Easy Tips to Save Money on Erie Auto Insurance

Shopping for the cheapest Erie auto insurance on the web is somewhat difficult for consumers not familiar with online price comaprisons. With so many choices of companies in the marketplace, how can consumers effectively compare every company to locate the best available rates?

Locating affordable auto insurance in Erie can be fairly easy. Essentially anyone who carries auto insurance stands a good chance to be able to lower their premiums. Although Michigan vehicle owners do need to know the way insurance companies sell online.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to better auto insurance rates.

  • Small claims can cost you - Companies in Michigan give lower rates to insureds who do not file claims often. If you frequently file small claims, you can definitely plan on either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Car insurance is intended to be relied upon for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
  • More miles equals more premium - The higher the mileage driven in a year's time the higher your rate. Almost all companies price each vehicle's coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Autos that are left in the garage get more affordable rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Verify your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle.
  • Don't skimp on liability - Your policy's liability coverage is the protection when a jury decides you are liable for personal injury or accident damage. Liability insurance provides you with a defense in court up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • Discounts for married couples - Getting married helps lower the price on your auto insurance policy. Having a significant other translates into being more responsible and it's statistically proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates - Purchasing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention devices like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all aid in stopping your vehicle from being stolen.

Compare Auto Insurance Today

All major auto insurance companies like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO provide price estimates directly from their websites. Getting online quotes is quite simple as you simply type in your required coverages into the quote form. After the form is submitted, their system will obtain your driving and credit reports and returns pricing information based on many factors.

Quoting online streamlines rate comparisons, but the time it takes to visit each company's website and repetitively type in the same information can be a bit repetitive. Unfortunately, it is important to get many rate quotes if you want to find a lower rate.

Quote rates the easy way

The preferred way to compare auto insurance pricing requires only one form to obtain quotes from several different companies. It's a real time-saver, eliminates repetitive work, and makes online quotes much more efficient. As soon as you send your information, it gets priced with multiple companies and you can pick any one of the resulting price quotes.

If the quotes result in lower rates, you simply finish the application and buy the policy. The whole process can be completed in less than 10 minutes and you will find out if you're overpaying now.

To quickly find out how much you're overpaying now, click here and complete the simple form. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend that you enter the coverage information as close as possible to your current policy. This makes sure you will have comparison quotes for the exact same coverage.

More discounts equal less premium

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not know about. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time you complete a quote, but some may not be applied and must be manually applied prior to getting the savings.

  • Government Employees - Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% with a few auto insurance companies.
  • Auto/Life Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
  • Multiple Cars - Having all your vehicles with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
  • Own a Home - Simply owning a home may earn you a small savings because maintaining a house demonstrates responsibility.
  • Pay Now and Pay Less - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save up to 5%.
  • Organization Discounts - Affiliation with a qualifying organization could trigger savings when shopping for auto insurance.
  • Good Student Discount - This discount can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last up until you turn 25.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So when the math indicates you could get a free auto insurance policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will bring down your premiums.

To choose insurance companies with discount auto insurance rates in Michigan, click this link.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Auto insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO consistently run ads in print and on television. They all make the same claim about savings if you change your coverage to them. How does each company say the same thing?

Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that makes them money. A good example of a driver they prefer might be profiled as a mature driver, has no prior claims, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A propective insured who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and therefore will save when switching.

Potential customers who do not match these standards will be quoted a more expensive rate which leads to business not being written. The ad wording is "people who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

This emphasizes why you need to quote coverage with many companies. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

It's not one size fits all

When buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Each situation is unique.

Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover if you would benefit from professional advice.

  • Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
  • What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
  • Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
  • Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
  • Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
  • Are rental cars covered under my policy?
  • When do I need to add a new car to my policy?

If it's difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Additional information can be read on the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation website through this link. Michigan drivers can download brochures, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Michigan auto insurance quotes

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

Insureds leave their current company for many reasons like high rates after DUI convictions, delays in paying claims, lack of trust in their agent or even an unsatisfactory settlement offer. It doesn't matter why you want to switch finding the right auto insurance provider is easier than you think.

When shopping online for auto insurance, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where consumers will sacrifice full coverage and found out when filing a claim that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.

The cheapest auto insurance can be sourced on the web as well as from independent agents in Erie, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies don't offer online price quotes and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.