Tightwads Instructions on Saving on Mobile Auto Insurance

Sick and tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? You are no different than millions of other consumers.

Lots of contend to insure your vehicles, so it's not easy to compare every to find the absolute lowest price

It's important to check auto insurance prices once or twice a year because prices are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best rates on your last policy the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. There is a lot of bad information regarding auto insurance on the web, but we're going to give you some great ways to save money.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance companies do not advertise every available discount in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of both the well known and the more hidden auto insurance savings.

Theft Prevention System - Anti-theft and alarm systems can help prevent theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Student Driver Training - Have your child take driver's ed class if offered at their school.
Low Mileage - Low mileage vehicles could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Multiple Cars - Insuring all your vehicles on the same auto insurance policy could earn a price break for each car.
One Accident Forgiven - A few companies permit an accident before raising your premiums if you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.

It's important to note that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you're out of luck.

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

Fast and Easy Mobile Auto Insurance Quotes

There are several ways of comparing rates and find the best price. The best method to compare insurance prices involves getting comparison quotes online. This can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The best way to get quotes is to use a rate comparison form click to view form in new window. This method saves time by eliminating separate quote forms to each individual auto insurance company. Taking the time to complete one form will get you price quotes from many national carriers.
A slightly less efficient method to compare rate quotes requires a visit to the website for each individual company to complete a price quote. For sake of this example, let's say you want rates from , and . To find out each rate you need to spend time on each company's site to input your insurance information, which is why most consumers use the first method.

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

Whichever way you use, double check that you are using the exact same coverage limits with each company. If you enter differing limits it will be impossible to make an equal comparison in Mobile. Just a small difference in limits can make a big difference in price. It's important to know that quoting more will enable you to find better pricing.

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 the rates you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get big savings.

Shown below are some of the items companies use to determine your rates.

More than one policy can earn a discount - Some companies give discounts to insureds who carry more than one policy. It's known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can add up to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even with this discount, you may still want to compare rates to make sure you are getting the best deal. Drivers may still find better rates by splitting coverages up.
Save money with special equipment - Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention devices such as GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all hinder your car from being stolen.
Safe vehicles cost less to insure - Vehicles with good safety scores are cheaper to insure. Safer cars result in less severe injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and lower rates for you.
Liability insurance protects assets - Your policy's liability coverage will protect you in the event that you are found liable for damages from an accident. It will provide you with a defense in court which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so buy as much as you can afford.
Men are more aggressive - The statistics show that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. Now that doesn't mean women are better drivers. They both tend to get into accidents at a similar rate, but men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving.
Cautious drivers pay less - Your driving record impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Good drivers receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. Just one speeding ticket can increase rates by twenty percent. Drivers who get dangerous violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.
Policy add-ons can waste money - There are quite a few extra bells and whistles you can purchase when buying auto insurance. Coverages like roadside assistance, better glass coverage and motor club memberships are examples of these. These coverages may sound good at first, but if you don't need them get rid of them and save.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Companies like Allstate and Progressive consistently run ads on TV and radio. All the ads say the same thing that you can save if you change to them. How do they all claim to save you money?

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that is profitable for them. A good example of a preferred risk might be between 25 and 40, has no tickets, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will cut their rates substantially.

Potential insureds who don't qualify for the "perfect" profile will be charged more money which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is "people who switch" not "people who quote" save money. That's why insurance companies can advertise the savings. That is why drivers must compare as many rates as you can. It's impossible to know the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Do the work, save more money

When you buy insurance online, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, an insured dropped collision coverage and discovered at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The aim is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

Lower-priced auto insurance is attainable both online and with local Mobile 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 the ability to get a quote online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

More Alabama auto insurance information

Additional detailed information can be read at the Alabama Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read consumer alerts, view a list of available companies, find disaster information, and find out which companies have the most complaints.