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

No one looks forward to buying auto insurance, in particular when they are paying too much. Drivers have multiple to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to have multiple companies, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

Finding the best rates in Soldotna is quite easy. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will most likely be able to reduce your rates substantially using this strategy. Alaska drivers only need an understanding of the most efficient way to buy auto insurance on the web.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies offering auto insurance do not list all available discounts very clearly, so the following is a list of both well-publicized as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

  • Homeowners Savings - Owning a home in Soldotna can help you save on auto insurance because maintaining a house demonstrates responsibility.
  • Good Student - Performing well in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last up until you turn 25.
  • Multiple Cars - Buying coverage for all your vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Save over 55 - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive better auto insurance rates.
  • Safety Course Discount - Taking part in a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more if you qualify.
  • Student in College - Kids in college living away from home attending college and don't have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • Discount for New Cars - Putting insurance coverage on a new car is cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Drivers Education - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver's education if offered at their school.

Consumers should know that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don't profit that way.

Soldotna Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what determines base rates enables informed choices that could result in big savings.

Shown below are some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

  • What are your deductibles? - Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, also known as collision and other-than-collision, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be colliding with a building, damage from fire, and burglary. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be.
  • Traffic violations increase rates - Only having one ticket can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Careful drivers have lower premiums than their less careful counterparts. Drivers with dangerous tickets such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence are required to submit a SR-22 form with their state DMV in order to prevent a license revocation.
  • Males pay more for insurance - Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. Now that doesn't mean men are worse drivers. They both are in accidents at a similar rate, but the male of the species tend to have more serious accidents. Men also tend to receive more costly citations such as DWI and reckless driving.
  • Older drivers pay less - Teen drivers in Alaska have a tendency to get distracted easily behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Parents adding a teenage driver to your auto insurance policy can be quite pricey. Older drivers are more responsible, file fewer claims and get fewer tickets.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to buying coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Everyone's needs are different so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions may help highlight whether you might need an agent's assistance.

  • When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
  • Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
  • Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
  • Should I buy additional glass protection?
  • Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
  • Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?

If you're not sure about those questions, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and can help protect your family.

How can Allstate, GEICO and Progressive save drivers who switch?

Alaska consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance by Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies make an identical promise of big savings if you change to their company.

How does each company make almost identical claims?

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that earns them a profit. A good example of a profitable customer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A driver who meets those qualifications will get the preferred rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Potential customers who are not a match for these standards must pay a more expensive rate and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers that switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. This illustrates why drivers should get as many quotes as possible. It is impossible to predict which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional Alaska consumer information

More tips and info about auto insurance can be read at the Alaska Division of Insurance website. Alaska consumers can report car insurance fraud, file complaints about a company, learn about insurance regulations, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Alaska auto insurance

And the best car insurance company is...

Cost effective auto insurance can be sourced online and also from your neighborhood Soldotna agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

In this article, we presented many tips how you can reduce auto insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from a small local company. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than the large multi-state companies such as .

When shopping online for auto insurance, it's very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. In too many instances, someone dropped collision coverage and discovered at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.