Top 6 Ways to Pay Less on Car Insurance in Oak Ridge
If you're new to shopping for car insurance online, it's easy to be confused by the sheer number of car insurance companies competing for business in Oak Ridge.
Buying affordable car insurance in Oak Ridge is simple if you know the tricks. In a nutshell, everyone who has to buy car insurance stands a good chance to be able to save money. Nevertheless, Tennessee consumers do need to know the way insurance companies market insurance on the web and take advantage of how the system works.
Car Insurance Comparison Rates in Oak Ridge, TN
Performing a rate comparison can be a lot of work if you don't understand the most efficient way to do it. You can spend your afternoon driving to insurance agencies in Oak Ridge, or you can utilize online quoting to get the quickest rates.
Most of the larger companies are enrolled in a marketplace that allows shoppers to submit their information once, and each company provides a quote determined by their information. This prevents consumers from doing repetitive form submissions to each individual car insurance company.
To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.
The only downside to pricing coverage this way is you are unable to specify which providers to get quotes from. So if you prefer to choose from a list of companies to compare, we have a listing of low cost car insurance companies in Tennessee. Click here to view list.
Whichever method you choose, be sure to compare apples-to-apples coverage limits with every price quote. If your comparisons have differing limits it will be next to impossible to find the best deal in Oak Ridge. Slightly different coverage limits may result in large price differences. Keep in mind that comparing more company's prices provides better odds of finding better pricing.
Be sure to get all your discounts
Insuring your fleet can be pricey, buy you may qualify for discounts to help bring down the price. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time you complete a quote, but some must be manually applied prior to getting the savings.
- Military Discounts - Being deployed with a military unit could be rewarded with lower premiums.
- Air Bag Discount - Cars that have air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of up to 25% or more.
- Safety Course Discount - Successfully completing a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
- Anti-lock Brakes - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and will save you 10% or more.
- Save with a New Car - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
- Pay Now and Pay Less - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
Consumers should know that some credits don't apply to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don't profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce the amount you have to pay.
To choose insurance companies with discount car insurance rates in Tennessee, click here.
Is there truth in advertising?
Car insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO consistently run television and radio advertisements. They all have a common claim of big savings if you change your policy. But how can every company claim to save you money?
Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the right customer that makes them money. An example of a driver they prefer might be a mature driver, a clean driving record, and has a short commute. Any new insured that hits that "sweet spot" receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.
Potential customers who don't measure up to this ideal profile will be quoted a more expensive rate and this can result in the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. That is how insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings.
This emphasizes why you need to get a wide range of price quotes. It's just too difficult to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.
How do I know if I need professional advice?
When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no "best" method to buy coverage. Each situation is unique.
For example, these questions may help highlight whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.
- Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
- Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
- Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
- Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
- Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
- What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
If you can't answer these questions but a few of them apply then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.
Additional car insurance information is available on the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance website through this link. Visitors are able to find disaster information, file complaints about a company, and discover disciplinary actions.
Other informative sites include this page for car insurance prices in Tennessee and this page of Oak Ridge insurance agents.
Final considerations
Drivers leave their current company for many reasons like unfair underwriting practices, poor customer service, questionable increases in premium or even policy cancellation. Regardless of your reason, finding the right car insurance provider is easier than you think.
We just covered a lot of ways to compare car insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even discover the best price on car insurance is with a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising.
Cost effective car insurance is attainable both online in addition to many Oak Ridge insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance providers do not provide online price quotes and these smaller companies work with independent agents.
