Free Guide to Paying Less for York Auto Insurance Online

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can dwindle your personal savings and put the squeeze on your family's finances. Comparing price quotes is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.

You have so many to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, lots of choices makes it harder to compare rates.

Finding affordable coverage in York is quite easy. If you currently have car insurance, you will most likely be able to cut costs considerably using this information. Nevertheless, Alabama drivers do need to know the way insurance companies sell online because it can help you find the best coverage.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies don't always list all available discounts very clearly, so we researched both well-publicized and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using.

  • Multiple Cars - Buying insurance for all your vehicles on one policy qualifies for this discount.
  • Life Insurance - Larger companies have a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
  • Save over 55 - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive a discount up to 10%.
  • Drivers Education - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver's education if offered at their school.
  • Seat Belts Save - Requiring all passengers to use their safety belts can save 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
  • Pay Now and Pay Less - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Participating in a qualifying organization is a good way to get lower rates when buying auto insurance.

It's important to understand that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think you could get a free auto insurance policy, it doesn't quite work that way.

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that could result in better auto insurance rates.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces that factor into premiums.

  • Higher deductibles cost less - Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. Physical damage insurance, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be colliding with a building, damage from fire, and burglary. The more the insured has to pay upfront, the bigger discount you will receive.
  • Lower miles equals lower premium - The higher the mileage driven in a year's time the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. The majority of insurers apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks that are left in the garage receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Verify your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle, because improper ratings can cost you money.
  • Older drivers pay less - Teen drivers in Alabama have a tendency to get distracted easily when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Parents adding a teen driver onto your auto insurance can really hurt. More mature drivers are more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers.
  • Small claims can cost you - Auto insurance companies in Alabama award lower rates to policyholders who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Car insurance is designed for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
  • Never let your coverage lapse - Not having insurance is a misdemeanor and you will pay a penalty because you let your coverage lapse. Not only will rates go up, but not being able to provide proof of insurance can result in a revoked license or a big fine.You may then be required to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with the Alabama motor vehicle department.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a cookie cutter policy. Everyone's situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions can help discover whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

  • Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
  • What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
  • Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
  • Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
  • Am I getting all the discounts available?
  • Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
  • Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?

If you're not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Is there truth in advertising?

Allstate, GEICO and Progressive consistently run television and radio advertisements. All the companies make an identical promise of big savings if you change your policy. How does each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a profitable customer could possibly be a mature driver, has no prior claims, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to these standards must pay more money and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. This illustrates why drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the Alabama Department of Insurance website. Alabama consumers can report car insurance fraud, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and download brochures.

Alabama auto insurance quotes

Affordable insurance is out there

Low-cost auto insurance can be sourced online in addition to many York insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits only to discover later that the savings was not a smart move. Your focus should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.