Car Insurance in St Paul - 6 Ways to Save Money

Beginners to buying insurance online can find finding the lowest-priced St Paul car insurance to be a formidable task.

It's important to check car insurance prices occasionally since rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal six months ago you can probably find a better price now. Starting right now, forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because we're going to show you the proper way to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

Virginia car insurance

These six discounts can lower your rates

Auto insurance companies don't list every available discount very clearly, so here is a list some of the more common and also the lesser-known car insurance savings.

  • Early Switch Discount - Some companies give discounts for switching to them prior to your current policy expiration. It's a savings of about 10%.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • Discount for Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase life insurance.
  • Resident Student - Children who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
  • Passive Restraints - Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.
  • 55 and Retired - If you're over the age of 55, you may be able to get reduced rates.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, car insurance companies aren't that generous.

To choose providers who offer car insurance discounts in Virginia, follow this link.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate continually stream ads on television and other media. All the ads say the same thing about savings after switching to them. How does each company make the same claim? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of driver that makes them money. An example of a preferred risk could be between 30 and 50, owns a home, and has a high credit rating. Any new insured who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Consumers who are not a match for these standards will be charged higher rates which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads state "customers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save money. That is how companies can truthfully state the savings. That is why you should quote coverage with many companies. It's just too difficult to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

Different people need different coverages

When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a "perfect" insurance plan. Every situation is different.

For instance, these questions might point out whether you might need professional guidance.

  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
  • When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
  • What are Virginia no-fault laws?
  • Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
  • Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
  • Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form.

For more Virginia car insurance information

Even more information is available at the Virginia Bureau of Insurance website. Consumers can file complaints about a company, find out industry alerts, and view agent and company licensing information.

St Paul car insurance quote

Do the work, save more money

You just learned many ways to save on car insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Drivers may discover the best prices are with some of the smallest insurance companies.

As you restructure your insurance plan, it's very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many cases where an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that they should have had better coverage. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Cheap car insurance can be purchased from both online companies and with local St Paul insurance agents, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.