How to Know You're Wasting Money for Auto Insurance in Rupert

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me, you're not the only one. With so many companies to choose from, it can be impossible to locate the lowest price company.

It's important to compare prices every six months because prices are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best rates a couple years back a different company probably has better rates today. There is a lot of wrong information about auto insurance online, so I'm going to show you some great ways to find cheap auto insurance.

Take advantage of discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but discounts can save money and there are some available to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time of purchase, but some may not be applied and must be asked about prior to receiving the credit. If you don't get every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

  • Discount for Life Insurance - Some companies give a break if you buy life insurance from them.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Being a member of a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break on auto insurance.
  • Safety Course Discount - Taking a defensive driving course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.
  • Discount for Good Grades - Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last up until you turn 25.
  • Sign Online - Some insurance companies may give you up to $50 just for signing your application online.

Keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like you could get a free auto insurance policy, it just doesn't work that way. But any discount will help reduce your overall premium however.

West Virginia auto insurance quotes

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

  • Where do you drive? - The higher the mileage driven in a year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars based on their usage. Vehicles that are left in the garage get more affordable rates than those used for commuting. Verify your auto insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the correct usage for each vehicle.
  • Do you have enough liability coverage? - Your policy's liability coverage provides coverage if ever you are found liable for personal injury or accident damage. It will provide you with a defense in court up to the limits shown on your policy. This coverage is very inexpensive as compared to coverage for physical damage, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • Do you need those extra coverages? - There are quite a few extra coverages that you can buy when buying auto insurance. Things like roadside assistance, towing coverage and additional equipment coverage are examples of these. These coverages may sound good initially, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
  • Cautious drivers pay less - Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Drivers who don't get tickets get better rates than their less careful counterparts. Just one speeding ticket can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers who have dangerous citations such as DUI or reckless driving may need to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.
  • Marriage pays dividends - Getting married helps lower the price when buying auto insurance. It translates into being more mature and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.
  • Do you know your deductibles? - Physical damage coverage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims would be collision with another vehicle, collision with an animal, and windstorm damage. Your deductibles are how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The more expense you have to pay, the less your auto insurance will be.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Consumers in West Virginia get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings from the likes of GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to say the same thing that you can save if you change your coverage to them.

But how can every company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a desirable insured might be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no driving citations, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will get very good rates and most likely will save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don't qualify for this ideal profile will have to pay higher prices which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. That's the way insurance companies can advertise the way they do.

Because of the profiling, drivers should compare many company's rates. It's impossible to know which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More information can be read on the website for the West Virginia Insurance Commission found here. Visitors are able to file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, find out which companies have the most complaints, discover disciplinary actions, and file complaints about a company.

Also read more on Auto Insurance 101 and this page where you can research Rupert insurance agents.

Best coverage at the best price

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, don't be tempted to skimp on coverage in order 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 find the BEST coverage at the best price.

Affordable auto insurance is attainable both online as well as from independent agents in Rupert, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some auto insurance companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

We covered many ways to reduce auto insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the lowest priced auto insurance comes from some of the smallest insurance companies. Regional companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than their larger competitors like .