Easy Methods to Cut Costs on Drain Car Insurance

Consumers not familiar with shopping for insurance online may find finding affordable Drain car insurance is harder than they anticipated.

The purpose of this post is to familiarize you with the most effective way to quote insurance and some tricks to saving. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using this information. Oregon vehicle owners just need to know the most effective way to compare company rates on the web.

How to Lower your Car Insurance Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that play a part in calculating your car insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in big savings.

Shown below are some of the items used by your company to calculate premiums.

  • What are your deductibles? - The deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, also known as collision and other-than-collision, insures against damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims are colliding with a building, damage from fire, and windstorm damage. The more expense you have to pay, the lower your rates will be.
  • How's your driving record? - Drivers who don't get tickets have lower premiums than their less careful counterparts. Even a single ticket can bump up the cost twenty percent or more. Drivers with dangerous tickets such as DUI or reckless driving are required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to prevent a license revocation.
  • Do you need the policy add-ons? - There are quite a few additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your policy. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, accidental death and additional equipment coverage are some examples. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so eliminate them to save money.
  • Your location affects your rates - Living in less populated areas is a positive aspect when it comes to car insurance. Urban drivers regularly have more traffic problems and a longer drive to work. Less people living in that area means a lower chance of having an accident and a lower car theft rate.

Vehicle Insurance Comparison

There are several ways to shop for car insurance, and some are more efficient than others. You can spend your afternoon talking about coverages with insurance agencies in Drain, or you could save time and use the internet to get prices fast.

Most of the larger companies belong to a marketplace that allows shoppers to submit their information once, and at least one company returns a rated price based on that data. This prevents consumers from doing quote requests to each individual car insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

The one disadvantage to using this type of system is you are unable to specify which providers you want pricing from. So if you prefer to choose specific insurance companies to compare rates, we have a page of car insurance companies in Oregon. Click here to view list.

Whichever method you choose, be sure to compare identical coverage limits on every quote. If you have differing limits it will be impossible to make a fair comparison in Drain.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but discounts can save money and there are some available to help bring down the price. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied 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 you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Homeowners Savings - Owning a home in Drain can save you money because maintaining a house demonstrates responsibility.
  • Passive Restraint Discount - Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.
  • Safety Course Discount - Taking part in a driver safety course can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
  • Auto/Home Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
  • Good Student - This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last up until you turn 25.
  • Multiple Cars - Buying insurance for all your vehicles with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • New Car Discount - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Federal Employees - Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount depending on your company.
  • Claim Free - Good drivers with no accidents pay less when compared with accident-prone drivers.
  • Pay Now and Pay Less - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save up to 5%.

Drivers should understand that some credits don't apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will bring down the amount you have to pay.

To choose insurers with discount car insurance rates in Oregon, click here.

Is there truth in advertising?

Consumers can't ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance from the likes of Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies have a common claim that you'll save big if you change your coverage to them.

How does each company make the same claim?

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that makes them money. A good example of a profitable customer could be a mature driver, a clean driving record, and has excellent credit. A customer that hits that "sweet spot" will get very good rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Consumers who don't measure up to these standards must pay higher rates and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ads say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. That is how companies can make those claims.

This illustrates why you need to quote coverage with many companies. Because you never know which company will have the lowest rates.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When buying coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a best way to insure your cars. Everyone's needs are different.

For example, these questions may help highlight whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

  • When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
  • Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
  • Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
  • What are the best liability limits?
  • Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
  • Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?

If you can't answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, take a second and complete this form. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

Much more information about car insurance in Oregon can be read on the Oregon Insurance Division website located here. Consumers can report car insurance fraud, file complaints about a company, and discover disciplinary actions.

Other informative sites include this page for Oregon car insurance and this page for help finding agents in Drain, OR.

Oregon car insurance

A tidy conclusion

Budget-conscious car insurance is attainable from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Drain, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies don't offer online price quotes and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

We just showed you a lot of ways to compare car insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Drivers may discover the best price on car insurance is with a small local company.

While you're price shopping online, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, someone dropped collision coverage and discovered at claim time they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your focus should be to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.