Pleasant Hill Auto Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Price shopping your Pleasant Hill auto insurance is hard for consumers not familiar with buying insurance online. You have so many companies to choose from that it can quickly become a lot of work to find the best price in Pleasant Hill.

Finding the best rates in Pleasant Hill is easy if you know what you're doing. If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to lower your premiums substantially using this strategy. Iowa vehicle owners just need to know the proper way to shop for auto insurance over the internet.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to big savings.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" used by your company to calculate prices.

  • More claims means more premium - If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on higher rates. Companies in Iowa give lower rates to people who do not file claims often. Insurance coverage is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • Your location is important - Being located in less populated areas can save you money when talking about auto insurance. Drivers in populated areas regularly have traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Fewer people means a lower chance of having an accident.
  • Discounts for married couples - Having a spouse can get you a discount on your auto insurance policy. Having a significant other translates into being more mature than a single person and statistics show drivers who are married are more cautious.
  • Bump up deductibles to save - Physical damage deductibles define the amount you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. Coverage for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, insures against damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims would be running into the backend of another car, damage caused by hail, or theft. The higher the amount you have to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
  • Where do you drive? - Driving more miles every year the higher your rate. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars based on how the vehicle is used. Autos not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Ask your agent if your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage.
  • Do you know you're credit rating? - Having a bad credit history is a big factor in your rate calculation. If your credit score is not that good, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. People with good credit tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with lower credit scores.
  • Lower rates with optional equipment - Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention features such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all hinder your vehicle from being stolen.
  • Choose a safe vehicle and save - Vehicles with good safety scores tend to have better insurance rates. The safest vehicles protect occupants better and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.

compare Pleasant Hill auto insurance rates

Comparison of Auto Insurance in Pleasant Hill

All major auto insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO give price estimates on the web. This process is quite simple as you simply type in as detailed in the form. After the form is submitted, the system will obtain credit information and your driving record and returns pricing information based on these and other factors.

Being able to quote online streamlines rate comparisons, but the time it takes to visit multiple sites and type in the same information is not the best way to spend an afternoon. But it's very important to have as many quotes as possible in order to get better auto insurance pricing.

The preferred way to lower your auto insurance bill uses one form that gets prices from a lot of companies. The form is fast, eliminates form submissions, and makes online shopping much more efficient. Immediately after you send the form, your coverage is rated and you can select any one of the resulting price quotes. If you find a better price you simply finish the application and purchase the new policy. This process takes less than 15 minutes and may result in a nice savings.

To find out what other companies charge, click here to open in new window and enter your vehicle and coverage information. To compare your current rates, we recommend you copy the coverage information identical to your current policy. This makes sure you will be getting a rate comparison for the exact same coverage.

These discounts can lower your rates

Companies don't always list every discount very clearly, so we break down both the well known and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance. If you're not getting every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Drivers Education - Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully complete driver's ed class if it's offered in school.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount with a few auto insurance companies.
  • Auto/Life Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
  • Distant Student - Any of your kids who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • Paperwork-free - A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
  • Multiple Vehicles - Buying coverage for multiple vehicles with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • Homeowners Pay Less - Simply owning a home may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
  • Lower Rates for Military - Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
  • Save with a New Car - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.

Consumers should know that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don't profit that way.

To choose insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Iowa, click this link.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Consumers in Iowa can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance from the likes of State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all make the same claim that you'll save big after switching your coverage to them.

How does each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of customer that makes them money. For example, a driver they prefer might be between 25 and 40, is a homeowner, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Drivers who are not a match for these standards will be quoted a higher premium which leads to the customer not buying. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much money. That's why companies can advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why you need to compare many company's rates. It's impossible to know the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More detailed Iowa auto insurance information can be found at the Iowa Insurance Division website. Visitors are able to download brochures, view agent and company licensing information, and get help finding coverage.

And the best car insurance company is...

Insureds change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including extreme rates for teen drivers, high rates after DUI convictions, delays in paying claims or even not issuing a premium refund. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a new auto insurance company is easier than you think.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the savings was not a smart move. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at the best price while still protecting your assets.

Discount auto insurance can be purchased both online as well as from independent agents in Pleasant Hill, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some auto insurance companies don't offer online price quotes and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.