Consumer Tested Strategies to Save on Gray Auto Insurance

No one enjoys paying for auto insurance, especially knowing they are paying too much.

Because you have many auto insurance companies to choose from, it is hard for the average consumer to choose the cheapest car insurance company.

Vehicle Insurance Comparison

There are several ways to shop for auto insurance, but some are less time-consuming than others. You could spend your day talking about coverages with insurance companies in Gray, or you could save time and use online quoting for quick rates.

All the larger companies take part in a program that allows shoppers to submit their information once, and every company provides a quote based on the submitted data. This prevents consumers from doing quote requests to each individual auto insurance company.

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

The one disadvantage to using this type of form is you cannot specify which companies to get pricing from. So if you prefer to choose specific insurance companies to compare rates, we have assembled a list of auto insurance companies in Tennessee. Click to view list.

Whichever method you choose, be sure to compare apples-to-apples coverage information with each company. If each company quotes unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be impossible to make an equal comparison in Gray. Slightly different limits can mean a large discrepancy in price. Keep in mind that more quotes gives you a better chance of getting the best offered rates.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Gray

It's important that you understand the factors that help determine auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that could result in big savings.

The following are some of the items companies use to determine premiums.

Do you need those extra coverages? - There are a ton of additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren't careful. Things like vanishing deductibles, accidental death and motor club memberships are some examples. These coverages may sound good when you first buy your policy, but if you don't need them remove them from your policy.
A clean driving record saves money - Only having one ticket can increase rates twenty percent or more. Good drivers have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers with flagrant tickets such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions are required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.
Older drivers save more - Teenage drivers in Tennessee are known to get distracted easily behind the wheel so auto insurance rates are higher. Adding a teenage driver to your policy can be quite pricey. Older drivers are more responsible, file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
Your credit rating is important - A driver's credit history is a important factor in determining your rates. If your credit is not that good, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your rating. Drivers with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than those with lower credit scores.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Car insurance companies don't always advertise all available discounts very well, so the following is a list of some of the best known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving.

Driver Safety - Taking part in a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.
Good Student - Getting good grades can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
New Vehicle Savings - Insuring a new car can save up to 30% due to better safety requirements for new cars.
Passive Restraint Discount - Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts up to 30%.
Federal Employees - Simply working for the federal government may qualify you for a discount depending on your company.

Keep in mind that some credits don't apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like all those discounts means the company will pay you, it just doesn't work that way.

For a list of insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in Tennessee, click here.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When it comes to choosing coverage for your vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone's needs are different and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions may help highlight whether or not you would benefit from an agent's advice.

Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Tennessee?
Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?

If you can't answer these questions then you might want to talk to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Additional detailed information can be read at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance website. Tennessee drivers can discover disciplinary actions, file complaints about a company, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and find out industry alerts.

Other useful links include this resource for Tennessee auto insurance prices and this link which helps you find a Gray agent.

Shop smart and save

Affordable auto insurance can be bought on the web and with local Gray insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not offer online quoting and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

Throughout this article, we presented a lot of ways to lower your auto insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the most savings is with a small local company. Smaller companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost compared to the large companies like .

When you buy insurance online, don't be tempted to reduce needed coverages to save money. There are a lot of situations where someone dropped collision coverage and discovered at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.