Birmingham Auto Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Purchasing the most affordable Birmingham auto insurance over the internet is rather challenging for consumers new to online price comaprisons. When there are so many insurers available, how can you possibly compare the different rates to find the cheapest rates?

It's important to compare prices quite often because prices are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price last year you can probably find a better price now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate one of the best ways to find great coverage at a great price.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with big savings.

The following are a partial list of the pieces used by your company to calculate rates.

With age comes lower rates - Youthful drivers in Michigan are known to be more careless when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. If you've ever had to add a teen driver onto a policy can be quite pricey. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.
Pay less if you're married - Having a wife or husband can get you a discount on your policy. It translates into being more responsible and it's statistically proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Optional equipment can affect rates - Purchasing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention features like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all aid in stopping car theft.
More miles equals more premium - Driving more miles in a year's time the more you will pay for auto insurance. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting receive lower rates than those used for commuting. Ask your agent if your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Safer occupants lowers premiums - Vehicles with good safety scores can get you lower premiums. These vehicles protect occupants better and any reduction in injury severity translates into savings for insurance companies and thus lower rates.

Take advantage of discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available to cut the cost considerably. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you purchase, but less common discounts must be asked for before being credited.

College Student - Kids in college who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
Sign Online - A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy over the internet.
Payment Method - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you could save up to 5%.
Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles could be rewarded with discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Driver Safety - Taking part in a defensive driving course could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, auto insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will bring down your overall premium however.

To choose companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Michigan, click here to view.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Auto insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm continually stream ads on TV and radio. They all seem to make an identical promise about savings after switching your coverage to them. How does each company claim to save you money?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured might be a mature driver, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications receives the best rates and most likely will save when switching.

Consumers who don't qualify for these standards will have to pay higher prices and ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "people who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings.

Because of the profiling, you should compare as many rates as you can. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

How to know if you need help

When buying the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a perfect coverage plan. Each situation is unique.

These are some specific questions may help you determine whether your personal situation would benefit from professional advice.

Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Birmingham?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?

If you're not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

More sites with auto insurance information

Additional information is located on the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation website through this link. Visitors are able to read enforcement actions against agents and companies, get help finding coverage, and view a list of available companies.

Affordable insurance is out there

As you prepare to switch companies, it's very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There are many occasions where drivers have reduced liability coverage limits only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate.

Cheap auto insurance can be bought both online as well as from independent agents in Birmingham, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who don't offer online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

People change insurance companies for many reasons like not issuing a premium refund, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, unfair underwriting practices or even delays in paying claims. No matter why you want to switch, finding the right auto insurance provider is easier than you think.