Comparing Low-Cost Troutville Auto Insurance

Have you had enough of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? You're in the same situation as the majority of other car owners in Virginia.

With consumers having so many options when it comes to auto insurance, it's difficult to find the lowest price car insurance company.

It's important to get comparison quotes before your policy renews because prices are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best deal on your last policy there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Starting right now, forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the only way to save on auto insurance.

The purpose of this post is to let you in on how car insurance quotes work and some money-saving tips. If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to save some money using this strategy. But Virginia drivers do need to know the methods companies use to market insurance on the web and take advantage of how the system works.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with big savings.

Shown below are some of the factors that factor into rates.

Please use or commuting - The higher the mileage driven every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. The majority of insurers apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Autos not used for work or commuting can get a lower rate than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Ask your agent if your auto insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the correct usage for each vehicle, because it can save money.
Your stress level may be raising your rates - Jobs such as doctors, executives and stock brokers are shown to have the highest rates due to stressful work requirements and lots of time spent at work. On the other hand, occupations such as farmers, students and retirees pay the least.
Don't buy coverages you don't need - There are quite a few extra bells and whistles that you can buy on your auto insurance policy. Things like rental car reimbursement, towing coverage and membership fees may be wasting your money. They may seem like a good idea initially, but your needs may have changed so remove them from your policy.
Careful drivers pay lower rates - Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Just one speeding ticket may increase your cost forty percent or more. Drivers with clean records get better rates than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who have dangerous citations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may need to submit a SR-22 form with their state DMV in order to prevent a license revocation.
Don't sacrifice liability coverage - Your policy's liability coverage will protect you if ever a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. Liability provides legal defense coverage which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
Bump up deductibles to save - Physical damage coverage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be collision with another vehicle, vandalism, and rolling your vehicle. Physical damage deductibles are how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The more money the insured has to pay upfront, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
More claims means more premium - Car insurance companies in Virginia give discounts to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can look forward to either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Insurance coverage is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Don't cancel a policy without a new one in place - Driving without insurance is a misdemeanor and as a result your rates will increase for letting your coverage have a gap. And not only will your rates increase, getting caught without coverage might get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.Then you may be required to prove you have insurance by filing a SR-22 with the Virginia department of motor vehicles.

Comparison of Auto Insurance in Troutville

All major auto insurance companies give insurance quotes on the web. This process doesn't take much effort as you just type in as detailed in the form. After the form is submitted, the company's rating system will obtain your credit score and driving record and returns a price quote. This makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the process of having to visit different websites and enter the same data into a form is monotonous and tiresome. But it's very important to perform this step in order to get the best price on auto insurance.

The preferred way to lower your auto insurance bill uses one form that obtains quotes from more than one company. The form is fast, reduces the work, and makes rate comparisons much more enjoyable. After sending your information, your coverage is rated with multiple companies and you can pick any or none of the resulting price quotes.

If you find a better price you can click and sign and purchase the new policy. This process takes just a few minutes to complete and you will know how your current rates stack up.

To find out if lower rates are available, click here to open in new window and enter your information. If you have a policy now, it's recommended you copy the limits and deductibles just like they are on your policy. This makes sure you will have a price comparison for the exact same coverage.

Are you getting all your discounts?

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but companies offer discounts to help bring down the price. Most are applied when you purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be inquired about before being credited.

Discount for New Cars - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
No Claims - Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts as compared to accident-prone drivers.
Safety Course Discount - Taking part in a course in driver safety could save 5% or more if your company offers it.
Good Students Pay Less - This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.
Organization Discounts - Participating in a professional or civic organization could trigger savings on auto insurance.
Multiple Cars - Buying coverage for all your vehicles with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.
Seat Belts Save more than Lives - Requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could save 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with one insurance company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.
Theft Prevention System - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.

Drivers should understand that many deductions do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will help reduce the cost of coverage.

To choose companies with discount auto insurance rates in Virginia, click this link.

How can GEICO, State Farm and Progressive save drivers who switch?

Auto insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive consistently run ads on television and other media. They all seem to make the same claim that you'll save big if you change your policy. But how can every company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies can use profiling for the right customer that makes them money. An example of a desirable insured could possibly be over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Consumers who are not a match for this ideal profile will have to pay higher prices which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that kind of money. That's why companies can advertise the savings.

Because of the profiling, you need to get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Much more information about auto insurance in Virginia is available on the website for the Virginia Bureau of Insurance found here. Virginia consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read industry bulletins, discover disciplinary actions, and file complaints about a company.

Other informative sites include Auto Insurance 101 and this page where you can research Troutville insurance agents.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

When you buy insurance online, don't be tempted to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, an accident victim reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price.

Budget-conscious auto insurance is attainable online in addition to many Troutville insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who do not provide online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.