I can’t think of anyone who cherishes buying car insurance, especially knowing their premiums are too high.
Multiple auto insurance companies compete for your hard-earned dollar, so it’s not easy to compare every insurer and get the best coverage at the lowest cost out there.
It’s a good habit to compare prices on a regular basis because rates change regularly. Just because you had the best price for Colt coverage last year you can probably find a lower rate today. You can find a lot of wrong information about car insurance on the web, but I’m going to show you some excellent ideas to stop overpaying for insurance.
How to Get Car Insurance
The are a couple different ways to compare rate quotes from different insurance companies. The easiest way by far to find the cheapest Plymouth Colt insurance rates is simply to get online rate quotes. This can be accomplished in several different ways.
The first (and easiest) way to get quotes is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This easy form saves time by eliminating separate quote forms to each individual car insurance company. A single, simple form gets you coverage quotes from several companies.
A different way to compare rate quotes consists of going to each company website and request a quote. For examples sake, let’s assume you want comparison quotes from GEICO, State Farm and Farmers. You would have to go to every website to enter your coverage information, which is why most consumers use the first method. For a handy list of car insurance company links in your area, click here.
The least efficient way of getting rate comparisons is to spend time driving to local insurance agencies. Buying insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you have a need for the trained guidance of a licensed agent. It is possible to price shop your coverage online but buy from a local insurance agent and we’ll talk about that later.
It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just make sure you use identical deductibles and coverage limits on every quote you get. If each company quotes higher or lower deductibles it’s not possible to find the best deal for your Plymouth Colt. Slightly different coverages may cause a big price difference. And when quoting car insurance, remember that more quotes will improve the odds of getting a better price.
Be sure to get all your discounts
Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but companies offer discounts to help bring down the price. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time you complete a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested before you get the savings.
- Safe Driver Discount – Drivers who don’t get into accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates for Colt coverage than less cautious drivers.
- Auto/Home Discount – If you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
- Distant Student – Children who are attending college and do not have a car can receive lower rates.
- Safety Course Discount – Taking a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
- Memberships – Belonging to a qualifying organization may earn a discount when shopping for car insurance for Colt coverage.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
- No Accidents – Good drivers with no accidents pay much less when compared to drivers who are more careless.
- Use Seat Belts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
It’s important to note that some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like you can get free auto insurance, you’re out of luck. But all discounts will cut the amount you have to pay.
To choose insurers who offer car insurance discounts, click here to view.
Why your Plymouth Colt insurance rates may be high
Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that help determine the price you pay for car insurance. Knowing what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.
- High credit ratings translate to low rates – Your credit score is a huge factor in your rate calculation. People with excellent credit tend to be more responsible than drivers with lower credit scores. If your credit score is low, you could save money insuring your Plymouth Colt by improving your credit score.
- Lower miles equals lower premium – Driving more miles in a year’s time the higher your rate. Most insurance companies price each vehicle’s coverage based on their usage. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Double check that your car insurance coverage is showing the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money. If your policy improperly rates your Colt may be costing you.
- Rates may be higher depending on your occupation – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations such as lawyers, business owners and dentists tend to have the highest average rates in part from high stress and long work hours. Other occupations such as scientists, historians and performers receive lower rates for Colt coverage.
- Frequent car insurance claims increase rates – Companies generally give better rates to policyholders who do not file claims often. If you file claims often, you can look forward to either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Insurance coverage is intended to be relied upon for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
- Rural vs Urban Areas – Living in a rural area is a positive aspect when buying car insurance. Lower population means a lower chance of having an accident as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Urban drivers tend to have more traffic problems and a longer drive to work. Longer commute distances means more change of being in an accident.
What if I want to buy from a local agent?
Certain consumers just want to buy from a licensed agent and that is OK! The best thing about getting online price quotes is that you can obtain the best rates and still choose a local agent. And providing support for local insurance agencies is important particularly in small towns and cities.
After filling out this simple form, your insurance data is transmitted to agents in your area who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to even leave your home since price quotes are sent directly to your email. How’s that for easy! You can find better rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.
Different types of auto insurance agents
If you’re trying to find a reliable agent, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents from which to choose. Insurance agencies are either captive or independent.
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agents do not work for one specific company but instead can place your coverage amongst many companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to find a new agent. When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you contact multiple independent agents to have the most options to choose from.
Captive Insurance Agents
These agents are contracted to one company like Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so it’s a take it or leave it situation. They are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents.
To view a complete directory of insurance agencies, visit this page.
Selecting an insurance agency shouldn’t rely on just the price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:
- How are they compensated?
- Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
- Are they full-time agents?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
- Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
- Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in your state?
Upon getting reasonable responses to any questions you have and a low price estimate, you have narrowed it down to a car insurance agent that will service your policy.
How do I know if I need professional advice?
When buying the best car insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance should reflect that These are some specific questions can aid in determining whether or not you would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Is my Plymouth Colt covered for smoke damage?
- At what point should I drop full coverage?
- What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
- Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
- Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
- Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.
Don’t be fooled by advertising claims
Car insurance providers like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all make the same claim that you’ll save big if you move your policy. How can each company say the same thing?
All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that makes them money. For example, a desirable insured could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and has a short commute. Any driver who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.
Potential insureds who don’t measure up to these standards must pay a more expensive rate and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much money. That’s why insurance companies can confidently state the savings.
This illustrates why you absolutely need to get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict which car insurance company will give you the biggest savings.
Compare but don’t skimp
We covered many ways to lower your Plymouth Colt insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the better your comparison will be. You may even discover the lowest premiums are with the least-expected company. Some small companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas compared to the large companies like Allstate and Progressive.
Low-cost Plymouth Colt insurance can be bought on the web in addition to many insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers do not provide online quoting and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
