St Albans Auto Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

If you're new to shopping for auto insurance online, it's easy to be confused by the sheer number of auto insurance companies all offering big savings in St Albans.

It's important to shop coverage around periodically because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal a few years ago you will most likely find a better rate today. So forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the proper way to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to save some money using this information. The purpose of this article is to familiarize you with how car insurance quotes work and some money-saving tips. Nevertheless, West Virginia drivers do need to know the way companies price insurance differently and take advantage of how the system works.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies offering auto insurance do not list all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list both well-publicized as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving.

  • Accident Forgiveness - A few companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims for a certain period of time.
  • Good Student - Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
  • Life Insurance Discount - Larger companies have lower rates if you buy life insurance from them.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Participating in certain professional organizations may earn a discount on auto insurance.
  • Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles can qualify you for a substantially lower rate.
  • Discount for New Cars - Putting insurance coverage on a new car is cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
  • Payment Method - By paying your policy upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save up to 5%.
  • Driver Safety - Taking a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more if you qualify.

Consumers should know that some credits don't apply to the entire policy premium. Most cut individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though it sounds like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don't profit that way.

Insurance agents can help

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no cookie cutter policy. Everyone's situation is a little different.

For example, these questions may help highlight whether your personal situation might need an agent's assistance.

  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Should I buy only the required West Virginia minimum liability coverage?
  • What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
  • Are rental cars covered under my policy?
  • Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
  • Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?

If you can't answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, simply complete this short form.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all seem to have a common claim of big savings after switching your coverage to them. How do they all make almost identical claims?

Different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that earns them a profit. An example of a desirable insured could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has a short commute. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Consumers who don't qualify for the "perfect" profile will have to pay higher rates and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. That is how insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings. Because of the profiling, you should get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know which company will fit your personal profile best.

More tips and info about auto insurance is available at the West Virginia Insurance Commission website. West Virginia consumers can learn about insurance regulations, file complaints about a company, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

West Virginia auto insurance

Final considerations

Cost effective auto insurance can be purchased online as well as from independent agents in St Albans, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

You just read a lot of ways to reduce auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your comparison will be. You may even discover the lowest rates come from some of the lesser-known companies.

As you shop your coverage around, never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In many cases, someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford.