How to Know You're Spending Too Much for Auto Insurance in Wayne

Scraping up a payment for overpriced auto insurance can empty your checking account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Doing a price comparison is a great way to lower your monthly bill.

Drivers have so many to pick from, and although it's a good thing to have multiple companies, too many choices makes it more difficult to compare rates.

Finding affordable coverage in Wayne is easy if you know what you're doing. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to cut costs considerably using this information. But West Virginia vehicle owners do need to know the way insurance companies market on the web because it can help you find the best coverage.

How much can you save with discounts?

Companies offering auto insurance don't always list all available discounts very clearly, so we researched some of the best known and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving.

Defensive Driving Course - Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
Senior Discount - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off depending on your company.
New Vehicle Savings - Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Claim Free - Drivers who don't have accidents pay much less when compared with drivers who are more careless.
Clubs and Organizations - Affiliation with a qualifying organization may earn a discount when buying auto insurance.
Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Keeping the miles down could be rewarded with a substantially lower rate.
Drivers Education - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver's education in high school.
Passive Restraints - Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.
Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.

Drivers should understand that some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces used by your company to calculate premiums.

Don't buy coverages you don't need - There are a lot of add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren't careful. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, accidental death and additional equipment coverage are some examples. They may seem like a good idea initially, but now you might not need them so eliminate them to save money.
Men fork out a little more - Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that women are BETTER drivers than men. Both sexes have accidents in similar numbers, but the male of the species cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also tend to get more serious tickets like reckless driving and DUI.
Claim-free discounts can add up - Auto insurance companies in West Virginia generally give lower rates to people who do not file claims often. If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
Where do you drive? - The more you drive in a year's time the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies price each vehicle's coverage based on how the vehicle is used. Cars used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your auto insurance policy shows the correct driver usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Occupations such as judges, social workers and financial analysts have higher average rates due to stressful work requirements and long work days. Conversely, occupations like pilots, engineers and the unemployed get better rates.

How much car insurance do I need?

When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions may help you determine if your insurance needs would benefit from professional advice.

Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?

If you can't answer these questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

21st Century, Allstate and State Farm regularly use television and radio advertisements. All the companies have a common claim that you'll save big if you move your coverage to them. How does each company say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a profitable customer might be profiled as a mature driver, insures multiple vehicles, and has excellent credit. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential customers who don't meet these standards must pay a higher premium and this can result in business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. This is how companies can make those claims. This illustrates why drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

More sites with auto insurance information

More detailed West Virginia auto insurance information is located at the West Virginia Insurance Commission website. West Virginia drivers can discover disciplinary actions, learn about insurance regulations, download brochures, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Also read more on this resource for West Virginia auto insurance prices and this link which helps you find a Wayne agent.

Do the work, save more money

Budget-conscious auto insurance is definitely available on the web as well as from independent agents in Wayne, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. Some companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

While you're price shopping online, make sure you don't skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where drivers have reduced liability coverage limits only to discover later they didn't purchase enough coverage. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.