Fairlawn Car Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

If you've never shopped for car insurance online, it's easy to get confused due to the large number of car insurance companies offering coverage in Fairlawn.

Finding the best rates in Fairlawn is easy if you know what you're doing. If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using this strategy. But Virginia consumers do need to know how companies price online insurance and take advantage of how the system works.

Tips to Get Lower Fairlawn Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in lower car insurance prices.

Listed below are some of the factors used by your company to calculate premiums.

Lower deductibles cost more - Your deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay in the event of a claim. Physical damage coverage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, insures against damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims would be colliding with a building, collision with an animal, or theft. The more money you have to pay, the lower your rates will be.
High credit ratings translate to low rates - A driver's credit score is a important factor in determining your rates. If your credit score is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by improving your rating. People with high credit scores tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with poor credit.
Discounts for multiple policies - Most companies will award you with lower prices to insureds who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, you still need to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money.
Better crash test results mean better rates - Cars with high safety ratings are cheaper to insure. Safe vehicles protect occupants better and any reduction in injury severity means less money paid by your insurance company passed on to you as lower rates.

These discounts can lower your rates

Companies offering auto insurance don't always advertise all available discounts very well, so here is a list both the well known as well as the least known car insurance savings.

Multi-car Discount - Buying coverage for more than one vehicle with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Anti-lock Brake Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
Federal Employees - Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% depending on your company.
Discount for Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with a break if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
Defensive Driver - Completing a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
Save with a New Car - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
Student in College - Children who live away from home and do not have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
Anti-theft Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you could save up to 5%.

Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like it's possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn't make money that way.

To choose insurers offering car insurance discounts in Virginia, follow this link.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on television and other media. All the companies say the same thing that you'll save big if you switch your coverage to them. But how can every company claim to save you money?

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that makes them money. An example of a profitable customer might be between 25 and 40, owns a home, and has a short commute. Any driver who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Potential customers who are not a match for this ideal profile must pay higher prices which usually ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much money. That is how companies can make the claims of big savings. This illustrates why you should get a wide range of price quotes. You cannot predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

Different people need different coverages

When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone's situation is a little different.

For instance, these questions might point out whether you would benefit from an agent's advice.

Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Virginia?
Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form.

More detailed Virginia car insurance information is available at the Virginia Bureau of Insurance website. Visitors are able to report car insurance fraud, find out industry alerts, and read consumer alerts.

Other informative sites include this page for Virginia car insurance and this page for help finding agents in Fairlawn, VA.

Shop smart and save

Budget-conscious car insurance can be found both online as well as from independent agents in Fairlawn, so you should compare both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance providers don't offer online price quotes and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you shop your coverage around, do not buy poor coverage just to save money. In too many instances, an insured cut comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your focus should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.

Consumers switch companies for a number of reasons such as lack of trust in their agent, policy cancellation, denial of a claim or even high rates after DUI convictions. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.