Compare Bethesda Auto Insurance Prices With These Techniques

Are you intimidated by the wide range of auto insurance company choices in Bethesda? Many other consumers are too. You have so many options that it can turn into a ton of work to find better rates.

It's important to do rate comparisons every six months because prices are constantly changing. Just because you had the best rates a year ago a different company probably has better rates today. There is too much inaccurate information about auto insurance online but I'm going to show you some great ways to find cheap auto insurance.

Locating affordable coverage in Bethesda can be fairly easy. If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you can learn to get lower rates while maintaining coverages. Ohio drivers only need an understanding of the tricks to buy auto insurance online.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but you may find discounts that you may not even be aware of. Some discounts apply automatically when you complete an application, but some may not be applied and must be specifically requested before they will apply. If you're not getting every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

  • Sign Online - A few companies may give you up to $50 simply for signing over the internet.
  • Homeowners Discount - Owning a house in Bethesda may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
  • Discount for Good Grades - Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. The good student discount can last until age 25.
  • College Student - Children living away from home attending college and do not have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • No Charge for an Accident - Certain companies allow you one accident before your rates go up as long as you don't have any claims for a set time period.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • Senior Citizens - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for reduced rates.
  • Theft Prevention Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only cut specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don't profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down the cost of coverage.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Bethesda

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Your spouse saves you money - Getting married can actually save you money when buying auto insurance. It is viewed as being more mature and responsible and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.
  • Do you know your deductibles? - Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims would be collision with another vehicle, damage from fire, and rolling your vehicle. Your deductibles are how much you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. The more expense you're willing to pay, the less your auto insurance will be.
  • Cautious drivers pay less - Your driving citation history has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Good drivers get better rates than bad drivers. Just one citation can increase rates forty percent or more. Drivers who have serious citations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
  • Older drivers pay less - Youthful drivers in Ohio are statistically proven to be more careless when behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Older insureds are viewed as being more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets.
  • Are you male or female? - Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn't necessarily mean that women are better drivers. Both sexes are in accidents at a similar rate, but the males cause more damage. They also get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 are the most expensive to insure and therefore are the most expensive to insure.
  • How many coverages with the same company - Most companies will give a discount to insureds who consolidate policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, it's still a good idea to compare other company rates to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still be able to find a better deal by buying auto insurance from a different company.

How can State Farm, GEICO and Progressive save drivers who switch?

Consumers in Ohio get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings by companies like State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to say the same thing of big savings if you switch to them.

How does each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that earns them a profit. A good example of a desirable insured might be over the age of 50, has no driving citations, and has excellent credit. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Consumers who are not a match for these standards will have to pay higher rates which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save money. That's the way insurance companies can confidently make those claims.

Because of the profiling, drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates.

Learn more about Ohio auto insurance

Additional auto insurance information can be read on the Ohio Department of Insurance website found here. Visitors are able to get help finding coverage, report car insurance fraud, and file complaints about a company.

A tidy conclusion

Cost effective auto insurance is available both online and with local Bethesda insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

We covered a lot of tips how to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even discover the biggest savings come from a small mutual company.

While you're price shopping online, it's very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, someone sacrificed collision coverage and discovered at claim time they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price.