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

No one in their right mind looks forward to paying for auto insurance, in particular when the price is too high.

Companies like GEICO and Progressive increase brand awareness with fancy advertisements and it can be hard to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

It's important to check auto insurance prices periodically because prices are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best deal a couple years back there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Starting now, forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the proper way to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with big savings.

Shown below are some of the factors companies use to determine rates.

  • Teen drivers pay high rates - Older drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and receive fewer citations. Teen drivers have a tendency to be less responsible behind the wheel and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
  • Careful drivers pay lower rates - Just one speeding ticket can increase rates twenty percent or more. Good drivers get better rates than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who have dangerous citations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to file a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to prevent a license revocation.
  • Choose a safe vehicle and save - Vehicles with good safety scores get lower rates. These vehicles result in less severe injuries and lower injury rates means less money paid by your insurance company and more competitive rates for policyholders.
  • Your stress level may be raising your rates - Jobs such as doctors, social workers and dentists tend to pay the highest average rates due to high stress and lots of time spent at work. Other professions such as scientists, historians and retirees have the lowest average rates.

Seaside auto insurance comparison

Seaside Auto Insurance Comparisons

There are several ways of comparing price quotes from different Seaside insurance companies. One of the best ways to find competitive insurance rates is to get quotes online. This is very easy and can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

  1. The fastest way to get quotes is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This type of form keeps you from doing a different quote to each individual auto insurance company. Just one form will get you price quotes .
  2. A more difficult way to compare rate quotes requires a visit to each company's website and complete a new quote form. For sake of this example, let's say you want to compare , and . To find out each rate you need to spend time on each company's site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is quicker.

    To view a list of companies in Seaside, click here.
  3. The most time-consuming method of getting rate comparisons to local Seaside insurance agencies. The internet eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you want the professional advice only provided by licensed Seaside agents. It is possible to find lower rates online and still use a local agent. We'll cover that shortly.

However you get your quotes, be sure to compare exactly the same coverage limits on every quote. If each company quotes differing limits you can't possibly make a fair comparison in Seaside. Slightly different limits can make a big difference in price. Keep in mind that quoting more will improve the odds of getting better pricing.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance companies do not advertise all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list both well-publicized and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving.

  • Discount for New Cars - Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Passive Restraints - Factory air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
  • Military Rewards - Being deployed with a military unit could be rewarded with lower premiums.
  • Accident Free - Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts as compared to accident-prone drivers.
  • Homeowners Savings - Owning a house in Seaside can save you money because maintaining a house requires personal responsibility.

Keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears all those discounts means the company will pay you, it just doesn't work that way.

To choose companies with discount auto insurance rates in Seaside, click here.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Auto insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm consistently run ads on TV and radio. They all seem to have a common claim that you can save if you change to them. How can each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of driver that makes them money. An example of a desirable insured could possibly be over the age of 40, a clean driving record, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who don't qualify for the requirements will have to pay higher rates and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save money. That is how insurance companies can advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, you need to get as many comparisons as possible. It's impossible to know which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

How to know if you need help

When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions may help highlight whether your personal situation could use an agent's help.

  • Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?
  • Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
  • Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
  • Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
  • When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
  • Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?

If you can't answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Additional detailed information is available at the Oregon Insurance Division website. Oregon consumers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, file complaints about a company, find disaster information, and read industry bulletins.

Oregon auto insurance

Affordable insurance is out there

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's a bad idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that the savings was not a smart move. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price.

You just read a lot of techniques to compare auto insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more times you quote, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even find the lowest premiums are with a small mutual company. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than their larger competitors like .

Affordable auto insurance is attainable online and with local Seaside insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some auto insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.