Easy Techniques to Cut Costs on Alamo Auto Insurance

Are you overwhelmed by the sheer number of auto insurance options in Alamo? Lot's of other consumers are too. You have so many options available that it can turn into more work than you anticipated to find lower rates.

It's important to check auto insurance prices at least once a year because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest rates a couple years back there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So just block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the tricks you need to know to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. The purpose of this post is to tell you how to get online quotes. Although Tennessee drivers do need to know the way companies price online insurance and use this information to your advantage.

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get big savings.

Listed below are a few of the "ingredients" companies use to determine your rates.

One company can mean more discounts - Most auto insurance companies give discounts to customers who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even if you're getting this discount it's in your best interest to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still be able to find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
Do you need those extra coverages? - There are many extra coverages you can purchase on your auto insurance policy. Insurance for vanishing deductibles, better glass coverage and motor club memberships may be wasting your money. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but if you don't need them eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
Car features impact rates - Choosing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features like GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.
Better credit means lower rates - Your credit score is a huge factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. If your credit history is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by improving your credit score. Drivers with high credit ratings tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers who have poor credit.
High numbers of claims are not good - Insurance companies in Tennessee give cheaper rates to insureds who file claims infrequently. If you file claims often, you can expect either higher rates or even cancellation. Insurance coverage is designed for the large, substantial claims.
Careful drivers pay lower rates - Your driving record has a huge affect on how much you pay. Even a single moving violation can increase rates forty percent or more. Good drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
Don't skimp on liability - Liability insurance provides coverage in the event that a court rules you are at fault for damages from an accident. It provides for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability is cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.

Quick Alamo Auto Insurance Quotes

The are a couple different ways of comparing price quotes from auto insurance companies in your area. One of the best ways to compare insurance prices is to perform an online rate comparison. This is very easy and can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The fastest way to get quotes is a comparison rater form click here to open form in new window. This form keeps you from doing a different quote to each individual auto insurance company. Completing one form compares rates . It's the fastest way to compare.
A more difficult way to shop for auto insurance online is going to the website for each individual company and complete a new quote form. For sake of this example, we'll pretend you want to compare rates from , and . To find out each rate you need to spend time on each company's site and enter your information, and that's why the first method is more popular.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Alamo, click here.
The hardest method to compare rates is to waste gas driving to local insurance agencies. The internet eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you have a need for the trained guidance only provided by licensed agents. Drivers can find lower rates online but buy from a local insurance agent. We'll cover that shortly.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just compare exactly the same coverage limits and deductibles on every quote. If you enter different liability limits you will not be able to make a fair comparison in Alamo. Having just a slight variation in coverages can make a big difference in price. Just keep in mind that quoting more will increase your chances of finding the best rates.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies offering auto insurance don't always list every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so we break down both well-publicized and the harder-to-find ways to save on auto insurance.

Theft Prevention System - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems help deter theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Defensive Driver - Taking part in a course in driver safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
Payment Discounts - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
Federal Government Employee - Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount with certain companies.
Discount for Good Grades - This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
Organization Discounts - Participating in a civic or occupational organization could trigger savings on your policy.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So even though it sounds like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won't be that lucky.

To choose providers offering auto insurance discounts in Alamo, click this link.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Companies like Allstate and Progressive constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. All the ads make the same claim about savings if you switch to them. How can each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a preferred risk could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Consumers who don't qualify for the requirements will be charged higher rates which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That's the way companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. That is why you need to get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Even more information can be found at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance website. Tennessee consumers can read consumer alerts, discover disciplinary actions, and view a list of available companies.

Shop smart and save

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the savings was not a smart move. The aim is to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

The cheapest auto insurance can be found online and with local Alamo insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some auto insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.

Insureds switch companies for any number of reasons including policy non-renewal, questionable increases in premium, extreme rates for teen drivers or even poor customer service. No matter why you want to switch, switching auto insurance companies is easier than you think.