Compare South Charleston Auto Insurance Prices With These Tricks

Are you overwhelmed by the number of auto insurance options in South Charleston? You're not the only one! Drivers have so many options that it can turn into a big hassle to find lower rates.

It's important to get comparison quotes at least once a year because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal six months ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So just block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the proper way to save on auto insurance.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

Cautious drivers pay less - Your driving record impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Drivers with clean records get better rates than bad drivers. Even one moving violation may increase your cost forty percent or more. Drivers who get serious violations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
Do you need those extra coverages? - There are many extra coverages you can purchase when buying auto insurance. Coverages like vanishing deductibles, better glass coverage and membership fees may be costing you every month. These may sound like a good investment initially, but your needs may have changed so get rid of them and save.
Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? - Most insurers give discounts to insureds who have multiple policies with them. It's known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can be five, ten or even twenty percent. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still be able to find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
Adjust deductibles and save - Physical damage insurance, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered would be collision with another vehicle, collision with an animal, or theft. Deductibles for physical damage are the amount of money you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. The more money the insured has to pay upfront, the less your auto insurance will be.
Your job and insurance rates - Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for auto insurance? Occupations like doctors, business owners and accountants are shown to have higher rates than average due to high stress levels and long work hours. On the flip side, occupations like actors, athletes and homemakers pay the least.
Teen drivers pay high rates - Older insureds tend to be more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers. Youthful drivers are statistically proven to be more careless when behind the wheel therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
Where do you drive? - The more miles you rack up on your car in a year the higher your rates will be. The majority of insurers charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks that are left in the garage can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. Verify your auto insurance policy is showing how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.

Compare the Market for Auto Insurance in South Charleston

Comparing auto insurance rates can take time and effort if you don't understand the most efficient way to do it. You can spend your afternoon driving to insurance agencies in South Charleston, or you could use the internet to get pricing more quickly.

Most of the larger companies participate in a marketplace that allows shoppers to submit one quote, and each company can provide price quotes for coverage. This saves time by eliminating repetitive form submissions to each individual auto insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

The only downside to pricing coverage this way is you are unable to specify which providers you will receive quotes from. So if you want to select individual companies to compare, we put together a list of companies who write auto insurance in West Virginia. Click here for list of insurance companies in West Virginia.

It's up to you which method you use, but compare the exact same coverage limits and deductibles with every price quote. If you use different liability limits then you won't be able to find the best deal in South Charleston. Quoting even small variations in coverages could mean much higher rates. Just keep in mind that having more price comparisons will increase your chances of finding the best rates.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Car insurance companies don't always list every available discount in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list both the well known and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.

Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can get savings of 20% or more.
Defensive Driver - Taking a defensive driving course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
Anti-theft System - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
Low Mileage - Driving fewer miles can qualify you for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Homeowners Discount - Being a homeowner can help you save on auto insurance because owning a home requires personal responsibility.
Seat Belts Save - Drivers who require all occupants to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So even though it sounds like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

To choose providers offering auto insurance discounts in South Charleston, click here to view.

Is there truth in advertising?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. All the ads make an identical promise about savings if you switch your policy. How do they all claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that makes them money. An example of a preferred risk might be a mature driver, has no tickets, and has a high credit rating. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile will be charged a more expensive rate and ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. That's the way companies can truthfully state the savings. That is why you need to compare as many rates as you can. It's impossible to know which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates.

Even more information is available at the West Virginia Insurance Commission website. Visitors are able to file complaints about a company, discover disciplinary actions, and read consumer alerts.

Shop smart and save

We covered some good ideas how you can compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the better your comparison will be. Drivers may discover the best price on auto insurance is with some of the smallest insurance companies.

Cheap auto insurance can be found both online in addition to many South Charleston insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance companies do not provide online price quotes and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you restructure your insurance plan, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where an insured dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that they should have had better coverage. Your goal should be to buy enough coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.