Proven Techniques to Save on Longboat Key Auto Insurance

Scraping up a payment for overpriced auto insurance can empty your personal savings and put the squeeze on your family's finances. Doing a price comparison is a smart way to help make ends meet.

Multiple compete for your business, and because of this it can be hard to compare to discover the definitive lowest rate

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. Finding affordable coverage in Longboat Key is easy if you know what you're doing. But Florida vehicle owners do need to know the way companies sell online and use this information to your advantage.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but there could be available discounts that you may not know about. Certain discounts will be applied when you quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for prior to getting the savings.

Government Employees - Being employed by or retired from a federal job could cut as much as 10% off with a few auto insurance companies.
Senior Discount - Mature drivers may receive better auto insurance rates.
Memberships - Affiliation with certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break when shopping for auto insurance.
Low Mileage Discounts - Low mileage vehicles can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Pay Now and Pay Less - If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
New Vehicle Savings - Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Paperwork-free - A few companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
Own a Home - Simply owning a home may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
Safety Course Discount - Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could cut 5% off your bill and easily recoup the cost of the course.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will cut the amount you have to pay.

To see a list of insurance companies with discount auto insurance rates in Longboat Key, follow this link.

Free Quotes for Auto Insurance in Longboat Key, Florida

The are a couple different ways of comparing rate quotes from local Longboat Key auto insurance companies. The best method to find the cheapest insurance rates is to use the internet to compare rates. This can be done in a couple of different ways.

The best way to find the lowest comparison rates is a comparison rater form (click to open form in new window). This method eliminates the need for separate forms for each company you want a rate for. One form gets you price quotes from several companies.
A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online requires a trip to the website of each company to complete their respective quote request forms. For sake of this example, we'll assume you want comparison quotes from , and . To get each rate you have to spend time on each company's site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Longboat Key, click here.
The least efficient way of getting rate comparisons is to waste gas driving to and from local Longboat Key insurance agencies. Buying insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you require the personal advice that only a license agent can provide. You can, however, obtain prices from the web but buy from a local insurance agent and we'll touch on that later.

Which method you use is up to you, but make darn sure you compare the exact same quote information on every quote you get. If each company quotes mixed coverages it will be impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Longboat Key. Just a small difference in insurance coverages may result in a large different in cost. And when comparison shopping, getting more free quotes will increase your chances of finding a better price.

You have some control over your rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Understanding what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting prices.

Do you work long hours in a high stress job? - Careers like lawyers, architects and accountants tend to have higher rates than average because of stressful work requirements and long work days. On the flip side, occupations like pilots, athletes and retirees receive lower rates.
Mature drivers pay less - More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, statistically cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers. Teenage drivers have a tendency to be careless and easily distracted when driving therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
Liability coverage is peace of mind - Your policy's liability coverage is the protection when a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It provides for a legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so buy as much as you can afford.
Choose a safe vehicle and save - Vehicles with high crash test scores are cheaper to insure. The safest vehicles reduce injuries and better occupant protection translates into savings for insurance companies and lower rates for you.
Special features that cut premiums - Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention devices such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.

Insurance agents can help

When choosing adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Everyone's needs are different and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. For example, these questions may help you determine whether your personal situation might need an agent's assistance.

Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Save $429 a year? Really?

Auto insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO consistently run television and radio advertisements. They all say the same thing that you'll save big if you change to their company. How do they all say the same thing?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the driver that is profitable for them. For example, a driver they prefer might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. A propective insured who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't qualify for the "perfect" profile will be quoted a higher premium which usually ends up with business not being written. The ad wording is "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. This is how companies can advertise the savings.

This emphasizes why drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

Affordable insurance is out there

As you prepare to switch companies, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Discount auto insurance can be sourced on the web and also from your neighborhood Longboat Key agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who may not provide the ability to get a quote online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

More sites with auto insurance information

Much more information about auto insurance in Florida can be found on the website for the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation located here. Florida drivers can read industry bulletins, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, find out which companies have the most complaints, and find disaster information.