Comparing the Cheapest Takoma Park Car Insurance

Are you tired of trying to scrape together enough money each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as many other drivers in Maryland.

Big companies like GEICO and Progressive continually bombard you with fancy advertisements and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using these methods. Buying car insurance in Takoma Park is quite easy. Nevertheless, Maryland consumers do need to know the way insurance companies market on the web and take advantage of how the system works.

Save big with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance do not advertise all available discounts in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list both the well known and also the lesser-known car insurance savings.

Service Members Pay Less - Having a deployed family member can result in better rates.
Use Seat Belts - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
Employee of Federal Government - Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off depending on your company.
Discount for Life Insurance - Larger companies have better rates if you take out life insurance.
Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Keeping the miles down can qualify you for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Clubs and Organizations - Being a member of a civic or occupational organization could qualify you for a break when buying car insurance.
Theft Prevention Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10%.

It's important to understand that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way.

You have some control over your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates enables informed choices that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

Choose a safe vehicle and save - Vehicles with high crash test scores are cheaper to insure. Safe vehicles reduce injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders.
A lapse in coverage is a bad thing - Driving your car without having proper coverage is against the law and you will pay a penalty because you let your coverage have a gap. Not only will you pay more, getting caught without coverage may earn you a steep fine or even jail time.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Occupations such as doctors, architects and dentists tend to have the highest average rates due to job stress and long work days. Other professions such as farmers, historians and the unemployed receive lower rates.
Please use or commuting - The more you drive every year the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Most insurance companies charge to insure your cars determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use can get a lower rate than those used for commuting. Double check that your car insurance policy is rated on the correct driver usage, because it can save money.
Protect yourself with liability coverage - The liability section of your policy will protect you if you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It will provide legal defense coverage which can be incredibly expensive. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
More than one policy can earn a discount - The majority of companies will award you with lower prices to insureds who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can be anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. If you currently are using one company, it's still a good idea to compare other company rates to ensure the best deal. Consumers may find better rates by buying car insurance from a different company.
Your spouse saves you money - Being married actually saves money when buying car insurance. Having a spouse means you're more mature and responsible and statistics show drivers who are married are more cautious.
Performance level impacts rates - The make and model of the vehicle you are insuring makes a huge difference in the rate you pay. Lower performance four cylinder passenger cars generally receive the lowest base rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.

Car insurance ads bend the truth

21st Century, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads on TV and radio. All the companies say the same thing of big savings if you move to their company. How can each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies can use profiling for the driver that earns them a profit. An example of a profitable customer might be a mature driver, is a homeowner, and has great credit. Any driver who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who fall outside the requirements must pay more money which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. That's why insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings. This illustrates why drivers should get as many quotes as possible. You cannot predict the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Learn more today

More tips and info about car insurance is available at the Maryland Insurance Administration website. Visitors are able to find disaster information, find a variety of consumer forms, read industry bulletins, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Do the work, save more money

Low-cost car insurance is definitely available both online and also from your neighborhood Takoma Park agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When you buy insurance online, it's a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.