Tightwads Tips for Saving on Georgetown Auto Insurance

Sick and tired of not being able to afford each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than millions of other consumers. There are many to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to be able to choose, it makes it harder to compare rates.

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to better auto insurance rates.

Your auto insurance rates can be influenced by your job - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Careers like judges, social workers and financial analysts tend to pay higher average rates in part from high stress and long work hours. Conversely, occupations such as farmers, engineers and performers have the lowest average rates.
Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates - Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention features such as GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all hinder auto theft.
With age comes lower rates - Teen drivers in Georgia are known to be careless and easily distracted in a vehicle so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets.
Having a spouse can save you money - Having a wife or husband can get you a discount on auto insurance. Having a significant other is viewed as being more mature it has been statistically shown that drivers who are married are more cautious.
Low deductibles can be expensive - The deductibles define the amount you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. Physical damage insurance, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, protects your car from damage. Examples of covered claims could be running into the backend of another car, damage caused by hail, and burglary. The more you're willing to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
Careful drivers pay lower rates - A bad driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Even one citation can increase rates twenty percent or more. Good drivers tend to pay less for car insurance compared to drivers with tickets. If you have flagrant violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may find they need to submit a SR-22 form with their state DMV in order to keep their license.
Men pay higher rates - The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean women are better drivers. Men and women are in accidents in similar numbers, but the men have costlier accidents. Men also statistically get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving. Young males tend to get in the most accidents and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.

These discounts can lower your rates

Companies offering auto insurance don't always advertise every discount very clearly, so we researched both well-publicized and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving. If you're not getting every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

Accident Free - Claim-free drivers pay much less when compared to accident-prone drivers.
Payment Method - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
Distant Student - Youth drivers who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
Paperwork-free - Some insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks just for signing your application over the internet.
Homeowners Pay Less - Simply owning a home can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.

It's important to note that some credits don't apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So when it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, you're out of luck.

To choose insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Georgia, click here.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Georgia consumers can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. They all have a common claim that you can save after switching to them.

How does each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

Different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that makes them money. For instance, a driver they prefer could possibly be between 30 and 50, has no tickets, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Potential customers who are not a match for these standards will be quoted a more expensive rate and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "drivers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save money. That's why insurance companies can advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why you should get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional detailed information is located at the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner website. Georgia consumers can read industry bulletins, view a list of available companies, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and get help finding coverage.

A tidy conclusion

When shopping online for auto insurance, never buy poor coverage just to save money. There are too many instances where an insured dropped collision coverage and learned later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

Lower-priced auto insurance can be bought online and with local Georgetown insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.