Compare Palm Beach Auto Insurance Prices With These Tips

Are you overwhelmed by the dozens of auto insurance choices in Palm Beach? Lot's of other consumers are too. Drivers have so many options available that it can turn into more work than you anticipated to compare prices.

It's important to compare prices at least once a year since insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the lowest price a few years ago you may be paying too much now. Don't believe everything you read about auto insurance online, so we're going to give you some great ways to slash your auto insurance rates.

Buying car insurance in Palm Beach is quite easy. If you have car insurance now, you will be able to cut costs considerably using these methods. Nevertheless, Florida vehicle owners do need to know the way companies determine prices because it can help you find the best coverage.

How to Compare Palm Beach Auto Insurance Costs

There are several ways to compare rate quotes from auto insurance companies in your area. The recommended way to compare insurance prices consists of obtaining rate quotes online. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

The first (and easiest) way to compare a lot of rates at once is to use a rate comparison form click here to open form in new window. This type of form prevents you from having to do separate quotes for every auto insurance company. Completing one form will return price quotes instantly. It's definitely the quickest method.

A harder way to get quotes online consists of visiting each company website to request a price quote. For instance, we'll pretend you want to compare rates from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker.

To view a list of companies in Palm Beach, click here.

However you get your quotes, compare identical deductibles and coverage limits for each price quote. If your comparisons have different values for each quote then you won't be able to truly determine the lowest rate in Palm Beach. Slightly different coverage limits can result in a big premium difference. Just keep in mind that comparing a large number of companies helps you find better pricing.

Florida auto insurance

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

It's important that you understand the factors that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces used by your company to calculate your rates.

  • A clean driving record saves money - Your driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Even a single citation can bump up the cost twenty percent or more. Drivers who don't get tickets get better rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who get severe violations like DUI or reckless driving may be required to file a SR-22 with the DMV in their state in order to drive a vehicle legally.
  • Safer occupants lowers premiums - Cars with high safety ratings get lower rates. Safer cars protect occupants better and better occupant protection means lower claim amounts and thus lower rates.
  • Theft deterrents lower rates - Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft devices like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system can thwart auto theft.
  • Where do you drive? - The more you drive in a year the higher your rates will be. Almost all companies price each vehicle's coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars left parked in the garage receive lower rates than those used for commuting. Make sure your auto insurance policy shows the correct driver usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
  • Rates may be lower depending on your job - Occupations like judges, social workers and financial analysts have higher average rates due to job stress and lengthy work days. Conversely, professions such as actors, engineers and the unemployed get better rates.
  • Protect yourself with liability coverage - The liability section of your policy provides coverage in the event that a jury decides you are liable for personal injury or accident damage. It will provide legal defense starting from day one. Liability is cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
  • Being married is a good thing - Having a wife or husband actually saves money on auto insurance. Marriage translates into being more mature and responsible and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.

Save big with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always publicize every available discount very clearly, so we researched some of the best known and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving.

  • Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
  • Low Mileage - Keeping the miles down could be rewarded with a substantially lower rate.
  • Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
  • New Vehicle Savings - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can save up to 30% since new cars are generally safer.
  • Claim Free - Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay much less compared to frequent claim filers.
  • More Vehicles More Savings - Insuring multiple cars or trucks on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • E-sign - Certain companies give back up to $50 simply for signing over the internet.

It's important to understand that some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So despite the fact that it appears you can get free auto insurance, it doesn't quite work that way.

For a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Florida, click here.

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website. Florida drivers can file complaints about a company, find disaster information, and view a list of available companies.

Other useful links include NAIC.org's Understanding your Policy and this directory of Palm Beach insurance agents.

auto insurance in Palm Beach

Final considerations

Throughout this article, we presented a lot of techniques to lower your auto insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from some of the smallest insurance companies.

Low-cost auto insurance is possible on the web as well as from independent agents in Palm Beach, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies don't offer online quoting and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

Drivers who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including poor customer service, delays in responding to claim requests, unfair underwriting practices and delays in paying claims. Whatever your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is not as hard as you think.