Easy Tips to Cut Costs on Pleasant Hills Auto Insurance

Are you intimidated by the wide range of auto insurance choices in Pleasant Hills? Lot's of other consumers are too. You have so many options available that it can turn into a challenge to find lower rates.

It's important to compare rates every six months since insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the best rates a couple years back you may be paying too much now. Don't believe everything you read about auto insurance online, so I'm going to show you some great ways to slash your auto insurance rates.

Buying car insurance in Pleasant Hills is not that difficult. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using these methods. Pennsylvania consumers only need to know how to get comparison quotes online.

Compare Quotes for Pleasant Hills Auto Insurance

Getting better auto insurance pricing can be relatively painless. Just invest a little time comparing price quotes provided by online insurance companies. This can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The first (and easiest) way to find the lowest comparison rates is to use a rate comparison form click here to open form in new window. This type of form saves time by eliminating a different quote to each individual auto insurance company. Filling out one form will return quotes . It's definitely the quickest method.

A less efficient way to compare rate quotes is to take the time to go to the website for each individual company to complete a price quote. For sake of this example, let's assume you want to compare rates from , and . To find out each rate you need to spend time on each company's site and enter your information, which is why most consumers use the first method.

To view a list of companies in Pleasant Hills, click here.

Whichever method you choose, ensure you are comparing identical coverages and limits for every company. If each company quotes different deductibles it will be impossible to decipher which rate is best in Pleasant Hills.

Pennsylvania auto insurance quotes

You have some control over your rates

It's important that you understand the factors that go into determining auto insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

Listed below are some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

  • The more you drive the more you pay - The more miles you rack up on your car in a year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies price each vehicle's coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates than those used for commuting. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven.
  • Do you know your deductibles? - Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are colliding with a building, vandalism, and windstorm damage. The deductibles are how much you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be.
  • Traffic citations inflate rates - Your driving citation history has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Just one ticket can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Careful drivers receive lower rates than bad drivers. Drivers who have serious citations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to file a SR-22 with the DMV in their state in order to continue driving.
  • Lower rates with optional equipment - Choosing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart auto theft.
  • Older drivers save more - Teenage drivers in Pennsylvania are statistically proven to be more careless when behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Older insureds are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.
  • Performance makes a difference - The performance level of the car you own makes a significant difference in the rate you pay. The most favorable rates are generally reserved for low performance passenger cars, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.

Take advantage of discounts

Companies that sell car insurance do not advertise all their discounts very clearly, so the following is a list of some of the best known and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving. If you're not getting every credit possible, you're just leaving money on the table.

  • Life Insurance Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
  • Homeowners Discount - Owning a house in Pleasant Hills can save you money because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
  • Discount for Good Grades - Getting good grades can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last until age 25.
  • New Vehicle Savings - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can save up to 30% due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Payment Discounts - By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.
  • Early Signing - A few companies offer discounts for signing up before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
  • Multi-car Discount - Insuring more than one vehicle on one policy could earn a price break for each car.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don't apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won't be that lucky.

For a list of companies offering auto insurance discounts in Pennsylvania, click here.

Even more information can be read at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department website. Pennsylvania drivers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, report car insurance fraud, and file complaints about a company.

Other useful links include Auto Insurance 101 and this page where you can research Pleasant Hills insurance agents.

A tidy conclusion

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, make sure you don't reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, someone sacrificed full coverage and found out when filing a claim that the savings was not a smart move. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate.

The cheapest auto insurance is available on the web and also from your neighborhood Pleasant Hills agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some auto insurance companies may not provide online quoting and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

In this article, we covered a lot of ways to lower your auto insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with an unexpected company.