Tightwads Guide for Saving on Marshall Auto Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can overdraw your bank account and make it hard to pay other bills. Comparison shopping is a smart way to slash your bill and have more diposable income.

Big companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly blast consumers with catchy ads and it can be hard to sift through the bull and find the best price available.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates yearly because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest price on your last policy you can probably find a better price now. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance on the internet, so I'm going to show you some great ways to quit paying high auto insurance rates.

If you currently have car insurance, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using these techniques. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Marshall is not that difficult. Although Virginia consumers do need to know the way companies price online insurance because it can help you find the best coverage.

Marshall Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

Listed below are a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Where you reside plays a part - Residing in a small town can be a good thing when talking about auto insurance. Lower population translates into fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. City drivers have much more traffic to deal with and longer commute times. More time commuting translates into higher accident risk.
More than one policy can earn a discount - Most companies will give a discount to insureds who buy several policies from them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you're getting this discount it's in your best interest to comparison shop to ensure the best deal.
Marriage brings a discount - Having a wife or husband can actually save you money when buying auto insurance. It means you're more responsible it has been statistically shown that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
With age comes lower rates - More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel. Youthful drivers are statistically proven to be more careless when driving and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
Don't skimp on liability - Liability insurance is the protection if ever you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.

More discounts equal less premium

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you can get discounts that many people don't even know exist. Certain discounts will be applied when you get a quote, but a few must be inquired about before you will receive the discount.

Discount for Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give better rates if you take out life insurance from them.
Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with the same insurance company you could get a discount of 10% to 20% off each policy.
Anti-theft System - Anti-theft and alarm systems help deter theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
Sign Online - Some insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy digitally online.
Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you may qualify for better auto insurance rates.
Organization Discounts - Being a member of a civic or occupational organization could qualify you for a break on auto insurance.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So when the math indicates you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will reduce your premiums.

To choose companies offering auto insurance discounts in Marshall, follow this link.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Auto insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads in print and on television. They all seem to say the same thing about savings if you switch to their company. How can each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured might be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Drivers who do not match the requirements will have to pay higher premiums which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads state "drivers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings.

Because of the profiling, you should compare as many rates as you can. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

It's not one size fits all

When buying the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Every insured's situation is different and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover if you might need an agent's assistance.

When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Additional information is located on the website for the Virginia Bureau of Insurance. Click here for link. Visitors are able to view agent and company licensing information, read consumer alerts, get help finding coverage, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

When you buy insurance online, it's not a good idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice collision coverage and learned later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price.

The cheapest auto insurance can be found both online and also from your neighborhood Marshall agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.