7 Ways You Can Buy Car Insurance for Less in Petersburg

Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can take a big chunk out of your savings account and put a big crunch on your finances. Comparison shopping is a great way to lower your monthly bill.

Lots of contend for your insurance dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare to get the lowest price

It's important to price shop coverage quite often since rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the best deal a year ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So ignore everything you know about car insurance because we're going to show you the only way to lower your annual insurance bill.

If you have car insurance now, you will be able to save some money using these methods. Buying car insurance in Petersburg is not that difficult. Although Virginia car owners do need to know how insurance companies sell online and take advantage of how the system works.

Save big with these seven discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, buy you may qualify for discounts that you may not know about. Some discounts apply automatically when you complete an application, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested before they will apply.

  • Life Insurance Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
  • College Student - Youth drivers who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
  • Sign Online - Certain companies will give a small break for buying your policy on their website.
  • Multiple Vehicles - Insuring multiple vehicles on the same car insurance policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • Anti-theft Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Payment Method - By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you could save 5% or more.
  • Accident Waiver - A few companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don't apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will cut your overall premium however.

To see a list of companies who offer car insurance discounts in Petersburg, click here.

Virginia car insurance quotes

Free Petersburg Car Insurance Quotes

There are several ways to compare rate quotes from local Petersburg car insurance companies. The best method to find competitive insurance rates is to perform an online rate comparison. This can be done using a couple different methods.

  • The best way consumers can make multiple comparisons is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This type of form keeps you from doing repetitive form submissions for every car insurance company. One form gets you price quotes from multiple companies.
  • A different way to get quotes online requires visiting the website for each individual company and complete a new quote form. For instance, let's assume you want comparison quotes from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is quicker. To view a list of companies in Petersburg, click here.
  • The most time-consuming way to get comparison rates is to drive around to different Petersburg agent offices. The ability to buy insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you want the trained guidance of a local Petersburg agent. It is possible to obtain prices from the web and still use a local agent and we'll cover that in a bit.

Whichever method you choose, make darn sure you compare the exact same quote information on every quote. If you use mixed coverages then you won't be able to make a fair comparison in Petersburg. Slightly different coverages may result in large price differences. And when comparison shopping, comparing more company's prices will enable you to find the best offered rates.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no "perfect" insurance plan. Every situation is different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions may help you determine if your situation may require specific advice.

  • When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
  • Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Petersburg?
  • Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
  • Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
  • Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
  • What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
  • Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
  • Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Virginia?

If you can't answer these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Car insurance ads bend the truth

Car insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive continually stream ads on TV and radio. They all seem to have a common claim about savings after switching your policy. How do they all make the same claim? It's all in the numbers.

All companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that is profitable for them. An example of a desirable insured could be over the age of 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has excellent credit. Any new insured that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and most likely will cut their rates substantially.

Consumers who fall outside the "perfect" profile will have to pay higher rates and this can result in business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. This is how companies can truthfully make those claims.

Because of the profiling, drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It's just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

Final considerations

While you're price shopping online, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time they didn't purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at the best price.

The cheapest car insurance can be sourced from both online companies in addition to many Petersburg insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

Petersburg car insurance comparison

More sites with car insurance information

Additional information is available on the website for the Virginia Bureau of Insurance found here. Consumers can view agent and company licensing information, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, get help finding coverage, and report car insurance fraud.