How to Know You're Spending Too Much for Auto Insurance in Star City

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can empty your checking account, especially in this economy. Comparing price quotes is free and is an excellent way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket. Big companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive increase brand awareness with ads and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to price shop coverage yearly because prices are constantly changing. Just because you had the best price last year there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you're about to find out the proper way to find great coverage at a great price.

If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to shop for the lowest rates and possibly find even better coverage. Buying car insurance in Star City is quite easy. Arkansas drivers only need an understanding of the most effective way to get comparison quotes online.

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

Careful drivers pay lower rates - Even a single moving violation may increase your cost forty percent or more. Drivers with clean records receive lower rates than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may be required to file a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
More people means more accidents - Residing in a rural area has it's advantages when insuring your vehicles. Fewer drivers means reduced accidents. City drivers regularly have congested traffic and a longer drive to work. Higher commute times means more change of being in an accident.
Better credit scores mean better rates - Your credit score is a large factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. So if your credit history is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by improving your credit score. Consumers who have excellent credit tend to be less risk to insure than drivers with poor credit.
Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates - Purchasing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all aid in stopping your vehicle from being stolen.
Protect yourself with liability coverage - Liability insurance is the protection in the event that a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It will provide for a legal defense starting from day one. Liability is cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.

Compare Auto Insurance Today

Reducing your insurance rates can be surprisingly simple. Just take the time to get quotes from different insurance companies. It is quite easy and can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

The fastest way consumers can make multiple comparisons is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This form eliminates the need for separate quotation requests for every auto insurance company. A single, simple form will return quotes from auto insurance companies with the best prices.
A more difficult way to compare rate quotes is to take the time to go to each company website and request a quote. For instance, we'll pretend you want comparison quotes from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website and enter your information, which is why most consumers use the first method. To view a list of companies in Star City, click here.
The hardest way to compare rates is driving to local insurance agencies. The ability to buy insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you prefer the professional guidance of a local agent. Drivers can find lower rates online and still use a local agent. We'll cover that shortly.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just make sure you use exactly the same coverages and limits with every price quote. If your comparisons have different deductibles it will be next to impossible to find the best deal in Star City.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, buy you may qualify for discounts that you may not even be aware of. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time you complete a quote, but a few need to be asked for prior to getting the savings. If you aren't receiving every discount you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

Good Student Discount - This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
Multi-policy Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
Air Bag Discount - Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
Payment Discounts - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
Organization Discounts - Participating in a civic or occupational organization could trigger savings on your policy.
Discount for New Cars - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
Low Mileage - Driving fewer miles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.

It's important to understand that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, it doesn't quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will reduce your overall premium however.

To choose providers offering auto insurance discounts in Star City, click this link.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Arkansas consumers can't ignore all the ads for car insurance savings from companies such as State Farm and Allstate. All the ads make the same claim of big savings if you switch your policy.

How can each company make almost identical claims?

All companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that makes them money. For example, a preferred risk could possibly be a mature driver, has no prior claims, and drives newer vehicles. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters receives the best rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don't qualify for the requirements will be charged a more expensive rate which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "people who switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can confidently claim big savings.

That is why you need to get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

How to know if you need help

When buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Each situation is unique so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions can help discover whether your personal situation would benefit from professional advice.

Should I buy only the required Arkansas minimum liability coverage?
What are the best liability limits?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
Am I getting all the discounts available?
Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Additional auto insurance information can be found on the website for the Arkansas Insurance Department through this link. Arkansas consumers can file complaints about a company, view agent and company licensing information, find out industry alerts, and view a list of available companies.

And the best car insurance company is...

You just read some good ideas how to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the best price on auto insurance is with a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising. These smaller insurers can often provide lower rates in certain areas than their larger competitors like .

When trying to cut insurance costs, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your goal should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.