Lower Online Virginia Beach Auto Insurance Prices With These Methods

If you've never shopped for auto insurance online, you may be overwhelmed by the hoards of auto insurance companies competing for business in Virginia Beach.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels enables informed choices that will entitle you to big savings.

Listed below are a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting prices.

Special features that cut premiums - Owning a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can help prevent your car from being stolen.
Poor credit can mean higher rates - Having a bad credit score is a huge factor in determining your rates. If your credit score is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by improving your rating. Drivers who have high credit ratings tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have poor credit.
What type of vehicle do you drive? - The type of car you are buying insurance for makes a huge difference in determining your rates. The cheapest insurance rates are generally reserved for economy passenger vehicles, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
Cautious drivers pay less - Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Just one moving violation can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. If you have serious violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find they need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.

Virginia Beach Auto Insurance Quote Comparison

There are several ways to shop for auto insurance, and some are easier and takes less work. You can spend your afternoon talking to insurance companies in Virginia Beach, or you can stay home and use online quotes for quick rates.

Most of the larger companies enroll in a system that allows shoppers to enter their coverage request one time, and each company provides a quote determined by their information. This eliminates the need for form submissions to each individual auto insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

The only drawback to comparing rates this way is you can't choose which providers to get quotes from. If you would rather choose specific insurance companies to compare prices, we put together a list of the cheapest auto insurance companies in Virginia. Click here for list of insurance companies in Virginia.

Whichever way you use, make absolute certain that you use apples-to-apples coverages and limits on every quote you get. If your comparisons have different deductibles you will not be able to determine which rate is truly the best in Virginia Beach.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but you can get discounts that you may not even be aware of. Certain discounts will be applied when you quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked about prior to getting the savings. If you don't get every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

Service Members Pay Less - Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.
Anti-lock Brake Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
Early Signing - Select companies give a discount for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.
Good Student - This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
Paperwork-free - A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy online.
Accident Forgiveness - Some insurance companies will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if your claims history is clear for a particular time prior to the accident.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

To choose insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Virginia, follow this link.

Is there truth in advertising?

Consumers in Virginia can't ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance by State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all say the same thing about savings if you switch to their company.

But how can every company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that makes them money. For example, a driver they prefer might be between the ages of 30 and 50, owns a home, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don't measure up to this ideal profile will be quoted a higher premium which usually ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

This emphasizes why you need to get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When buying adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Every insured's situation is different.

For example, these questions might point out whether or not you might need an agent's assistance.

Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Virginia?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It is quick, free and may give you better protection.

Additional information can be found on the Virginia Bureau of Insurance website. Click here for link. Visitors are able to view a list of available companies, find out industry alerts, and learn about specific coverages.

Other informative sites include this page for auto insurance prices in Virginia and this page of Virginia Beach insurance agents.

And the best car insurance company is...

Consumers switch companies for any number of reasons including unfair underwriting practices, policy cancellation, high prices or even poor customer service. Regardless of your reason, switching auto insurance companies is easier than you think.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, don't be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the savings was not a smart move. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

We covered many ways to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from a lesser-known regional company.