Easy Methods to Cut Costs on Redmond Auto Insurance

If price shopping auto insurance online is new to you, you can be overwhelmed by the vast number of auto insurance companies competing for business in Redmond.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to big savings.

Save money with special equipment - Owning a car with an alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can help prevent car theft.
Poor credit can mean higher rates - Having a bad credit score is a important factor in determining your rates. If your credit history is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers who have high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than those with poor credit.
Careful drivers pay lower rates - Even one citation can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Careful drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. If you have serious violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find they need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
Teen drivers pay high rates - Teen drivers in Washington are statistically proven to be careless and easily distracted behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Adding a teen driver to your auto insurance policy can be quite pricey. Older drivers are more cautious drivers, file fewer claims and are safer drivers.

Redmond Auto Insurance Quote Comparison

Reducing your insurance rates doesn't have to be difficult. Consumers just need to take the time to compare quotes online from several insurance companies. This can be done in several different ways.

The fastest way to compare a lot of rates at once is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This easy form saves time by eliminating repetitive form entry to each individual auto insurance company. A single form will return quotes direct from many companies. Recommended for those who want to invest the least amount of time.
A more difficult way to shop for auto insurance online is to take the time to go to the website of each company to complete a price quote. For example, we'll pretend you want to compare , and . To find out each rate you need to visit each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Redmond, click here.

It's up to you which method you use, but make absolute certain that you use identical coverages and limits with each company. If you have different deductibles it's not possible to make an equal comparison in Redmond.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but you can get discounts that you may not even be aware of. Some discounts apply automatically at the time of quoting, but a few must be manually applied before you will receive the discount. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

Service Members Pay Less - Being on active duty in the military could mean lower rates.
Anti-lock Brake System - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
Good Student - This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.
Save over 55 - If you're over the age of 55, you may qualify for better auto insurance rates.
Multi-car Discount - Buying insurance for more than one vehicle with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. Even though it may seem like all those discounts means the company will pay you, it just doesn't work that way. But any discount will bring down the amount you have to pay.

To choose insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Washington, click here to view.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Washington consumers can't ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance by State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all make an identical promise that you can save if you switch to their company.

How does each company make almost identical claims?

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that makes them money. For instance, a driver they prefer could possibly be over the age of 50, owns a home, and has a short commute. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential insureds who don't qualify for these standards will be quoted more money and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That is how insurance companies can make the claims of big savings.

This emphasizes why you need to get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know which company will fit your personal profile best.

Insurance agents can help

When buying the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a cookie cutter policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

For example, these questions might point out whether your personal situation may require specific advice.

Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Washington?
Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?

If you're not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, complete this form. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

More information is located on the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website located here. Washington consumers can view a list of available companies, find out industry alerts, and file complaints about a company.

In the end, you save

People switch companies for a number of reasons such as unfair underwriting practices, policy cancellation, poor customer service or even not issuing a premium refund. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.

As you shop your coverage around, it's very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where an insured cut collision coverage and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

You just read some good ideas how you can compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the biggest savings come from the least-expected company.