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

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can overdraw your personal savings and force you to make sacrifices. Comparing price quotes is a great way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.

You have so many to pick from, and even though it's nice to have a choice, lots of choices makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to shop coverage around quite often because insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best price a few years ago you may be paying too much now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate one of the easiest ways to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.

Buying car insurance in Timberville is quite easy. If you have car insurance now, you will be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. Nevertheless, Virginia drivers do need to know how companies determine prices and apply this information to your search.

Low Cost Timberville Auto Insurance

There are several ways of comparing rate quotes from local Timberville auto insurance companies. The recommended way to find competitive insurance rates consists of obtaining rate quotes online. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

The first (and easiest) way to find low rates is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This type of form prevents you from having to do separate quotes for every auto insurance company. One form will return price quotes instantly.

A less efficient way to get quotes online consists of visiting each individual company website to request a price quote. For examples sake, we'll assume you want comparison quotes from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to take the time to go to each site to enter your coverage information, and that's why the first method is more popular.

To view a list of companies in Timberville, click here.

Whichever method you choose, make darn sure you compare identical deductibles and coverage limits for each price quote. If the quotes have different values for each quote it will be very difficult to truly determine the lowest rate in Timberville. Slightly different coverage limits may result in large price differences. And when comparison shopping, comparing more company's prices helps you find better pricing.

Tips to Get Lower Timberville Rates

It's important that you understand the factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes a few of the "ingredients" used by your company to calculate rates.

Having a spouse can save you money - Having a spouse actually saves money on auto insurance. It translates into being more mature and responsible it has been statistically shown that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Sex matters - Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that women are BETTER drivers than men. Women and men tend to get into accidents in similar percentages, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving.
Theft deterrents lower rates - Purchasing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft devices like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all aid in stopping auto theft.
Lower miles equals lower premium - The more you drive in a year's time the more you will pay for auto insurance. Almost all companies apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars left parked in the garage qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Make sure your auto insurance policy shows the correct driver usage.
Drive a safer car and pay less - Cars with high safety ratings get lower rates. These vehicles protect occupants better and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies and thus lower rates.

Save big with these discounts

Companies don't always list all their discounts very clearly, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving.

Sign Online - Certain companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks simply for signing over the internet.
Save over 55 - Older drivers can possibly qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
Life Insurance Discount - Larger companies have a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Drive Less and Save - Keeping the miles down can earn a substantially lower rate.
Club Memberships - Participating in a qualifying organization may earn a discount on auto insurance.
Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Factory air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.

It's important to understand that some credits don't apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way.

For a list of companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Virginia, click here.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Everyone's situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions may help you determine if your situation would benefit from an agent's advice.

Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
Am I getting all the discounts available?
Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?

If you can't answer these questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

More tips and info about auto insurance can be found at the Virginia Bureau of Insurance website. Virginia consumers can get help finding coverage, learn about insurance regulations, view a list of available companies, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Other useful links include this site for Virginia auto insurance information and see this list of insurance agents in Timberville.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

Low-cost auto insurance is possible online as well as from independent agents in Timberville, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies don't offer online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

When shopping online for auto insurance, make sure you don't reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, drivers have reduced physical damage coverage only to discover later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price.