Top Ways to Save on Kenmore Auto Insurance

No one looks forward to buying auto insurance, especially knowing they are paying too much. There are many to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to have a selection, it makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to check auto insurance prices periodically since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the lowest price a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. There is too much inaccurate information about auto insurance on the web, but I'm going to show you some great ways to save money.

Buying car insurance in Kenmore is quite easy. If you currently have car insurance, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using these methods. Washington drivers only need an understanding of the most efficient way to get comparison quotes on the web.

Take advantage of discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't always publicize all their discounts very clearly, so we researched some of the best known as well as the least known auto insurance savings. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you're paying more than you need to.

  • New Vehicle Savings - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can be considerably cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
  • Passive Restraint Discount - Factory air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
  • Safety Course Discount - Taking a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
  • Senior Discount - Mature drivers may receive reduced rates.
  • Military Rewards - Having a deployed family member could be rewarded with lower premiums.
  • Discount for Swiching Early - Some insurance companies reward drivers for signing up before your current expiration date. The savings is around 10%.
  • Good Student - A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.

It's important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free auto insurance policy, it doesn't quite work that way.

To see a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in Washington, follow this link.

Kenmore auto insurance comparison

Kenmore Auto Insurance Comparisons

Finding cheaper auto insurance prices is actually quite simple. Just invest a little time getting comparison quotes provided by online insurance companies. This can be done in a couple of different ways.

  • The best way to get quotes is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This method eliminates the need for repetitive form entry for each company. Just one form will get you price quotes direct from many companies.
  • A less efficient way to compare rate quotes requires a visit to each company's website and fill out their own quote form. For examples sake, let's assume you want to compare , and . You would have to take the time to go to each site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is more popular.

    To view a list of companies in Kenmore, click here.

Whichever way you use, be sure to compare identical coverage limits for every quote you compare. If you use differing limits it will be impossible to determine the best price in Kenmore.

What determines how much you pay?

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine rates.

  • Mature drivers pay less - Teenage drivers in Washington have a tendency to be more careless behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Parents adding a teen driver to your policy can really hurt. Older drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations.
  • Traffic citations inflate rates - Just one citation can increase rates by as much as thirty percent. Good drivers have lower premiums than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who have dangerous citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to file a SR-22 with the DMV in their state in order to prevent a license revocation.
  • Extra coverages can waste money - There are quite a few additional coverages that you can buy if you aren't careful. Coverages for roadside assistance, towing coverage and motor club memberships are examples of these. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but if you don't need them eliminate them to save money.
  • Men are more aggressive - Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. Now that doesn't mean women are better drivers. Men and women tend to get into accidents in similar numbers, but the males tend to have more serious accidents. They also get cited for more serious violations like reckless driving and DUI.

How to know if you need help

When choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Everyone's needs are different so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions may help highlight whether your personal situation might need an agent's assistance.

  • Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?
  • Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
  • Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
  • Should I buy additional glass protection?
  • Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Washington drivers can't get away from ads for cheaper car insurance by companies like Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to say the same thing of big savings if you change to them.

How does each company say the same thing?

Different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For instance, a desirable insured might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has a short commute. A propective insured who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and most likely will save when switching.

Potential customers who don't qualify for these standards will have to pay higher prices which usually ends up with business not being written. The ads state "customers that switch" not "people who quote" save money. That is how insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings. Because of the profiling, drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

In the end, you save

As you shop your coverage around, it's very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where someone dropped collision coverage and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford.

In this article, we covered many ways to compare auto insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from a small local company. These smaller insurers can often provide lower rates in certain areas than their larger competitors like .

Low-cost auto insurance is attainable on the web and with local Kenmore insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance providers do not offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

Washington auto insurance

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website. Washington drivers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, file complaints about a company, discover disciplinary actions, and learn about insurance regulations.