Tightwads Guide to Saving on Westminster Auto Insurance

No one in their right mind likes having to buy auto insurance, in particular when they are paying too much.

Because you have many online and local companies to choose from, it is very difficult to locate the lowest cost insurer.

It's important to compare rates occasionally because prices are constantly changing. If you had the lowest price two years ago a different company probably has better rates today. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding auto insurance online but I'm going to show you some great ways to find cheap auto insurance.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but there could be available discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you get a quote, but a few must be specially asked for before you will receive the discount.

Accident Forgiveness - Some insurance companies allow you one accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
Bundle and Save - If you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
Federal Employees - Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.
Theft Prevention System - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
More Vehicles More Savings - Having multiple cars or trucks on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
Discount for New Cars - Buying coverage on a new vehicle is cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most only cut specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, auto insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will help reduce your premiums.

You have some control over your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

Men fork out a little more - Statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, don't assume that men are worse drivers. They both cause accidents in similar numbers, but the males cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. They also receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving.
Multi-policy discounts can save money - The majority of insurers will give a discount to customers who buy several policies from them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to compare other company rates to ensure the best deal.
More claims means more premium - Car insurance companies in Maryland award discounts to insureds who are claim-free. If you frequently file small claims, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Insurance coverage is designed for larger claims.
Lower deductibles cost more - Physical damage coverage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be collision with another vehicle, vandalism, and burglary. Deductibles for physical damage are how much you are required to spend out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The more you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that might point out whether or not you will benefit from professional help.

Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?

If you're not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive regularly use ads in print and on television. They all seem to make an identical promise about savings if you move to their company. But how can every company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a desirable insured could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, owns a home, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Drivers who don't measure up to this ideal profile will have to pay higher premiums and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully state the savings.

Because of the profiling, drivers should quote coverage with many companies. It's impossible to know which company will give you the biggest savings.

For more Maryland car insurance information

Additional information is located on the website for the Maryland Insurance Administration found here. Maryland consumers can learn about insurance regulations, read consumer alerts, download brochures, and report car insurance fraud.

Also read more on this site for Maryland auto insurance information and see this list of insurance agents in Westminster.

Affordable insurance is out there

Cheap auto insurance is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood Westminster agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

When buying insurance coverage, do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, an insured cut collision coverage and learned later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price.