How to Get Cheap Montross Car Insurance

If you're new to shopping for car insurance online, you may be overwhelmed by the large number of car insurance companies competing for business in Montross.

It's important to compare rates occasionally due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best deal last year there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because I'm going to teach you the proper way to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that help determine the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

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

How credit affects car insurance rates - Your credit history is a huge factor in determining your rates. So if your credit score is not that good, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers who have high credit ratings tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have lower credit scores.
Bundling policies can get discounts - Many car insurance companies give discounts to insureds who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount it's in your best interest to comparison shop to ensure the best deal.
Teen drivers pay high rates - Youthful drivers in Virginia are known to be less responsible behind the wheel so they pay higher car insurance rates. If you've ever had to add a young driver to your car insurance policy can be very expensive. Older drivers tend to be more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations.
Big city or small town - Living in small towns and rural areas has it's advantages when talking about car insurance. Drivers in populated areas regularly have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Lower population translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.

Automobile Insurance Quotes in Montross, VA

Reducing your insurance rates can be relatively painless. You just have to take a couple of minutes to compare quotes from different insurance companies. This can be done using a couple different methods.

The fastest way to find the lowest comparison rates is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This form keeps you from doing separate forms for each company you want a rate for. A single form will get you rate comparisons from several companies. Recommended for those who want to invest the least amount of time.
A slightly less efficient method to get quotes online requires you to visit the website for each individual company and fill out their own quote form. For instance, let's say you want to compare , and . To get each rate you have to go to every website and enter your policy data, and that's why the first method is more popular. To view a list of companies in Montross, click here.
The hardest method to get comparison rates to insurance agents' offices. Buying insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you have a need for the trained guidance that only a license agent can provide. Drivers can find lower rates online and still use a local agent and you'll learn how to do that later.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just make absolute certain that you use identical coverage information for each comparison quote. If your comparisons have unequal deductibles or liability limits you will not be able to determine the lowest rate in Montross.

Save big with these discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but there could be available discounts to cut the cost considerably. Most are applied when you purchase, but some must be asked for before being credited. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

Braking Control Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can reduce accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
Resident Student - Any of your kids who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
Multi-policy Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Organization Discounts - Being a member of a qualifying organization could trigger savings on your policy.
Federal Employees - Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off with certain companies.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. Just because you may think adding up those discounts means a free policy, car insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will bring down your overall premium however.

To choose providers who offer car insurance discounts in Virginia, click this link.

Car insurance ads bend the truth

Consumers in Virginia can't ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance by Allstate and Progressive. All the ads make the same claim about savings after switching to their company.

How does each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that makes them money. An example of a preferred risk might be over the age of 40, owns a home, and has great credit. Any driver who matches those parameters receives the best rates and most likely will save when switching.

Consumers who fall outside these standards will be charged higher prices which leads to the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "drivers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings.

That is why you need to get as many comparisons as possible. You cannot predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a perfect coverage plan. Every insured's situation is different.

These are some specific questions might point out if your situation could use an agent's help.

Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Virginia?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Montross?
Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It is quick, free and may give you better protection.

Additional information is available on the Virginia Bureau of Insurance website. Click here for link. Visitors are able to find out industry alerts, read consumer alerts, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Best coverage at the best price

As you prepare to switch companies, it's very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The aim is to buy enough coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

Cheap car insurance can be bought both online and also from your neighborhood Montross agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who may not provide online price quotes and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

We just presented some good ideas how to compare car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even find the lowest premiums are with a lesser-known regional company.