Getting the Cheapest Etowah Auto Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy overpriced auto insurance? Trust us, you're not the only one. Companies like GEICO and Progressive constantly blast consumers with advertising and consumers find it hard to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to shop coverage around at least once a year because prices are constantly changing. Just because you found the best deal six months ago you may be paying too much now. So block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the only way to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

If you have a current auto insurance policy or need a new policy, you can use these techniques to find the best rates while maintaining coverages. Finding affordable coverage in Etowah is easy if you know what you're doing. Tennessee vehicle owners just need to know the proper methods to compare prices over the internet.

How to Compare Etowah Auto Insurance Costs

Effectively comparing auto insurance prices is a ton of work if you don't know the most efficient way to do it. You could spend your day driving to local insurance agents in Etowah, or you could use the internet to get rate comparisons in just a few minutes.

All the larger companies are enrolled in a marketplace that allows shoppers to submit one quote, and at least one company then gives them pricing. This eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions for each company you want a rate for.

To submit your quote information now, click here (opens in new window).

The only drawback to getting quotes like this is that consumers can't choose which companies to receive prices from. So if you want to select specific providers to request quotes from, we have a page of companies who write auto insurance in Tennessee. Click to view list.

Whichever way you use, compare exactly the same quote information for each comparison quote. If you are comparing mixed coverages then you won't be able to determine the lowest rate in Etowah.

Tips to Get Lower Etowah Rates

It's important that you understand some of the elements that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

Women pay lower rates - Statistics demonstrate women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Women and men have accidents at about the same rate, but the males have costlier accidents. They also get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are the most expensive to insure and thus pay the highest rates.
Policy add-ons can waste money - There are a ton of extra coverages that you can buy when buying auto insurance. Insurance for vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and additional equipment coverage are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea initially, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
Adjust deductibles and save - Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims would be collision with another vehicle, damage caused by hail, or theft. Your deductibles are how much you are required to spend before your auto insurance pays a claim. The more money you have to pay, the less your auto insurance will be.
Occupation reflects on rates - Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for auto insurance? Jobs such as doctors, architects and dentists have the highest average rates due to stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. Other occupations like actors, historians and performers get better rates.
Marriage pays dividends - Being married can get you a discount when buying auto insurance. It translates into being more mature than a single person and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.
Cautious drivers pay less - Your driving citation history has a huge affect on how much you pay. Drivers who don't get tickets get better rates compared to drivers with tickets. Just one ticket can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers who have flagrant citations such as DUI or reckless driving may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
Performance level impacts rates - The performance level of the vehicle you own makes a huge difference in determining your rates. Lower performance four cylinder passenger models generally receive the lowest base rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.

How much can you save with discounts?

Companies don't always advertise all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list both the well known and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings. If you aren't receiving every discount possible, you're just leaving money on the table.

Senior Citizens - Older drivers may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles can qualify you for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Homeowners Discount - Owning a house in Etowah may trigger a auto insurance policy discount due to the fact that maintaining a home requires personal responsibility.
Claim Free - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts as compared to frequent claim filers.
Sign Online - Certain companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.
Driver Safety - Completing a defensive driving course could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.
Discount for Good Grades - Getting good grades can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
Early Switch Discount - Some companies give discounts for buying a policy before your current policy expires. It's a savings of about 10%.
Federal Government Employee - Simply working for the federal government can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
Discount for Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with better rates if you take out a life insurance policy as well.

Drivers should understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like it's possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn't make money that way.

For a list of companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Etowah, follow this link.

More detailed Tennessee auto insurance information is available at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance website. Visitors are able to learn about insurance regulations, discover disciplinary actions, report car insurance fraud, and read industry bulletins.

In the end, you save

As you restructure your insurance plan, it's a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price.

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be sourced both online as well as from independent agents in Etowah, so compare prices from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies don't offer online quoting and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.