Find Rock Solid Methods to Save on Tampa, FL Car Insurance

Shopping for low-cost Tampa car insurance quotes over the internet can be challenging for consumers not familiar with price shopping online. With so many choices of companies in the marketplace, how can Tampa drivers possibly compare every company to locate the best price?

How to Compare Car Insurance in Tampa, FL

Performing a rate comparison can take time and effort if you aren’t aware of the best way to get rate quotes. You can waste a few hours (or days) talking about coverages with insurance companies in Tampa, or you could use the web to quickly compare rates.

Many companies belong to a marketplace that enables customers to send in one quote, and at least one company can provide price quotes determined by their information. This system prevents you from having to do quotation requests for every car insurance company.

To compare rates using this form now click here to open in new window.

The one downside to using this type of form is you don’t know exactly which companies you will receive quotes from. So if you want to choose specific insurance companies to compare, we have assembled a list of low cost car insurance companies in Florida. View list of Florida insurance companies.

Whichever method you choose, compare exactly the same coverages and limits for each price quote. If the quotes have unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be very difficult to truly determine the lowest rate in Tampa.

Discounts are great for lower rates

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always advertise every discount in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of both well-publicized as well as the least known ways to save on car insurance. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you’re paying more than you need to.

• Save with a New Car – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
• Military Discounts – Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
• Pay Upfront and Save – If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save up to 5%.
• Homeowners Pay Less – Simply owning a home may earn you a small savings because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
• No Charge for an Accident – Certain companies will forgive one accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a set time period.
• Paperwork-free – Some insurance companies will give a small break simply for signing digitally online.
• Good Student Discount – This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
• Life Insurance Discount – Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy life insurance from them.
• Auto/Home Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you could get a discount of approximately 10% to 15%.
• Anti-lock Brake System – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.

Consumers should know that many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, you won’t be that lucky.

For a list of providers offering car insurance discounts in Tampa, follow this link.

Won’t my local insurance agent miss me?

Some consumers just want to get advice from a local agent and that is OK! Agents can point out coverage gaps and help you file claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is you may find lower rates but still work with a licensed agent.

For easy comparison, once you complete this simple form, your coverage information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents in Tampa who will compete for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. How’s that for easy!

Picking an insurance company requires more thought than just the premium amount. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• Will your rates increase after a single accident?
• If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
• If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
• How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
• What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
• Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
• Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?

If you prefer to contact a specific insurance agent in Tampa, simply jump to this page.

Upon receiving good answers for all questions you ask and locked in a price quote, most likely you have located an provider that is a good match to provide car insurance coverage.

Everyone needs different coverages

When choosing the best car insurance coverage, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Each situation is unique.

Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining if your situation could use an agent’s help.

• Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
• Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
• What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
• Am I covered when driving a rental car?
• Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
• How much underlying liability do I need for an umbrella policy?

If you’re not sure about those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and may give you better protection.

Informed Drivers can Cut Their Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that help determine your car insurance rates. Understanding what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

• More performance means more cost – The performance of the vehicle you are buying insurance for makes a significant difference in your rates. The lowest rates are for lower performance four cylinder passenger cars, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
• Little extras can really add up – There are quite a few extra coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your policy. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, accidental death and additional equipment coverage may be wasting your money. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so eliminate them to save money.
• Being married is a good thing – Having a spouse can get you a discount on your car insurance policy. Having a significant other is viewed as being more mature and responsible and it’s proven that married couples file fewer claims.
• A lapse in coverage is a bad thing – Driving without insurance is against the law and you will pay a penalty because you let your coverage have a gap. Not only will rates go up, failure to provide proof of insurance may earn you a steep fine or even jail time.You may then be required to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the Florida motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
• Lower miles equals lower premium – The higher the mileage driven in a year’s time the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies apply a rate based on their usage. Cars that are left in the garage can get a lower rate as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Verify your car insurance declarations sheet is showing the correct usage for each vehicle, because it can save money.
• Adjust deductibles and save – The deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. Physical damage insurance, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, and burglary. The more you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.

Can you really save that much by switching?

Florida drivers can’t get away from ads that promise big savings by 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to say the same thing that you can save if you change to their company.

How do they all say the same thing? It’s all in the numbers.

All the different companies can use profiling for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a profitable customer might be over the age of 40, has no driving citations, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any driver who matches those parameters will get very good rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who do not match the “perfect” profile will be quoted higher rates and ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say “customers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. That is how companies can advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why you need to get as many comparisons as possible. It’s just too difficult to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

Online plus local equals savings

Consumers who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including questionable increases in premium, high rates after DUI convictions, poor customer service or even extreme rates for teen drivers. Whatever your reason, choosing a new company can be less work than you think.

Budget-conscious car insurance is available from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Tampa, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

In this article, we covered a lot of ways to save on car insurance. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers could even find that the best prices are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.

Additional Florida consumer information

More tips and info about car insurance can be found at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website. Visitors are able to read enforcement actions against agents and companies, find out industry alerts, and report car insurance fraud.