Tightwads Guide for Saving on Plymouth Auto Insurance

Are you tired of paying out the nose each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as many other California drivers.

Companies like GEICO and Progressive all claim big savings with TV and radio ads and it can be hard to sift through the bull and find the best price available.

It's important to compare prices before your policy renews since insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the best rates a couple years back you may be paying too much now. You'll find quite a bit of inaccurate information about auto insurance online, so we're going to give you some great ways to slash your auto insurance rates.

Cheap Plymouth Auto Insurance Comparisons

Comparing auto insurance rates can be a daunting task if you don't know the most efficient way. You could spend your day talking about coverages with insurance agencies in Plymouth, or you could use online quotes to get rate comparisons in just a few minutes.

All the larger companies belong to a marketplace that allows shoppers to complete one form, and every company can provide price quotes based on that data. This saves time by eliminating quote requests for each company you want a rate for. To submit your quote information now, click here (opens in new window).

The one disadvantage to using this type of form is buyers cannot specifically choose which companies you will receive quotes from. So if you prefer to pick individual companies to request quotes from, we have assembled a list of companies who write auto insurance in California. Click here for list of insurance companies in California.

It's your choice how you get your quotes, but ensure you're using exactly the same coverages and limits for every company. If you have different deductibles you can't possibly decipher which rate is best in Plymouth. Quoting even small variations in limits can result in a big premium difference. And when price shopping your coverage, comparing a large number of companies will improve the odds of getting a lower rate.

California auto insurance

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

It's important that you understand the different types of things that go into determining auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

  • Do you know you're credit rating? - Your credit score is a big factor in your rate calculation. If your credit is lower than you'd like, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your credit score. People with good credit tend to be more responsible than those with poor credit.
  • You might want pay the small claims yourself - Insurance companies in California award cheaper rates to drivers who do not file claims often. If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Car insurance is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • Your occupation can affect rates - Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Occupations like real estate brokers, business owners and dentists have the highest average rates due to high stress and long work hours. Other occupations like farmers, historians and homemakers get better rates.
  • Do you have enough liability coverage? - Liability insurance will protect you in the event that a jury decides you are liable for personal injury or accident damage. It provides you with a defense in court up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability is cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
  • Lower rates with optional equipment - Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all hinder car theft.
  • Do you need the policy add-ons? - There are many extra bells and whistles you can purchase if you aren't careful. Insurance for vanishing deductibles, better glass coverage and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. These coverages may sound good initially, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
  • Traffic citations inflate rates - Your driving record has a huge affect on how much you pay. Even a single ticket can bump up the cost by twenty percent. Drivers who don't get tickets get better rates than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations such as DUI or reckless driving may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to continue driving.
  • One company can mean more discounts - Most insurers give discounts to people who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can add up to five, ten or even twenty percent. Even with this discount, it's still a good idea to shop around to verify if the discount is saving money. You may still be able to find better rates by splitting coverages up.

How much can you save with discounts?

Car insurance can cost a lot, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not even be aware of. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at quote time, but some may not be applied and must be asked about in order for you to get them.

  • Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Simply working for the federal government can earn a discount up to 10% with certain companies.
  • Claim Free - Claim-free drivers pay less compared to frequent claim filers.
  • Club Memberships - Affiliation with a civic or occupational organization is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Require your teen driver to take driver's ed class in school.

Keep in mind that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So despite the fact that it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it just doesn't work that way. But any discount will reduce the amount you have to pay.

For a list of providers offering auto insurance discounts in Plymouth, click here to view.

More information can be read on the website for the California Department of Insurance found here. California drivers can find out industry alerts, download brochures, read industry bulletins, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Affordable insurance is out there

In this article, we covered many tips how you can lower your auto insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even find the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a small mutual company. Smaller companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost compared to the large companies like .

Affordable auto insurance is available on the web as well as from independent agents in Plymouth, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some auto insurance companies don't offer online quoting and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.