I can’t think of a single person who likes having to buy auto insurance, in particular when they are paying too much. Numerous car insurance companies battle for your hard-earned dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare auto insurance companies to find the absolute best rate
It’s important to check auto insurance prices once or twice a year because prices change quite often. Just because you found the lowest price on Passat coverage two years ago you can probably find a lower rate today. There is a lot of bad information regarding auto insurance on the internet, so with this article, you’re going to get a bunch of ideas how to find cheap auto insurance.
If you are insured now or need a new policy, you will benefit by learning to shop for the lowest rates and still get good coverage. Buying car insurance is not that difficult. Vehicle owners only need an understanding of the most efficient way to get comparison rates online.
Save money by taking advantage of these discounts
Auto insurance companies don’t always list every discount very clearly, so here is a list some of the best known and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Discount for Good Grades – This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. This discount can apply up until you turn 25.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Some companies give lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
- New Car Discount – Adding a new car to your policy can save up to 30% compared to insuring an older model.
- Service Members Pay Less – Being on active duty in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
- Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Fewer annual miles on your Volkswagen can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
- Student Driver Training – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver’s education in school.
Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.
To choose providers who offer auto insurance discounts, click here to view.
Do I need special coverages?
When choosing the best auto insurance coverage, there isn’t really a “perfect” insurance plan. Each situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight if you would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
- Is my Volkswagen Passat covered for smoke damage?
- Are my friends covered when driving my Volkswagen Passat?
- Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
- What can I do if my company denied a claim?
- Is there coverage for injuries to my pets?
- At what point should I drop full coverage?
- When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
- Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.
Neighborhood agents for auto insurance
Some consumers would prefer to get advice from a local agent and that is a personal choice. Educated insurance agents can answer important questions and give you peace of mind. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find lower rates but still work with a licensed agent.
For easy comparison, once you complete this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is emailed to local insurance agents who will compete to get your business. There is no reason to drive around because quoted prices will be sent to your email. Now that’s easy!
Choosing an insurer requires more thought than just the premium amount. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
- Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
- Can glass repairs be made at your home?
- Does the agency support the community they serve?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
- How are claims handled?
Two types of car insurance agents
When searching for a good insurance agent, you need to know there are two different types of agents from which to choose. Agencies are either captive or independent (non-captive). While both can insure your vehicles, but it’s good to learn how they differ because it can influence the type of agent you choose
Captive Agents
Captive agents can only place business with one company such as Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They usually cannot place coverage with different providers so always compare other rates. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agents are not employed by any specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with any number of different companies depending on which coverage is best. To transfer your coverage to a different company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part. When comparison shopping, we recommend you include at a minimum one independent agency for the best price selection.
To view a full list of insurance agents, visit this site.
Upon receiving acceptable answers to all your questions and an acceptable price quote, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agent that is a good match to adequately provide auto insurance.
Compare but don’t skimp
Cheaper Volkswagen Passat insurance can be bought both online in addition to many insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. Some companies do not provide online price quotes and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.
In this article, we presented a lot of techniques to shop for Volkswagen Passat insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. You may be surprised to find that the biggest savings come from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. Smaller companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive and GEICO.