Easy Tips to Save Money on Mechanicsburg Car Insurance

Are you overwhelmed by the crazy number of car insurance options in Mechanicsburg? Many other consumers are too. There are so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a ton of work to find the lowest price.

If you are insured now or are shopping for new coverage, you can follow these tips to find better prices and still get good coverage. Pricing affordable car insurance coverage in Mechanicsburg is quite easy. Illinois drivers only need an understanding of the tricks to compare rates online.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies offering auto insurance don't list every discount in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find some of the more common and the more hidden car insurance savings. If they aren't giving you every credit possible, you're paying more than you need to.

Student Driver Training - Have your child successfully complete driver's ed class in high school.
Service Members Pay Less - Having a deployed family member can result in better rates.
No Accidents - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially when compared to bad drivers.
Defensive Driving Course - Taking a driver safety course could possibly earn you a 5% discount and easily recoup the cost of the course.
Discount for Good Grades - A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. This discount can apply up to age 25.
Discount for Life Insurance - Larger companies have lower rates if you buy life insurance from them.
New Car Discount - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can be considerably cheaper compared to insuring an older model.

It's important to understand that most credits do not apply the the whole policy. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. Just because you may think you could get a free car insurance policy, it doesn't quite work that way.

To see a list of insurance companies with the best car insurance discounts in Mechanicsburg, follow this link.

Compare the Market for Car Insurance in Mechanicsburg

Finding cheaper car insurance prices can be relatively painless. Consumers just need to spend a little time comparing rate quotes online from several insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done in a couple of different ways.

The best way to find the lowest comparison rates is a comparison rater form click here to open form in new window. This method saves time by eliminating repetitive form entry for each company. Completing one form gets you coverage quotes direct from many companies. It's the fastest way to compare.
Another way to shop for car insurance online consists of going to the website of each company to complete a price quote. For examples sake, we'll pretend you want to compare rates from , and . You would have to take the time to go to each site to enter your coverage information, which is why most consumers use the first method.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Mechanicsburg, click here.
The least efficient method of comparing rate quotes is to drive around to different Mechanicsburg agent offices. Buying insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you prefer the professional guidance of a licensed agent. You can, however, obtain prices from the web but buy from a local insurance agent and we'll talk about that later.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just compare the exact same coverages with each company. If the quotes have different limits and deductibles on each one it will be impossible to make an equal comparison in Mechanicsburg.

You have some control over your rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that come into play when calculating your car insurance rates. Understanding what determines base rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to better car insurance rates.

Save money with special equipment - Choosing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart your car from being stolen.
Drive a safer car and pay less - Safer cars are cheaper to insure. The safest vehicles reduce injuries and fewer injuries means lower claim amounts and lower rates for you.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Careers like lawyers, architects and accountants tend to have higher rates than average attributed to job stress and long work hours. On the flip side, occupations like actors, athletes and the unemployed receive lower rates.
Don't get talked into coverage you don't need - There are a lot of extra coverages that can waste your money on your policy. Coverages like vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness and term life insurance are examples of these. They may seem good at first, but if they're wasting money get rid of them and save.
How's your driving record? - A bad driving record impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Careful drivers receive lower rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Just one citation can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. If you have severe violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find they need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to drive a vehicle legally.
More people means more accidents - Choosing to live in a small town can save you money when it comes to car insurance. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents. Drivers in populated Illinois areas have to deal with traffic congestion and a longer drive to work. More time on the road means higher likelihood of an accident.
Mature drivers pay less - Older insureds are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers. Young drivers tend to get distracted easily when behind the wheel therefore car insurance rates are much higher.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Consumers can't get away from ads that promise big savings by State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all say the same thing of big savings if you move to their company.

How do they all make the same claim?

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that is profitable for them. For example, a driver they prefer could be over the age of 50, has no tickets, and has a short commute. A customer who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Potential insureds who don't qualify for the "perfect" profile will be quoted more money which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads state "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That's the way insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings. This emphasizes why drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. Because you never know which car insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

A tidy conclusion

Consumers who switch companies do it for many reasons like extreme rates for teen drivers, delays in responding to claim requests, high rates after DUI convictions or questionable increases in premium. No matter why you want to switch, finding the right car insurance provider is actually quite simple.

Low-cost car insurance is definitely available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Mechanicsburg agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers may not provide the ability to get a quote online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

We just showed you a lot of tips how to compare car insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the biggest savings come from an unexpected company.

More tips and info about car insurance can be found at the Illinois Department of Insurance website. Consumers can view a list of available companies, find disaster information, and read industry bulletins.