8 Methods to Save on Car Insurance in Scotland

Paying for high-priced car insurance can dwindle your savings account and put a big crunch on your finances. Comparison shopping is a great way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.

Insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive persitently shower you with advertising and it is difficult to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to shop coverage around quite often since rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. There is a lot of bad advice regarding car insurance online, so I'm going to show you some great ways to reduce your car insurance bill.

How to Buy Scotland Car Insurance Online

There are several ways to compare rate quotes from local Scotland car insurance companies. One of the best ways to find competitive insurance rates is to perform an online rate comparison. This is very easy and can be done using a couple different methods.

The fastest way to find low rates is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This type of form saves time by eliminating repetitive form entry for every car insurance company. One form will get you rate comparisons direct from many companies.
A different way to compare rate quotes requires you to visit each company's website to complete a price quote. For instance, let's assume you want comparison quotes from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website and enter your policy data, which is why most consumers use the first method. To view a list of companies in Scotland, click here.

However you get your quotes, make darn sure you compare exactly the same coverage information with each company. If you are comparing unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be next to impossible to make an equal comparison in Scotland. Slightly different coverages may result in large price differences. And when comparison shopping, comparing more company's prices will increase your chances of finding the best offered rates.

Take advantage of discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts to cut the cost considerably. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of quoting, but some may not be applied and must be manually applied before you will receive the discount.

College Student - Youth drivers living away from home attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
55 and Retired - If you're over the age of 55, you may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
Anti-theft Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems help deter theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Lower Rates for Military - Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.
Claim Free - Drivers who don't have accidents pay less as compared to accident-prone drivers.
Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
Organization Discounts - Belonging to a civic or occupational organization may earn a discount on car insurance.
Driver Safety - Completing a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.

A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears it's possible to get free car insurance, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will reduce your overall premium however.

To choose companies who offer car insurance discounts in Scotland, click here.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Car insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm continually stream ads on TV and radio. They all seem to have a common claim about savings after switching your coverage to them. How can each company make the same claim?

All companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that makes them money. A good example of a desirable insured could be between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has a short commute. Any new insured that hits that "sweet spot" gets the lowest rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who don't qualify for the requirements will have to pay more money and this can result in business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "people who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings.

Because of the profiling, you need to get quotes from several different companies. It's just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

How to know if you need help

When buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a "perfect" insurance plan. Each situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions may help you determine whether your personal situation might need an agent's assistance.

Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Scotland?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?

If you can't answer these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Additional information can be read on the website for the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner through this link. Consumers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, learn about insurance regulations, read consumer alerts, and find disaster information.

Shop smart and save

As you shop your coverage around, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where drivers have reduced collision coverage and discovered at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate.

Cheaper car insurance can be bought from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Scotland, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers don't offer online price quotes and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.