Free Guide to Spending Less for Mcalester Auto Insurance Online

Are you tired of paying out the nose each month for car insurance? You're in the same situation as many other drivers in Oklahoma.

Since consumers have many companies and agents to choose from, it's difficult to locate the most affordable company.

It's important to compare rates once or twice a year since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal a couple years back a different company probably has better rates today. So just forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because it's time to teach you the only way to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

More discounts equal less premium

Companies that sell car insurance don't list every available discount very well, so here is a list some of the best known and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving.

Air Bag Discount - Vehicles with factory air bags can receive discounts of 20% or more.
Payment Method - By paying your policy upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
Multi-policy Discount - If you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you will save 10% to 20% off each policy.
Life Insurance Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give a break if you buy life insurance from them.
Seat Belt Usage - Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save up to 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
No Accidents - Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts compared to drivers who are more careless.

A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So despite the fact that it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won't be that lucky.

You have some control over your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that help determine auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

The following are some of the factors auto insurance companies consider when setting your rates.

How credit affects auto insurance rates - Your credit history is a large factor in your rate calculation. Therefore, if your credit is not that good, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your rating. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have lower credit scores.
Optional equipment can affect rates - Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder auto theft.
Where you live can impact rates - Being located in a small town has it's advantages when buying auto insurance. Urban drivers tend to have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
More miles equals more premium - Driving more miles every year the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies price each vehicle's coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars that are left in the garage can get a lower rate as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Verify your auto insurance coverage properly reflects the proper vehicle usage, because it can save money.
Don't let your coverage lapse - Letting your insurance expire will be a guaranteed way to pay more for auto insurance. And not only will insurance be more expensive, getting caught without coverage can result in a license revocation or jail time.You may have to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the Oklahoma department of motor vehicles.
Do you have a high stress job? - Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Occupations like doctors, social workers and stock brokers tend to have the highest rates attributed to high stress levels and long work hours. On the other hand, jobs such as farmers, students and performers receive lower rates.
Do you need the policy add-ons? - There are a ton of extra bells and whistles you can purchase if you aren't careful. Things like personal injury protection, better glass coverage and term life insurance are some examples. These may sound like a good investment at first, but if they're wasting money remove them from your policy.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate continually stream ads in print and on television. All the ads have a common claim about savings after switching to their company. But how can every company say the same thing?

Different companies can use profiling for the driver that earns them a profit. An example of a preferred risk might be profiled as over the age of 40, has no tickets, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" gets the lowest rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Consumers who do not match this ideal profile will be charged higher prices and this can result in business not being written. The ads say "people who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That's why companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. That is why drivers should get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Even more information is available at the Oklahoma Insurance Department website. Oklahoma drivers can find out industry alerts, view a list of available companies, view agent and company licensing information, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Also read more on NAIC.org's Understanding your Policy and this directory of Mcalester insurance agents.

Final considerations

In this article, we covered a lot of techniques to reduce auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers could even find that the lowest premiums are with a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising. Regional companies may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as .

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, don't be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many cases where an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your goal should be to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.