How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in East Wenatchee

No one likes having to buy auto insurance, especially knowing the cost is way too high.

With consumers having so many options when it comes to auto insurance, it's nearly impossible to find the lowest cost car insurance company.

East Wenatchee Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels enables informed choices that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

The list below includes a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

What are your deductibles? - Physical damage deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are colliding with a building, vandalism, and rolling your vehicle. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be.
Credit scores impact auto insurance rates - A driver's credit rating is a large factor in determining your rates. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers with lower credit scores. If your credit can use some improvement, you could save money insuring your by improving your rating.
Keep rates low by being claim-free - Auto insurance companies in Washington give discounts to insureds who are claim-free. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can expect higher rates. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for larger claims.
Discounts for multiple policies - The majority of auto insurance companies will award you with lower prices to people who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you may still want to comparison shop to ensure the best deal.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies that sell car insurance don't necessarily list all available discounts very well, so we took the time to find some of the best known and the more hidden ways to save on auto insurance.

Homeowners Savings - Owning a home in East Wenatchee may earn you a small savings because of the fact that having a home is proof that your finances are in order.
Air Bag Discount - Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of 20% or more.
Federal Employees - Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off depending on your company.
Auto/Home Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
Senior Discount - If you're over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for better auto insurance rates.
Driver's Ed - Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll in driver's education in high school.

A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky.

To choose insurers with the best auto insurance discounts in Washington, click this link.

How can Allstate, GEICO and Progressive save drivers who switch?

Allstate, GEICO and Progressive regularly use ads on television and other media. All the companies make the same claim about savings if you move to their company. But how can every company say the same thing?

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has a short commute. A propective insured who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Potential customers who are not a match for this ideal profile must pay a higher premium which leads to business not being written. The ads state "people who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings. This illustrates why you should get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

Tailor your coverage to you

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone's needs are different so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions may help highlight whether you might need an agent's assistance.

When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
Should I buy additional glass protection?

If it's difficult to answer those questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Additional Washington consumer information

Even more information can be found at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website. Washington drivers can report car insurance fraud, find out industry alerts, download brochures, and read consumer alerts.

Other informative sites include this page for Washington auto insurance and this page for help finding agents in East Wenatchee, WA.

Affordable insurance is out there

Cheaper auto insurance is definitely available on the web and also from your neighborhood East Wenatchee agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers may not provide online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

Throughout this article, we presented many ideas to save on auto insurance. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better chance you'll have of finding lower rates. Consumers could even find that the lowest rates come from an unexpected company. Some small companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as .