Consumer Tested Strategies to Save on Oakland Auto Insurance

No one looks forward to paying for auto insurance, especially knowing they are paying too much. Insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive all promote huge savings with advertising and it is difficult to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

auto insurance in Oakland

How much can you save with discounts?

Companies that sell car insurance don't list all available discounts in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list some of the best known and the more hidden ways to save on auto insurance. If you aren't receiving every discount you qualify for, you're just leaving money on the table.

  • Defensive Driving Course - Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.
  • Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems help deter theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Require your teen driver to enroll in driver's education in high school.
  • Federal Employees - Simply working for the federal government could cut as much as 10% off depending on your company.
  • Good Student - Getting good grades can earn a discount of 20% or more. The discount lasts up to age 25.

It's important to note that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you're out of luck.

For a list of insurers with the best auto insurance discounts in Oakland, click this link.

Finding Auto Insurance in Oakland, MD

Shopping for lower auto insurance rates can take time and effort if you don't know the most efficient way to do it. You can waste hours driving to insurance agencies in Oakland, or you can utilize the web to get rates in a matter of minutes.

Most car insurance companies belong to an insurance system that allows shoppers to enter their coverage request one time, and each company provides a quote. This system prevents you from having to do repetitive form submissions for each company you want a rate for.

To submit your quote information now, click here (opens in new window).

The only drawback to getting quotes like this is you are unable to specify the companies to get pricing from. If you would rather choose from a list of companies to compare, we have assembled a list of low cost auto insurance companies in Maryland. View list of Maryland insurance companies.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just make absolute certain that you use exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits for every quote you compare. If you are comparing different values for each quote it will be impossible to determine the best price in Oakland.

How much car insurance do I need?

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone's needs are different so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions might point out if your insurance needs would benefit from professional advice.

  • Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
  • Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
  • Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
  • Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
  • Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Maryland?
  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?

If it's difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It's fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

In the end, you save

Lower-priced auto insurance is possible on the web and also from your neighborhood Oakland agents, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who may not provide online quoting and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, it's not a good idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.