Lower Online Sanibel Auto Insurance Prices With These Techniques

If online auto insurance comparisons are new to you, you may be confused by the vast number of auto insurance companies competing for business in Sanibel.

If you have a current auto insurance policy or need new coverage, you will benefit by learning to shop for the lowest rates and possibly find even better coverage. This information will familiarize you with the most effective way to quote insurance. Florida vehicle owners just need to know the proper way to find the lowest price over the internet.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

The following are some of the items that factor into premiums.

What are your deductibles? - Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are required to spend before your auto insurance pays a claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, also known as collision and other-than-collision, insures against damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, and burglary. The more expense the insured has to pay upfront, the lower your rates will be.
Traffic violations increase rates - Only having one ticket may increase your cost by twenty percent. Drivers with clean records get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers with flagrant tickets such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to keep their license.
Men pay higher rates - Statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean men are WORSE drivers than women. Both sexes cause accidents at a similar rate, but the male of the species have costlier accidents. Men also tend to receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are the most expensive to insure and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
Car features impact rates - Owning a car with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can help prevent car theft.

Vehicle Insurance Comparison

There are multiple methods to shop for auto insurance, and some are more efficient than others. You can spend your afternoon talking about coverages with insurance companies in Sanibel, or you could use online quotes to get rates in a matter of minutes.

Most of the larger companies participate in a marketplace that enables customers to submit their information once, and at least one company returns a rated price for coverage. This saves time by eliminating quote requests to each individual auto insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

The one disadvantage to using this type of system is you cannot specify which providers you want pricing from. So if you prefer to choose from a list of companies to compare rates, we have a page of companies who write auto insurance in Florida. Click to view list.

It's your choice how you get your quotes, but be sure to compare exactly the same coverage information on every quote. If you use unequal deductibles or liability limits then you won't be able to make a fair comparison in Sanibel.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't list all available discounts in a way that's easy to find, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using. If you aren't receiving every discount you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

Homeowners Savings - Owning a home in Sanibel can help you save on auto insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home demonstrates responsibility.
Good Student - This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
Save over 55 - If you're over the age of 55, you may be able to get a discount up to 10%.
Drivers Ed for Students - Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll in driver's education if it's offered in school.
Military Discounts - Being on active duty in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
Federal Employees - Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off depending on your company.
Student in College - Kids in college living away from home attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may be able to be covered for less.
Passive Restraints - Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
No Claims - Good drivers with no accidents pay less when compared with accident-prone drivers.

Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don't profit that way.

To choose insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in Sanibel, click here to view.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Florida consumers can't ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance from companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies make an identical promise that you'll save big after switching your policy.

How can each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the right customer that makes them money. A good example of a profitable customer could possibly be between 25 and 40, a clean driving record, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A driver who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who don't measure up to the requirements must pay higher rates and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that kind of money. That is how companies can advertise the way they do. This illustrates why you need to get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Every situation is different.

Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether or not you would benefit from an agent's advice.

When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Florida?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?

If you're not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.

More detailed Florida auto insurance information can be read at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website. Florida consumers can report car insurance fraud, file complaints about a company, and learn about insurance regulations.

A tidy conclusion

Discount auto insurance can be bought online in addition to many Sanibel insurance agents, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. Some auto insurance companies do not provide online price quotes and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

In this article, we presented many tips how you can compare auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers could even find that the most savings is with some of the smallest insurance companies.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, someone dropped collision coverage and discovered at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.