Top Ways to Save on Malvern Auto Insurance

I can't think of anyone who likes having to buy auto insurance, particularly when the price is too high. Drivers have multiple to pick from, and even though it's nice to have a selection, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates periodically because prices are constantly changing. Just because you found the best deal on your last policy the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the proper way to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.

Save big with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always advertise all their discounts very clearly, so here is a list both the well known and the harder-to-find ways to save on auto insurance. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you're paying more than you need to.

Accident Forgiveness - Certain companies will allow you to have one accident before raising your premiums as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
Good Student - A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.
Multiple Cars - Insuring all your vehicles on the same auto insurance policy qualifies for this discount.
Auto/Life Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Sign Online - Certain companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy over the internet.
College Student - Any of your kids who live away from home and don't have a car may qualify for this discount.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like it's possible to get free car insurance, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

To see a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in Iowa, click this link.

Malvern Auto Insurance Comparisons

Finding cheaper auto insurance prices can be quick and easy. You just have to take a few minutes getting comparison quotes provided by online insurance companies. This can be done in several different ways.

The best way to get quotes for comparison is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This form keeps you from doing separate quote forms for every auto insurance company. Just one form gets you price quotes from many national carriers.
A slightly less efficient method to get quotes online requires a trip to each individual company website and fill out their own quote form. For example, we'll pretend you want to compare , and . To get rate quotes you would need to visit each site to input your insurance information, and that's why the first method is more popular.

To view a list of companies in Malvern, click here.
The hardest method of getting rate comparisons is to waste gas driving to insurance agents' offices. Buying insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you have a need for the trained guidance of a local Malvern agent. Drivers can obtain prices from the web and still use a local agent. We'll cover that shortly.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just be sure to compare identical quote information for each comparison quote. If you compare mixed coverages it will be very difficult to determine the lowest rate in Malvern.

Malvern Rates are Influenced by These Factors

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

Shown below are some of the factors auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Males pay more for insurance - Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. Now that doesn't mean men are worse drivers. Women and men tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but the males tend to have more serious accidents. They also have more aggressive citations like DUI and reckless driving.
Cautious drivers pay less - Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than their less careful counterparts. Only having one moving violation can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Drivers who have dangerous citations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.
What are your deductibles? - Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply would be running into the backend of another car, damage caused by hail, and windstorm damage. Physical damage deductibles are how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. The more money you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be.
Lower miles equals lower premium - The higher the mileage driven each year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Autos left parked in the garage can get a lower rate than those used for commuting. Make sure your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle, because it can save money.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a perfect coverage plan. Everyone's situation is unique so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions may help highlight if your situation might need an agent's assistance.

Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
What are the financial responsibility laws in Iowa?
Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Consumers in Iowa can't get away from ads for cheaper car insurance by State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to make the same claim about savings if you change to their company.

How does each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that is profitable for them. An example of a desirable insured might be between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and most likely will save when switching.

Consumers who fall outside these standards will have to pay higher prices which leads to the customer not buying. The ads say "drivers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, drivers must get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know which company will fit your personal profile best.

And the best car insurance company is...

Cheap auto insurance can be sourced both online and also from your neighborhood Malvern agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who may not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

We covered some good ideas how to compare auto insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from a smaller regional carrier. These smaller insurers may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than their larger competitors like .

When you buy insurance online, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many cases, someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your aim should be to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price.

Even more information is available at the Iowa Insurance Division website. Visitors are able to learn about insurance regulations, file complaints about a company, report car insurance fraud, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Additional helpful sites include this site for Iowa auto insurance information and see this list of insurance agents in Malvern.