Easy Ways to Spend Less on Glen Allen Auto Insurance

Shopping for affordable Glen Allen auto insurance on the web may be intimidating for beginners to buying insurance online. Since there are so many companies in the marketplace, how can consumers effectively compare every one to find the best pricing?

It's important to compare prices on a regular basis since insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the lowest price last year a different company probably has better rates today. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're about to find out the quickest way to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.

If you have a policy now or need new coverage, you can learn to find better prices while maximizing coverage. Shopping for the lowest cost auto insurance in Glen Allen is easy if you know what you're doing. Virginia vehicle owners just need to know the best way to find the lowest price on the web.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't always advertise all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we researched some of the best known and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance. If you aren't receiving every discount you deserve, you are throwing money away.

  • Auto/Life Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with better rates if you take out life insurance.
  • Sign Online - A few companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Affiliation with a civic or occupational organization could trigger savings on auto insurance.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course if offered at their school.
  • Pay Now and Pay Less - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
  • New Vehicle Savings - Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off with select insurance companies.
  • Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Drive Less and Save - Low mileage vehicles could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.

Consumers should know that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Just because it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don't profit that way.

Virginia auto insurance quotes

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Please use or commuting - The higher the mileage driven in a year's time the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies price each vehicle's coverage based on how the vehicle is used. Autos used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Double check that your auto insurance declarations sheet is rated on the correct usage for each vehicle, because improper ratings can cost you money.
  • Discounts for married couples - Having a wife or husband helps lower the price on your auto insurance policy. It means you're more mature than a single person and statistics show married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • Liability coverage is peace of mind - Your policy's liability coverage is the protection if ever a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. This coverage is very inexpensive as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • Keep rates low by being claim-free - Car insurance companies in Virginia give cheaper rates to people who are claim-free. If you frequently file small claims, you can pretty much guarantee either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
  • Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates - Purchasing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention devices such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping your vehicle from being stolen.
  • Older drivers pay less - More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel. Teenage drivers have a tendency to be careless and easily distracted when driving and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Virginia drivers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings by GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to make the same claim that you'll save big if you change to their company.

How can each company say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a desirable insured might be profiled as between the ages of 40 and 55, insures multiple vehicles, and drives newer vehicles. A propective insured who matches those parameters receives the best rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the requirements will have to pay a more expensive rate which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. This is how companies can claim big savings. Because of the profiling, drivers should get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

For more Virginia auto insurance information

More detailed Virginia auto insurance information is located at the Virginia Bureau of Insurance website. Virginia drivers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, get help finding coverage, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

A tidy conclusion

When trying to cut insurance costs, it's not a good idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many instances, drivers have reduced liability coverage limits only to discover later that it was a big mistake. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at the best price.

Discount auto insurance can be sourced on the web and also from your neighborhood Glen Allen agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best rate selection. A few companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

Insureds leave their current company for a variety of reasons including delays in paying claims, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, questionable increases in premium and even extreme rates for teen drivers. Regardless of your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is less work than it seems.