How to Know You're Throwing Money Away for Auto Insurance in West River

Are you sick and tired of being strong-armed each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as many other Maryland consumers.

Companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive promote their brand names with ad campaigns and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

It's important to shop coverage around once or twice a year because insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal two years ago you can probably find a better price now. So forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're about to learn the only way to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to save some money using this information. Finding affordable coverage in West River is easy if you know what you're doing. But Maryland drivers do need to know how the larger insurance companies price insurance differently and take advantage of how the system works.

Tips to Get Lower West River Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Do men or women drive better? - The statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Both sexes have accidents at about the same rate, but the males have costlier accidents. They also receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving. Teenage male drivers tend to get in the most accidents and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
  • Optional equipment can affect rates - Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention features such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all hinder car theft.
  • Drive less and save money - Driving more miles every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Almost all companies apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your auto insurance coverage is rated on the proper vehicle usage, because it can save money.
  • Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance - Vehicles with high crash test scores can get you lower premiums. These vehicles protect occupants better and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders.
  • Don't sacrifice liability coverage - Liability coverage will protect you if ever a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. It provides legal defense coverage which can be incredibly expensive. This coverage is very inexpensive when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not cut corners here.
  • Never allow your policy to lapse - Having an insurance coverage lapse will be a guaranteed way to increase your auto insurance rates. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage may earn you a revoked license or a big fine.
  • Low deductibles can be expensive - Insurance for physical damage to your car, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims could be running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, or theft. Deductibles for physical damage are how much you are required to spend before your auto insurance pays a claim. The more money you have to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance.

West River auto insurance comparison

How much can you save with discounts?

Companies don't always advertise all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list both well-publicized and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using.

  • Save over 55 - If you're over the age of 55, you may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
  • Payment Method - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you could save up to 5%.
  • Discount for New Cars - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course if it's offered in school.
  • Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles can qualify you for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
  • Organization Discounts - Participating in a civic or occupational organization is a good way to get lower rates on auto insurance.
  • Lower Rates for Military - Being on active duty in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
  • Seat Belts Save - Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could save 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
  • Claim Free - Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts as compared to accident-prone drivers.
  • Multiple Vehicles - Buying insurance for multiple vehicles with the same company qualifies for this discount.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way.

To choose companies who offer auto insurance discounts in West River, click here to view.

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

Auto insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all seem to make an identical promise that you'll save big after switching your coverage to them. How can each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies can use profiling for the type of customer that makes them money. An example of a desirable insured could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no tickets, and chooses high deductibles. A driver who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Consumers who don't meet the requirements will have to pay higher prices and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. That's why companies can state the savings. Because of the profiling, you should compare many company's rates. It is impossible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

More Maryland auto insurance information

More detailed Maryland auto insurance information is available at the Maryland Insurance Administration website. Maryland consumers can learn about insurance regulations, view a list of available companies, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and find disaster information.

compare West River auto insurance rates

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

When buying insurance coverage, it's not a good idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are many occasions where an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price.

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be purchased online as well as from independent agents in West River, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies don't offer online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.