additional detailed information can be read at the Mississippi Insurance Department website. Visitors are able to find out industry alerts, read consumer alerts, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and view a list of available companies.

Additional helpful sites include BankRate.com's Car Insurance: When not to Skimp and this directory of Lexington insurance agents.