How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Loudon

I can't think of anyone who looks forward to paying for auto insurance, especially knowing the price is too high.

Companies like GEICO and Progressive all claim big savings with catchy ads and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to shop coverage around periodically since insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the best deal on your last policy you can probably find a better price now. Starting right now, forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because it's time to teach you the proper way to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

If you have car insurance now, you should be able to save some money using these methods. Buying car insurance in Loudon is easy if you know what you're doing. But Tennessee vehicle owners do need to know how big insurance companies sell online and take advantage of how the system works.

Tips to Get Lower Loudon Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

With age comes lower rates - Older drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations. Teenage drivers have a tendency to be careless and easily distracted behind the wheel and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
Traffic citations inflate rates - Just one speeding ticket can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers who don't get tickets tend to pay less for car insurance than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who have dangerous citations such as DUI or reckless driving may need to file a SR-22 with the DMV in their state in order to prevent a license revocation.
Don't sacrifice liability coverage - Your policy's liability coverage is the coverage that protects you if ever a jury decides you are liable for personal injury or accident damage. It will provide legal defense coverage starting from day one. This coverage is very inexpensive as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
Do you work long hours in a high stress job? - Jobs such as doctors, executives and dentists have the highest average rates in part from stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. Other professions such as scientists, historians and retirees get better rates.

Take advantage of discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts that you may not know about. A few discounts will automatically apply at quote time, but some must be inquired about in order for you to get them.

New Vehicle Savings - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
Good Student - This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.
Organization Discounts - Affiliation with a civic or occupational organization could trigger savings on auto insurance.
Claim Free - Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts as compared to accident-prone drivers.
Drivers Ed for Students - Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course if offered at their school.
Drive Less and Save - Low mileage vehicles can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.
Lower Rates for Military - Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
Multiple Cars - Insuring all your vehicles with the same company qualifies for this discount.
Discount for Swiching Early - Select companies give a discount for signing up prior to your current policy expiration. The savings is around 10%.
Braking Control Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.

Drivers should understand that many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. Just because it seems like it's possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will reduce your overall premium however.

To choose companies with discount auto insurance rates in Loudon, click this link.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Auto insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm consistently run ads on TV and radio. They all seem to make the same claim that you'll save big if you change your coverage to them. How can each company say the same thing? This is how they do it.

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that makes them money. An example of a desirable insured might be profiled as between 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has great credit. A propective insured who matches those parameters will get the preferred rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who don't qualify for the requirements will have to pay more money which leads to business not being written. The ads state "drivers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. That is how companies can advertise the savings.

Because of the profiling, you should get as many quotes as possible. It's not possible to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

How to know if you need help

When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Every insured's situation is different so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions may help highlight whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.

Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?
Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
Do I qualify for additional discounts?
What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?

If it's difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Much more information about auto insurance in Tennessee is available on the website for the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Click here for link. Tennessee drivers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, file complaints about a company, find out which companies have the most complaints, and read industry bulletins.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

When you buy insurance online, it's a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are many occasions where someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price.

In this article, we covered many ideas to save on auto insurance. It's most important to understand that the more times you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the best prices are with a lesser-known regional company. Some small companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates than their larger competitors like .

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be sourced on the web as well as from independent agents in Loudon, so compare prices from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who don't offer online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.