Easy Methods to Pay Less on Purvis Car Insurance

If you've never shopped for car insurance online, you may be overwhelmed by the hoards of car insurance companies all offering big savings in Purvis.

It's important to compare rates periodically due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best deal a few years ago a different company probably has better rates today. Starting now, forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because I'm going to teach you the only way to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but there could be available discounts to help offset the cost. Some discounts apply automatically when you purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be manually applied before being credited. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

  • Accident Forgiveness - Certain companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
  • Passive Restraint Discount - Factory air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.
  • Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
  • Sign Online - Certain companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy over the internet.
  • College Student - Youth drivers who live away from home without a vehicle on campus can receive lower rates.
  • Bundle and Save - If you have multiple policies with one company you may earn up to 20% off your total premium.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though it sounds like you can get free auto insurance, car insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will bring down the amount you have to pay.

You have some control over your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with lower car insurance prices.

  • Sex matters - Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that men are worse drivers. Women and men have accidents at about the same rate, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also get more serious tickets like DUI and reckless driving.
  • How credit affects car insurance rates - Credit rating is a important factor in determining your rates. Drivers who have good credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have poor credit. If your credit score can use some improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit.
  • Optional equipment can affect rates - Owning a car with an alarm system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can help prevent auto theft.
  • Being married is a good thing - Being married actually saves money on car insurance. It means you're more responsible and it's proven that married couples file fewer claims.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a perfect coverage plan. Everyone's needs are different.

For example, these questions may help highlight whether or not you may require specific advice.

  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
  • What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
  • Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
  • Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
  • What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?

If you can't answer these questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and can help protect your family.

Is there truth in advertising?

Consumers in Mississippi get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance by State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to have a common claim about savings if you move to their company.

How does each company claim to save you money?

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that earns them a profit. An example of a desirable insured might be over the age of 50, a clean driving record, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any driver that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Consumers who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay higher prices and this can result in the customer not buying. The ads state "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

Because of the profiling, drivers should get quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional information is available on the Mississippi Insurance Department website located here. Visitors are able to learn about insurance regulations, find out industry alerts, and view a list of available companies.

Mississippi car insurance

Best coverage at the best price

Cheap car insurance is possible both online and also from your neighborhood Purvis agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some car insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

We just presented a lot of techniques to reduce car insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your comparison will be. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from a small local company.

Drivers who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as denial of a claim, poor customer service, unfair underwriting practices and even an unsatisfactory settlement offer. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new insurance company is less work than it seems.