Olive Branch Car Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Shopping for affordable Olive Branch car insurance over the internet can seem to be intimidating for beginners to comparison shopping online. Since there are so many insurers to choose from, how can you possibly compare every one to find the best available rates?

Buying car insurance in Olive Branch is quite easy. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to reduce your rates substantially using these methods. Nevertheless, Mississippi car owners do need to know the way companies market insurance on the web.

Save big with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always publicize every discount very clearly, so the following is a list of some of the more common as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using.

  • No Claims - Drivers who don't have accidents pay less when compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Paperwork-free - A few companies will give a small break simply for signing over the internet.
  • Safety Course Discount - Successfully completing a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
  • Multiple Policy Discount - If you have multiple policies with the same company you could get a discount of at least 10% off all policies.
  • Passive Restraint Discount - Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
  • Accident Waiver - Certain companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
  • Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off with a few car insurance companies.

It's important to understand that most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that play a part in calculating your car insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are some of the items that factor into prices.

  • Your stress level may be raising your rates - Careers like real estate brokers, business owners and financial analysts are shown to have higher average rates because of job stress and long work days. Conversely, professions such as pilots, engineers and retirees pay the least.
  • Pay less after the wedding - Getting married helps lower the price on your policy. Having a significant other usually means you are more mature and responsible and it's proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • Don't get talked into coverage you don't need - There are quite a few add-on coverages that can waste your money on your policy. Coverages for roadside assistance, accident forgiveness and membership fees may be costing you every month. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
  • More people means more accidents - Residing in small towns and rural areas can save you money when it comes to car insurance. Drivers who live in large cities tend to have traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Less people living in that area means reduced accidents and a lower car theft rate.
  • Clean credit earns discounts - Having a bad credit score is a important factor in determining what you pay for car insurance. Consumers who have high credit ratings tend to be less risk to insure than drivers with lower credit ratings. So if your credit rating is low, you could potentially save money when insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit.
  • Rate your vehicle for proper use - The higher the mileage driven in a year's time the higher your rate. The majority of insurers rate vehicles determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use get more affordable rates than those used for commuting. Double check that your car insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle.

Car insurance ads bend the truth

Car insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO consistently run ads on TV and radio. They all make an identical promise of big savings if you change your policy. How does each company make the same claim?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a driver they prefer could be between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and most likely will save when switching.

Potential insureds who fall outside these standards will be quoted more money and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads state "customers that switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why drivers should get as many quotes as possible. Because you never know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

For more Mississippi car insurance information

More tips and info about car insurance can be read at the Mississippi Insurance Department website. Consumers can read industry bulletins, get help finding coverage, and discover disciplinary actions.

Also read more on this online resource for car insurance quotes in Mississippi and this list of insurance agents in Olive Branch.

Final considerations

People leave their current company for a number of reasons such as high rates after DUI convictions, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, delays in responding to claim requests and even policy non-renewal. Whatever your reason, choosing a new insurance company is less work than it seems.

Low-cost car insurance is attainable from both online companies in addition to many Olive Branch insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some car insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.

When shopping online for car insurance, make sure you don't skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where drivers have reduced collision coverage and discovered at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your strategy should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.