Proven Techniques to Save on Petersburg Car Insurance

Nobody I know looks forward to buying car insurance, particularly when the cost is way too high. Drivers have multiple to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to have a selection, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't always advertise every discount very clearly, so we took the time to find both the well known as well as the least known ways to save on car insurance. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you're paying more than you need to.

Federal Employees - Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% with a few car insurance companies.
Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for buying a policy before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
Braking Control Discount - Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
Distant Student - Any of your kids who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have a car can receive lower rates.
Accident Forgiveness - Certain companies will forgive one accident before raising your premiums if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.
Paperwork-free - Certain companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy over the internet.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky.

To see a list of insurance companies offering car insurance discounts in Alaska, click this link.

Car Insurance Comparison Rates in Petersburg, AK

There are several ways to shop for car insurance, and some are easier and takes less work. You can waste a lot of time talking to insurance agencies in Petersburg, or you could save time and use the web to quickly compare rates.

Many insurance companies enroll in a system that allows shoppers to submit their information once, and each company returns a competitive quote. This system prevents you from having to do quote forms to each individual car insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

One minor caviat to comparing rates this way is you are unable to specify which carriers to get quotes from. So if you prefer to choose specific providers to compare rates, we put together a list of car insurance companies in Alaska. Click here for list of insurance companies in Alaska.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just be sure to compare identical coverage limits and deductibles on every quote you get. If you are comparing different liability limits it's not possible to determine which rate is truly the best in Petersburg.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that will entitle you to lower car insurance prices.

Listed below are a few of the "ingredients" car insurance companies consider when setting prices.

Frequent car insurance claims increase rates - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Companies in Alaska give lower rates to insureds who are claim-free. Auto insurance is intended for larger claims.
Bad driving skills means higher rates - Careful drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Only having one moving violation can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. If you have serious violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may find they need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
Multiple policies with one company can save - Most car insurance companies provide better rates to insureds who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to compare rates to ensure the best deal.
Mature drivers pay less - Youthful drivers in Alaska are statistically proven to be careless and easily distracted behind the wheel so they pay higher car insurance rates. If you've ever had to add a youthful driver to your car insurance policy can break the bank. Older drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to file fewer claims and are safer drivers.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a perfect coverage plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so this has to be addressed. For example, these questions may help highlight whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Alaska?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Petersburg?
I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?

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 or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It only takes a few minutes and can help protect your family.

Is there truth in advertising?

Consumers in Alaska can't get away from ads for cheaper car insurance by Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. They all make the same claim about savings if you switch to their company.

How does each company claim to save you money?

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that is profitable for them. For example, a driver they prefer might be a mature driver, a clean driving record, and drives newer vehicles. Any driver who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential customers who don't measure up to these standards will be quoted a higher premium which leads to the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully claim big savings. This emphasizes why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

And the best car insurance company is...

We just presented some good ideas how to compare car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers could even find that the best price on car insurance is with the least-expected company. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like .

When trying to cut insurance costs, it's very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where someone dropped physical damage coverage only to discover later that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Additional Alaska consumer information

Even more information can be found at the Alaska Division of Insurance website. Visitors are able to download brochures, file complaints about a company, read consumer alerts, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.