How to Get the Cheapest Portland Auto Insurance

Purchasing affordable Portland auto insurance online can be somewhat difficult for people who are new to comparison shopping online. With so many choices of online companies available, how can consumers possibly compare them all to find the lowest rates?

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

The following are a partial list of the pieces that factor into prices.

Lower rates with optional equipment - Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all aid in stopping auto theft.
Teen drivers pay high rates - More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, statistically cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations. Teenage drivers are known to be less responsible when driving and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
Increase deductibles and save - The deductibles define the amount you are required to spend before your auto insurance pays a claim. Physical damage insurance, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered are running into the backend of another car, damage caused by hail, and rolling your vehicle. The more the insured has to pay upfront, the bigger discount you will receive.
Never go without insurance - Allowing your auto insurance policy to lapse will be a quick way to bump up your auto insurance costs. Not only will you pay more, but not being able to provide proof of insurance may earn you a license revocation or jail time.
Occupation reflects on rates - Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Careers like judges, social workers and dentists are shown to have the highest average rates because of high stress and long work days. Other professions such as pilots, historians and performers pay the least.

Free Quotes for Auto Insurance in Portland, Tennessee

Reducing your insurance rates can be surprisingly simple. You just have to invest a few minutes comparing rates online from several insurance companies. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in several different ways.

The fastest way consumers can make multiple comparisons is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This type of form prevents you from having to do boring form submissions for each company you want a rate for. One form gets you price quotes from all major companies.It's the quickest way to get rates.
A harder way to get quotes online requires visiting the website of each company to complete their respective quote request forms. For example, let's assume you want comparison quotes from , and . To get each rate you have to visit each site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is more popular. To view a list of companies in Portland, click here.

Whichever method you choose, make darn sure you compare exactly the same quote information on every quote you get. If you compare mixed coverages it will be impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Portland.

Save big with these discounts

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, buy you may qualify for discounts that you may not know about. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you quote, but less common discounts must be requested specifically before you get the savings. If you aren't receiving every discount you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

Payment Method - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
Distant Student - Youth drivers who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
Own a Home - Simply owning a home can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
Seat Belt Usage - Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
No Claims - Drivers who don't have accidents pay much less when compared to accident-prone drivers.

Keep in mind that some credits don't apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, it just doesn't work that way. But any discount will reduce your overall premium however.

To choose insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Portland, click here.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Tennessee drivers can't ignore all the ads for car insurance savings from companies such as State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all have a common claim that you can save after switching your policy.

How can each company say the same thing?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that makes them money. For instance, a driver they prefer might be profiled as a mature driver, insures multiple vehicles, and has a high credit rating. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" gets the lowest rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Drivers who fall outside the requirements will be quoted a higher premium and this can result in business not being written. The ads say "customers that switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can state the savings.

This emphasizes why you need to get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When buying the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone's needs are different.

These are some specific questions may help you determine if your situation would benefit from professional advice.

What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Portland?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?

If you can't answer these questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. If you don't have a local agent, complete this form. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

More information is located on the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance website located here. Tennessee drivers can view a list of available companies, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and report car insurance fraud.

Best coverage at the best price

Drivers change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as unfair underwriting practices, not issuing a premium refund, an unsatisfactory settlement offer or even being labeled a high risk driver. Whatever your reason, choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.

As you restructure your insurance plan, it's a bad idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced liability coverage limits only to discover later that they should have had better coverage. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Affordable auto insurance can be sourced on the web in addition to many Portland insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best selection. Some insurance companies do not provide online price quotes and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.