Compare Sweetwater Auto Insurance Prices With These Tricks

Are you intimidated by the number of auto insurance choices in Sweetwater? Lot's of other consumers are too. You have so many options that it can turn into a lot of work to find better rates.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates every six months because prices are constantly changing. Just because you found the best deal a year ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So just block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the proper way to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you should be able to save some money using these methods. This information will help educate you on how car insurance quotes work and some tricks to saving. But Tennessee drivers do need to know how companies sell online and take advantage of how the system works.

Save big with these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't always list every available discount in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list both well-publicized and the harder-to-find ways to save on auto insurance.

Discount for Good Grades - A discount for being a good student can earn a discount of 20% or more. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.
Memberships - Participating in certain professional organizations could trigger savings on your policy.
Multiple Cars - Insuring all your vehicles on the same auto insurance policy qualifies for this discount.
Resident Student - Any of your kids who live away from home and don't have a car may qualify for this discount.
Student Driver Training - Have your child take driver's ed class if offered at their school.
Low Mileage - Low mileage vehicles can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.
Discount for Swiching Early - Select companies give a discount for switching policies before your current expiration date. The savings is around 10%.
Homeowners Discount - Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings because maintaining a house requires personal responsibility.
Pay Now and Pay Less - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.

Consumers should know that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don't profit that way.

To see a list of providers with discount auto insurance rates in Sweetwater, click this link.

Comprehensive Sweetwater Auto Insurance Comparison

There are several ways of comparing price quotes from auto insurance companies in your area. The best method to compare insurance prices is to use the internet to compare rates. This can be done in a couple of different ways.

The best way to get quotes for comparison is to use a rate comparison form click here to open form in new window. This form prevents you from having to do repetitive form submissions for each company you want a rate for. Filling out one form gets you price quotes from multiple companies. This is perfect if you don't have a lot of time.
A more difficult way to get quotes online requires a trip to each company website to request a price quote. For sake of this example, let's assume you want to compare rates from , and . To get each rate you have to spend time on each company's site to input your insurance information, and that's why the first method is more popular.

To view a list of companies in Sweetwater, click here.
The hardest method of getting rate comparisons is driving around to local Sweetwater insurance agencies. Buying insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you have a need for the personal advice that only a license agent can provide. Drivers can obtain prices from the web and still use a local agent. We'll cover that shortly.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just ensure you are comparing the exact same quote information for each price quote. If each company quotes mixed coverages it will be very difficult to truly determine the lowest rate in Sweetwater. Having just a slight variation in insurance coverages may cause a big price difference. Just remember that obtaining a wide range of quotes will enable you to find a better price.

Sweetwater Rates are Influenced by These Factors

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are some of the factors auto insurance companies consider when setting your rates.

Careful drivers pay lower rates - Your driving record impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Even a single speeding ticket can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who get dangerous violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to file a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to prevent a license revocation.
Liability coverage is peace of mind - Your policy's liability coverage provides coverage in the event that a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It will provide legal defense coverage which can be incredibly expensive. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
Do you know your deductibles? - Physical damage insurance, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply could be running into the backend of another car, damage from fire, and windstorm damage. Physical damage deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. The more money you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be.
Mature drivers pay less - Older insureds tend to be more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations. Teen drivers have a tendency to be careless and easily distracted when behind the wheel therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
Keep rates low by being claim-free - Insurance companies in Tennessee give better rates to people who are claim-free. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can look forward to either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Your insurance policy is designed for the large, substantial claims.
Theft deterrents lower rates - Choosing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention devices such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Companies like State Farm and Allstate consistently run ads on TV and radio. All the ads make the same claim that you'll save big if you change to their company. How do they all make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that is profitable for them. An example of a preferred risk could possibly be between 25 and 40, has no driving citations, and has excellent credit. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will cut their rates substantially.

Drivers who fall outside the "perfect" profile will be charged higher premiums which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "drivers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. That's the way companies can make those claims. That is why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

You just read some good ideas how to compare auto insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the most savings is with a smaller regional carrier.

Discount auto insurance can be sourced online and also from your neighborhood Sweetwater agents, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

While you're price shopping online, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed liability limits or collision coverage only to find out they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

Learn more about Tennessee auto insurance

More detailed Tennessee auto insurance information is available at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance website. Tennessee consumers can file complaints about a company, find out which companies have the most complaints, and report car insurance fraud.