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

Nobody likes having to buy auto insurance, in particular when the price is too high. Because you have many choices, it is hard for the average consumer to pick the lowest cost provider.

It's important to shop coverage around occasionally because prices are constantly changing. If you had the best deal a year ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So 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 find better rates and still maintain coverage.

This article will introduce you to how car insurance quotes work and some tricks to saving. If you have car insurance now, you will be able to save some money using these methods. Washington consumers only need to know the most effective way to get comparison rates online.

Save big with these discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time of quoting, but some must be specifically requested before you will receive the discount. If you don't get every credit you qualify for, you're paying more than you need to.

  • College Student - Youth drivers who live away from home without a vehicle on campus may qualify for this discount.
  • Bundle and Save - When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same company you may earn up to 20% off your total premium.
  • Federal Employees - Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
  • Anti-theft Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Memberships - Participating in a professional or civic organization may earn a discount on auto insurance.
  • Defensive Driving Course - Completing a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
  • Discount for New Cars - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can be considerably cheaper since new cars are generally safer.

A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will help reduce your overall premium however.

To see a list of companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Washington, click here.

Washougal auto insurance comparison

Finding Auto Insurance in Washougal, WA

Finding cheaper auto insurance prices is surprisingly easy. You just have to take the time to compare quotes provided by online insurance companies. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

  • The best way to find low rates is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This type of form saves time by eliminating repetitive form submissions for every auto insurance company. A single form gets you coverage quotes from multiple companies.
  • A more difficult way to get quotes online consists of going to each company's website to complete a price quote. For instance, we'll pretend you want to compare , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker. To view a list of companies in Washougal, click here.
  • The most time-consuming method of comparing rate quotes is driving to local Washougal insurance agencies. Shopping for auto insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you want the trained guidance of a local Washougal agent. It is possible to obtain prices from the web and still use a local agent. We'll cover that shortly.

However you get your quotes, make absolute certain that you use apples-to-apples coverages with each company. If you are comparing different limits and deductibles on each one then you won't be able to make an equal comparison in Washougal.

Tips to Get Lower Washougal Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

The list below includes some of the factors used by your company to calculate rates.

  • Mature drivers pay less - Teen drivers in Washington tend to be more careless behind the wheel so auto insurance rates are higher. If you've ever had to add a young driver onto a policy can break the bank. Older drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.
  • How many coverages with the same company - The majority of insurance companies will give a discount to customers who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to compare rates to verify if the discount is saving money.
  • Frequent auto insurance claims increase rates - Car insurance companies in Washington generally give discounts to insureds who do not file claims often. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can look forward to higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for larger claims.
  • Don't skimp on liability - The liability section of your policy is the coverage that protects you if ever a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. It will provide legal defense coverage starting from day one. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Every situation is different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions might point out if your situation would benefit from professional advice.

  • What are Washington no-fault laws?
  • Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
  • Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
  • Are rental cars covered under my policy?
  • Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
  • Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?

If you can't answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and you can get the answers you need.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Washington consumers can't get away from ads for cheaper car insurance from the likes of Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to have a common claim about savings if you move your coverage to them.

But how can every company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that is profitable for them. An example of a desirable insured could possibly be a mature driver, owns a home, and has excellent credit. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" gets the lowest rates and most likely will save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who fall outside this ideal profile will have to pay more money and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. That is how companies can truthfully make those claims.

Because of the profiling, drivers must get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know which company will have the lowest rates.

And the best car insurance company is...

While you're price shopping online, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage only to find out they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price.

The cheapest auto insurance is definitely available online as well as from independent agents in Washougal, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies don't offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

Washougal auto insurance quote

For more Washington car insurance information

Additional information is available on the website for the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner found here. Washington consumers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, read consumer alerts, download brochures, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Additional helpful sites include Auto Insurance 101 and this page of insurance agents in Washougal.