How to Know You're Throwing Money Away for Auto Insurance in Seminole

Are you sick and tired of paying out the nose each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other Florida drivers.

Drivers have multiple to pick from, and though it is a good thing to have a selection, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

It's important to compare prices before your policy renews since insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price two years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate one of the best ways to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Seminole is easy if you know what you're doing. Essentially every vehicle owner who is required by state law to have auto insurance will be able to cut their insurance bill. But Florida vehicle owners do need to know how big insurance companies compete online and apply this information to your search.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies do not advertise every available discount very clearly, so we took the time to find some of the best known and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings.

  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Vehicles with factory air bags may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
  • Resident Student - Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may be able to be covered for less.
  • New Vehicle Savings - Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
  • No Accidents - Claim-free drivers can save substantially compared to bad drivers.
  • E-sign - Certain companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
  • Low Mileage - Fewer annual miles can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Payment Method - If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
  • Homeowners Pay Less - Being a homeowner may trigger a auto insurance policy discount due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.

Consumers should know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like it's possible to get free car insurance, companies don't profit that way.

To see a list of providers who offer auto insurance discounts in Florida, follow this link.

Florida auto insurance

How to Compare Seminole Auto Insurance Rates

Effectively comparing auto insurance prices is a ton of work if you aren't aware of the best way to get rate quotes. You can waste a lot of time talking to local insurance agents in Seminole, or you can stay home and use the web to get prices fast.

Many insurance companies enroll in a system that enables customers to complete one form, and at least one company can provide price quotes. This eliminates the need for quote forms to each individual auto insurance company.

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

One minor caviat to getting quotes like this is that consumers can't choose which carriers you will receive quotes from. So if you prefer to pick specific providers to request quotes from, we have a page of the cheapest auto insurance companies in Florida. Click to view list.

Whichever way you use, ensure you're using identical coverage information for each comparison quote. If you are comparing unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be very difficult to determine the lowest rate in Seminole. Just a small difference in insurance coverages may cause a big price difference. And when price shopping your coverage, obtaining a wide range of quotes helps you find the best offered rates.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that help determine auto insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

  • Poor credit can mean higher rates - Your credit history is a huge factor in your rate calculation. Therefore, if your credit is not that good, you could pay less to insure your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers who have high credit ratings tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims as compared to drivers with lower credit scores.
  • Your auto insurance rates can be influenced by your job - Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Occupations like lawyers, architects and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates in part from stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. Conversely, jobs such as farmers, engineers and performers receive lower rates.
  • Mature drivers pay less - Teenage drivers in Florida are known to be less responsible in a vehicle so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Mature drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel.
  • Lower miles equals lower premium - Driving more miles every year the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies price each vehicle's coverage based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles left parked in the garage qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Make sure your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage.
  • Marriage pays dividends - Having a spouse can get you a discount when buying auto insurance. Marriage means you're more mature than a single person it has been statistically shown that drivers who are married are more cautious.
  • Optional equipment can affect rates - Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder your car from being stolen.
  • An active claims history can cost you - Insurance companies in Florida provide lower rates to people who are claim-free. If you frequently file small claims, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • Your location is important - Being located in a rural area has it's advantages when buying auto insurance. City drivers have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Lower population translates into fewer accidents.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Companies like State Farm and Allstate continually stream ads in print and on television. All the ads say the same thing that you'll save big after switching to their company. How does each company say the same thing? This is how they do it.

All companies can use profiling for the driver that is profitable for them. For example, a preferred risk might be profiled as between 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and chooses high deductibles. A propective insured who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and therefore will save when switching.

Consumers who don't measure up to these standards will be charged higher prices which usually ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say "drivers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That's why companies can state the savings. That is why drivers must compare many company's rates. It's not possible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Do the work, save more money

Throughout this article, we presented many ways to compare auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the best prices are with a smaller regional carrier. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates as compared to the big name companies such as .

When buying insurance coverage, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced physical damage coverage only to discover later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your goal should be to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

More detailed Florida auto insurance information can be found at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website. Florida drivers can find out industry alerts, read industry bulletins, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Additional helpful sites include NAIC.org's Understanding your Policy and this directory of Seminole insurance agents.