How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Rocky Mount

Nobody I know cherishes buying auto insurance, in particular when the cost is way too high.

There is such a variety of to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to have a choice, so many choices can make it hard to compare rates.

It's important to get comparison quotes occasionally because prices are constantly changing. Just because you found the best price two years ago you may be paying too much now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate the quickest way to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

Finding Auto Insurance Deals in Rocky Mount, VA

Most major insurance companies like State Farm, GEICO and Progressive allow you to get insurance quotes on the web. This process doesn't take much effort as you just type in your coverage preferences as detailed in the form. Behind the scenes, the company's rating system will obtain reports for credit and driving violations and provides a quote. Quoting online makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the work required to visit a lot of sites and complete many quote forms can get tiresome after awhile. But it's very important to compare as many rates as possible in order to find the best price on auto insurance.

There is a better way!

A less time-consuming method to get multiple rate quotes uses one form that gets price quotes from a bunch of companies at once. The form is fast, helps eliminate reptitive entry, and makes price shopping online much easier. As soon as the form is sent, it is rated with multiple companies and you can pick any one of the returned quotes.

If a lower price is quoted, you can simply submit the application and purchase coverage. The entire process takes 15 minutes at the most and may save quite a bit of money.

To find out if lower rates are available, click here to open in new window and complete the simple form. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you copy the coverage information as shown on your current policy. This way, you will get a fair comparison based on similar coverages.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

It's important that you understand the rating factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with big savings.

  • Males pay more for insurance - Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. Now that doesn't mean men are WORSE drivers than women. They both are in accidents in similar percentages, but the males tend to have more serious accidents. They also have more aggressive citations such as DWI and reckless driving.
  • Multi-policy discounts can save money - Some auto insurance companies will give a discount to customers who consolidate policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you still need to shop around to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
  • Do you have enough liability coverage? - Your policy's liability coverage is the coverage that protects you if ever a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. Liability provides for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • Discounts for married couples - Having a spouse helps lower the price on your auto insurance policy. It usually means you are more mature and it's proven that married couples file fewer claims.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but companies offer discounts that you may not know about. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you get a quote, but less common discounts must be specially asked for before you will receive the discount.

  • Accident Forgiveness - Certain companies will forgive one accident without raising rates as long as you don't have any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
  • Theft Prevention System - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more.
  • Multiple Cars - Buying coverage for all your vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Sign Online - A handful of insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks just for signing your application over the internet.
  • Club Memberships - Participating in a qualifying organization could trigger savings on auto insurance.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn't work that way. But any discount will bring down the cost of coverage.

For a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in Virginia, click this link.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a cookie cutter policy. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions might point out whether you will benefit from professional help.

  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
  • Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
  • Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
  • Do I qualify for additional discounts?
  • Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
  • Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

More information can be found on the website for the Virginia Bureau of Insurance located here. Virginia consumers can learn about insurance regulations, read consumer alerts, find out which companies have the most complaints, and get help finding coverage.

Rocky Mount auto insurance quote

Do the work, save more money

Affordable auto insurance can be sourced online in addition to many Rocky Mount insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies do not provide online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

When buying insurance coverage, never reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, an insured cut physical damage coverage only to discover later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford.