How to Get the Cheapest Sweet Water Auto Insurance

Are you intimidated by the crazy number of auto insurance options in Sweet Water? Many other drivers are as well. There are so many options available that it can turn into a lot of work to find lower rates.

It's important to check auto insurance prices every six months since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best price a couple years back the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you're about to find out the tricks you need to know to buy cheaper auto insurance.

How much can you save with discounts?

Car insurance can cost a lot, but there are discounts available to reduce the price significantly. Some trigger automatically when you purchase, but a few need to be asked about before being credited.

Discount for Good Grades - A discount for being a good student can earn a discount of 20% or more. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
Multiple Vehicles - Buying insurance for multiple vehicles on the same auto insurance policy qualifies for this discount.
New Vehicle Savings - Insuring a new car can be considerably cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Drivers Ed for Students - Have your child take driver's ed class if it's offered in school.
Military Rewards - Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.

It's important to note that some credits don't apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So even though it sounds like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you're out of luck. But any discount will reduce the amount you have to pay.

To see a list of providers who offer auto insurance discounts in Sweet Water, click here.

Compare Quotes for Sweet Water Auto Insurance

There are several ways to compare auto insurance prices but there is one way that is more efficient than others. You can waste a lot of time talking to insurance companies in Sweet Water, or you can stay home and use online quotes to get rates in a matter of minutes.

Many insurance companies participate in an industry program that allows shoppers to send in one quote, and at least one company can provide price quotes for coverage. This prevents consumers from doing quote forms for each company you want a rate for.

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

The one downside to getting quotes like this is you cannot specify which carriers you will receive quotes from. If you prefer to choose from a list of companies to compare rates, we have assembled a list of the cheapest auto insurance companies in Alabama. Click to view list.

Whichever method you choose, ensure you are comparing exactly the same information for each comparison quote. If you use higher or lower deductibles you will not be able to determine the lowest rate in Sweet Water. Slightly different limits can make a big difference in price. Just remember that quoting more will increase your chances of finding the best price.

What determines how much you pay?

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that help determine auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" companies use to determine your rates.

Traffic citations inflate rates - Your driving record has a huge affect on how much you pay. Even a single moving violation can increase rates twenty percent or more. Good drivers tend to pay less for car insurance compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who get flagrant violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.
Do you know your deductibles? - Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Examples of covered claims are running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, or theft. The deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend before your auto insurance pays a claim. The higher the amount you're willing to pay, the less your auto insurance will be.
Drive less and save money - Driving more miles in a year the higher your rates will be. Most companies price each vehicle's coverage based on their usage. Cars used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your auto insurance coverage is rated on the proper vehicle usage.
Keep rates low by being claim-free - Insurance companies in Alabama generally give cheaper rates to drivers who file claims infrequently. If you file claims often, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance - Vehicles with high crash test scores get lower rates. Safer cars result in less severe injuries and better occupant protection means lower claim amounts and more competitive rates for policyholders.
One company can mean more discounts - Many insurance companies give discounts to people who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to 10 percent or more. Even with this discount, it's in your best interest to compare rates to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still find a better deal by splitting coverages up.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate continually stream television and radio advertisements. All the ads have a common claim that you can save after switching to them. How can each company say the same thing? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For example, a preferred risk might be profiled as between 25 and 40, has no driving citations, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Consumers who don't meet the requirements will be charged higher prices and this can result in business not being written. The ads state "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That's the way insurance companies can advertise the way they do.

That is why drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. It's not possible to predict which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

In this article, we covered a lot of ways to compare auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the most savings is with a lesser-known regional company.

Lower-priced auto insurance can be purchased on the web and with local Sweet Water insurance agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some auto insurance companies do not offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your goal should be to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

Learn more about Alabama auto insurance

More information can be found on the Alabama Department of Insurance website. Click here for link. Alabama drivers can file complaints about a company, report car insurance fraud, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.