Best Way to Find Low-Cost Smithfield Car Insurance

Price shopping your Smithfield car insurance is hard for consumers new to shopping for insurance online. People have so many companies to choose from that it can easily become a challenge to compare prices in Smithfield.

It's important to compare prices once or twice a year due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best price a year ago a different company probably has better rates today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because you're about to learn the tricks you need to know to buy cheaper car insurance.

These discounts can lower your rates

Car insurance is not cheap, but you can get discounts to reduce the price significantly. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but less common discounts must be specifically requested before you get the savings. If you don't get every credit available, you are throwing money away.

Theft Prevention System - Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Payment Method - If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
Multi-policy Discount - If you have multiple policies with one insurance company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.
Anti-lock Brake Discount - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Resident Student - Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.

Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So even though it sounds like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn't work that way. But any discount will help reduce the cost of coverage.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that help determine the rates you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates enables informed choices that can help you get big savings.

How many coverages with the same company - Many companies give discounts to insureds who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, it's in your best interest to compare other company rates to ensure the best deal. You may still find better rates by splitting coverages up.
Lower rates with optional equipment - Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder your car from being stolen.
Where you live - Being located in less populated areas has it's advantages when talking about car insurance. City drivers tend to have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Lower population translates into fewer accidents.
Older drivers pay less - Youthful drivers in Utah are known to be less responsible in a vehicle so car insurance rates are higher. Mature drivers tend to be more responsible, file fewer claims and get fewer tickets.
No coverage gaps is important - Letting your insurance expire will be a guaranteed way to pay more for car insurance. And not only will your rates increase, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance might get you a steep fine or even jail time.You may have to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the Utah DMV.
Bad driving skills means higher rates - Your driving record has a big impact on rates. Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance compared to drivers with tickets. Just one speeding ticket can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Drivers who get flagrant violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
Do men or women drive better? - The statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. They both are in accidents in similar percentages, but men have costlier accidents. Men also get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving. Young males tend to get in the most accidents and therefore are the most expensive to insure.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Consumers in Utah get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance by Allstate and Progressive. All the ads say the same thing that you can save after switching to their company.

But how can every company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

All the different companies can use profiling for the driver that earns them a profit. For example, a preferred risk might be between 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has excellent credit. Any driver who fits that profile will get very good rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Drivers who are not a match for this ideal profile will be charged a higher premium which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say "drivers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That's why insurance companies can make those claims.

That is why drivers should quote coverage with many companies. You cannot predict the company that will have the lowest rates.

More Utah car insurance information

More information can be found on the Utah Insurance Department website. Click here for link. Visitors are able to read consumer alerts, view a list of available companies, and view agent and company licensing information.

Also read more on BankRate.com's Car Insurance: When not to Skimp and this Smithfield agent directory.

And the best car insurance company is...

While you're price shopping online, do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, an insured dropped physical damage coverage only to discover later they didn't purchase enough coverage. The aim is to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

Consumers change insurance companies for any number of reasons including policy non-renewal, unfair underwriting practices, policy cancellation and even an unsatisfactory settlement offer. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, switching car insurance companies is less work than it seems.

Affordable car insurance can be purchased both online and also from your neighborhood Smithfield agents, so compare prices from both to have the best selection. Some companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.