I can’t think of a single person who enjoys paying for auto insurance, especially when they are paying too much. With so many insurance providers from which to choose, it is hard for the average consumer to choose the lowest cost provider.
Smart consumers take time to compare prices at least once a year since rates fluctuate regularly. If you had the lowest rates on Acadia coverage two years ago other companies may now be cheaper. There is a lot of bad information regarding auto insurance on the web, but with this article, you’re going to get some great ideas on how to find cheap auto insurance.
Finding affordable coverage is not that difficult. If you have a policy now or are just looking to switch companies, you can use these tips to get lower rates while maintaining coverages. Drivers just need to learn how to compare company rates over the internet.
GMC Acadia rates influenced by many factors
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.
- Protect your assets with liability insurance – The liability section of your policy will protect you if ever a jury decides you are liable for damages caused by your negligence. It provides you with a defense in court up to the limits shown on your policy. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
- Optional equipment can affect rates – Owning a car with a theft deterrent system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can help prevent car theft.
- Men fork out a little more – Statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. They both tend to get into accidents in similar numbers, but the males have costlier accidents. They also have more aggressive citations such as DWI and reckless driving. Young males are most likely to cause an accident and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
- Do you need those extra coverages? – There are a ton of additional coverages you can purchase if you aren’t careful. Coverages for roadside assistance, better glass coverage and membership fees are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea when talking to your agent, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
- Performance makes a difference – The type of car you own makes a significant difference in your rates. Since the GMC Acadia is classified as a standard SUV, insuring your vehicle will cost slighty more when compared to the average rates. Lower performance four cylinder passenger cars usually have the lowest rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
- Traffic violations increase rates – Your driving record impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Even a single citation can bump up the cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who don’t get tickets get better rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who get severe violations like DUI or reckless driving may be required to file a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to drive a vehicle legally.
Be sure to get all your discounts
Companies that sell car insurance do not list all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we break down both well-publicized and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving. If you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Theft Prevention System – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen less frequently and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Good Student Discount – A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
- One Accident Forgiven – A few companies permit an accident without raising rates as long as you don’t have any claims prior to the accident.
- E-sign – A few companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up on their website.
- Safe Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents may save up to 50% more on Acadia coverage than drivers with accidents.
- Sign Early and Save – Some insurance companies reward drivers for signing up before your current policy expires. It can save you around 10%.
- Student Driver Training – Cut your cost by having your teen driver take driver’s ed class if offered at their school.
- Homeowners Discount – Simply owning a home can help you save on auto insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.
- 55 and Retired – If you’re over the age of 55, you may be able to get a small decrease in premiums on Acadia coverage.
- Multiple Vehicles – Insuring multiple vehicles with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way.
To choose companies offering auto insurance discounts, click here to view.
Local agents and auto insurance
Some consumers prefer to talk to a local agent and that is just fine! Agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help file insurance claims. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is you may find better rates and still have an agent to talk to.
After completing this quick form, your coverage information is emailed to local insurance agents who will compete for your business. You don’t have to leave your house as quotes are delivered immediately to your email address. How cool is that?!
Picking an insurance company shouldn’t rely on just the premium amount. Ask your prospective agent these questions:
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
- How often do they review policy coverages?
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
- Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
Choose an insurance agent wisely
When searching for a good insurance agent, there are a couple of different types of agents to choose from. Insurance agencies are either independent (non-captive) or captive. While both can do a good job, but it’s worth learning the differences because it can influence the type of agent you choose
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agents work for only one company and examples are Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They usually cannot place coverage with different providers so keep that in mind. They are trained well on their company’s products which can be an advantage.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Independent agencies are not employed by any specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with lots of companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from at a minimum one independent agency for maximum quote selection.
For a complete listing of agencies, click here.
Upon getting answers to your satisfaction to any questions you have and a good coverage price, you may have just found a car insurance agent that can insure your vehicles.
Do you really save 40% when you switch?
Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance by companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to say the same thing that you’ll save big if you change to them.
But how can every company make the same claim? It’s all in the numbers.
All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer they prefer to insure. For example, a driver they prefer might be profiled as over the age of 50, has no driving citations, and has a high credit rating. A propective insured that hits that “sweet spot” will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Drivers who do not match the requirements will have to pay higher rates which leads to the customer not buying. Company advertisements say “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that kind of money. That’s the way companies can truthfully make those claims. Because of the profiling, you should quote coverage with many companies. It’s impossible to know the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.
What coverages do I need?
When buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is a little different so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions can help discover if you would benefit from professional advice.
- Should I rate my GMC Acadia as pleasure use or commute?
- How high should my medical payments coverage be?
- Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
- Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
- Should I buy additional glass protection?
- What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
- Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.
Final considerations
We just showed you many tips how you can shop for GMC Acadia insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may even discover the lowest rates come from a smaller regional carrier. These smaller insurers often have lower prices on specific markets than their larger competitors like GEICO and State Farm.
Cheap GMC Acadia insurance is available both online as well as from independent agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. A few companies don’t offer online quoting and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.
