Tightwads Guide for Saving on Tuscaloosa Car Insurance

No one in their right mind looks forward to paying for car insurance, particularly when the cost is way too high.

Big companies like GEICO and Progressive continually hit you with advertising and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

It's important to compare rates periodically since rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the best price a few years ago you may be paying too much now. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because you're about to find out the proper way to reduce your cost while improving coverage.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. Buying car insurance in Tuscaloosa is quite easy. Nevertheless, Alabama consumers do need to know the way insurance companies sell insurance online and apply this information to your search.

Tuscaloosa Car Insurance Comparisons

There are several ways to get quotes from different Tuscaloosa insurance companies. The recommended way to find competitive insurance rates consists of obtaining rate quotes online. This can be accomplished in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The first (and easiest) way to find the lowest comparison rates is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This form eliminates the need for repetitive form entry to each individual car insurance company. Just one form will return quotes direct from many companies.

A more time consuming way to get quotes online is to take the time to go to each company's website and fill out their own quote form. For instance, we'll pretend you want to compare , and . To find out each rate you need to go to every website and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular.

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

The hardest method to compare rates is driving to insurance agents' offices. Buying insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you require the professional guidance only provided by licensed agents. Drivers can compare the best prices online and still use a local agent and we'll cover that in a bit.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just be sure to compare exactly the same coverages and limits for every quote you compare. If you are comparing different deductibles it's impossible to determine the best price in Tuscaloosa. Having just a slight variation in coverage limits may result in a large different in cost. Keep in mind that getting more free quotes will improve the odds of getting a lower rate.

You have some control over your rates

It's important that you understand the rating factors that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

Listed below are a few of the "ingredients" car insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Older drivers save more - Older drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and receive fewer citations. Youthful drivers are statistically proven to get distracted easily behind the wheel and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher.
Performance level impacts rates - The type of car you own makes a huge difference in the rate you pay. Low performance passenger cars usually have the lowest rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
How credit affects car insurance rates - Credit score is a important factor in determining your rates. So if your credit score is lower than you'd like, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your credit score. Drivers who have high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers with poor credit.
More claims means more premium - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can look forward to higher rates. Car insurance companies in Alabama give cheaper rates to policyholders who are claim-free. Insurance coverage is intended for larger claims.

Save big with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't necessarily list all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we took the time to find both the well known as well as the least known ways to save on car insurance.

Save with a New Car - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can save up to 30% due to better safety requirements for new cars.
Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for buying a policy before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
Passive Restraint Discount - Factory air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
Federal Employees - Simply working for the federal government may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.
Auto/Life Discount - Larger companies have better rates if you take out auto and life insurance together.
Drive Less and Save - Driving fewer miles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
Good Student - Getting good grades can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.

It's important to understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it doesn't quite work that way.

For a list of companies offering car insurance discounts in Tuscaloosa, click this link.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a "best" method to buy coverage. Everyone's situation is a little different so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions may help highlight if your situation would benefit from professional advice.

Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

More tips and info about car insurance can be found at the Alabama Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read enforcement actions against agents and companies, learn about specific coverages, find out industry alerts, and download brochures.

Do the work, save more money

As you shop your coverage around, it's a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where someone dropped physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford.

We just covered some good ideas how to lower your car insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the best price on car insurance is with some of the lesser-known companies. Smaller companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas than their larger competitors like .