How to Know You're Spending Too Much for Auto Insurance in Pearl

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can overdraw your checking account and force you to make sacrifices. Comparing price quotes is a smart way to cut your insurance bill.

Big companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive increase brand awareness with fancy advertisements and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

It's important to compare prices yearly because prices are constantly changing. If you had the lowest price a couple years back you can probably find a better price now. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance on the web, but I'm going to show you some great ways to quit paying high auto insurance rates.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using this strategy. Finding the best rates in Pearl is quite easy. Nevertheless, Mississippi drivers do need to know the methods companies use to determine prices because it can help you find the best coverage.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

With age comes lower rates - More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and get fewer tickets. Teen drivers tend to get distracted easily when driving and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
Please use or commuting - The more you drive in a year's time the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles not used for work or commuting receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy is rated on the correct driver usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
More claims means more premium - Car insurance companies in Mississippi provide cheaper rates to policyholders who are claim-free. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Insurance coverage is designed for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
Theft deterrents lower rates - Purchasing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.
Protect yourself with liability coverage - The liability section of your policy is the protection if ever a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability provides legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies offering auto insurance don't necessarily list all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we researched both well-publicized and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings.

College Student - Children who are attending college without a vehicle on campus can be insured at a reduced rate.
Discount for New Cars - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
Drivers Ed for Students - Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course in high school.
Pay Upfront and Save - If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
More Vehicles More Savings - Buying coverage for multiple cars or trucks with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
Sign Online - A handful of insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks simply for signing digitally online.
Drive Less and Save - Keeping the miles down could be rewarded with lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.

It's important to understand that most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it doesn't quite work that way.

To choose companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Pearl, follow this link.

How can Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm save drivers who switch?

Auto insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads on television and other media. They all seem to say the same thing of big savings if you move to their company. How can each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured could possibly be over the age of 40, has no prior claims, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Drivers who are not a match for the requirements will have to pay higher premiums which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, you should get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Tailor your coverage to you

When buying the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. For instance, these questions can help discover whether you could use an agent's help.

Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Learn more about auto insurance in Mississippi

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the Mississippi Insurance Department website. Mississippi consumers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, download brochures, and view a list of available companies.

Do the work, save more money

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's not a good idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are many occasions where consumers will sacrifice collision coverage and learned later that the savings was not a smart move. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price.

Low-cost auto insurance is possible online and also from your neighborhood Pearl agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.