Free Guide to Spending Less for Mercer Island Auto Insurance Online

Nobody looks forward to buying auto insurance, especially knowing the cost is too high. There are many to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to be able to choose, it makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to check auto insurance prices periodically since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best rates a couple years back there is a good chance you can find better rates now. There is too much inaccurate information about auto insurance on the web, but I'm going to show you some great ways to reduce your auto insurance bill.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Mercer Island is easy if you know what you're doing. If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. Washington vehicle owners just need to know the most efficient way to find the lowest price on the web.

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

Shown below are some of the items companies use to determine rates.

Teen drivers pay high rates - Teenage drivers in Washington have a tendency to be more careless behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Having to add a teenage driver to your policy can break the bank. Older drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel.
Traffic citations inflate rates - Just one ticket can increase rates by twenty percent. Good drivers get better rates than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who have dangerous citations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to prevent a license revocation.
Add-on coverages can add up - There are quite a few additional coverages that you can buy if you aren't careful. Coverages for personal injury protection, towing coverage and motor club memberships may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea initially, but if you don't need them eliminate them to save money.
Men are more aggressive - Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. Now that doesn't mean women are better drivers. Women and men cause accidents at a similar rate, but the males tend to have more serious accidents. They also receive more costly citations like reckless driving and DUI.

Mercer Island Auto Insurance Comparisons

There are multiple methods to shop for auto insurance, but there is one way that is easier and takes less work. You can spend your afternoon talking about coverages with agents in Mercer Island, or you could use online quotes to quickly compare rates.

Most of the larger companies participate in an industry program that enables customers to submit their information once, and each company then gives them pricing based on the submitted data. This saves time by eliminating quote requests to each individual auto insurance company.

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

The one disadvantage to pricing coverage this way is you can't choose which providers to receive prices from. So if you prefer to choose specific providers for rate comparison, we have a page of companies who write auto insurance in Washington. Click here to view list.

It's your choice how you get your quotes, but be sure to compare identical coverage limits with every price quote. If you enter differing limits then you won't be able to find the best deal in Mercer Island.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies don't always advertise all their discounts very clearly, so the following is a list of some of the best known and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

New Vehicle Savings - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
Passive Restraints - Factory air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.
Safety Course Discount - Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
Senior Discount - If you're over the age of 55, you may receive reduced rates.
Military Rewards - Being on active duty in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
Discount for Swiching Early - Some companies give discounts for signing up prior to your current policy expiration. The savings is around 10%.
Accident Free - Good drivers with no accidents pay less as compared to accident-prone drivers.
Drivers Education - Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course if offered at their school.
Organization Discounts - Affiliation with a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates on auto insurance.

Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like it's possible to get free car insurance, companies don't profit that way.

To choose companies with discount auto insurance rates in Washington, click here to view.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Washington drivers can't ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance by companies like Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to make an identical promise that you'll save big if you change to them.

How does each company say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of driver that makes them money. A good example of a desirable insured might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A propective insured who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and therefore will save when switching.

Potential customers who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay a more expensive rate and ends up with business not being written. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save money. That is how companies can advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, you need to get a wide range of price quotes. It's not possible to predict which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Every situation is different so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether or not you might need an agent's assistance.

Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?
Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?

If you're not sure about those questions, you may need to chat with an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.

More detailed Washington auto insurance information can be read at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website. Washington drivers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, file complaints about a company, discover disciplinary actions, and learn about insurance regulations.

In the end, you save

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where someone dropped full coverage and found out when filing a claim that the savings was not a smart move. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price.

In this article, we covered many tips how you can compare auto insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates as compared to the big name companies such as .

Discount auto insurance is attainable on the web and with local Mercer Island insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.