Free Guide to Paying Less for Yakima Auto Insurance Online

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me when I say there are a lot of people in Yakima just like you who feel imprisoned by their auto insurance policy. Drivers have so many to buy insurance from, and although it's a good thing to have multiple companies, too many choices makes it more difficult to compare rates.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not know about. Certain discounts will be applied when you get a quote, but some must be manually applied before you will receive the discount. If you're not getting every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

Claim Free - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts when compared to drivers who are more careless.
Low Mileage Discounts - Fewer annual miles can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.
Paperwork-free - Certain companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks just for signing your application over the internet.
Multiple Vehicles - Buying insurance for multiple vehicles on one policy qualifies for this discount.
Seat Belts Save more than Lives - Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it just doesn't work that way. But any discount will bring down the amount you have to pay.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices.

The following are some of the factors used by your company to calculate prices.

Occupation reflects on rates - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Careers like doctors, executives and financial analysts have higher average rates in part from high stress and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations like actors, engineers and performers get better rates.
Don't buy coverages you don't need - There are a ton of extra coverages that can waste your money on your auto insurance policy. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness and additional equipment coverage may be wasting your money. These coverages may sound good when talking to your agent, but now you might not need them so eliminate them to save money.
Discounts for married couples - Being married can get you a discount on your auto insurance policy. Having a significant other translates into being more mature it has been statistically shown that being married results in fewer claims.
Drive a safer car and pay less - Cars with high safety ratings tend to have better insurance rates. The safest vehicles protect occupants better and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts and thus lower rates.
Drive less and save money - Driving more miles in a year the higher your rate. Almost all companies apply a rate based on their usage. Autos left parked in the garage can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage, because it can save money.
Always keep insurance in force - Having an insurance coverage lapse will be a fast way to bump up your auto insurance costs. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage will get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.You may need to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the Washington department of motor vehicles.
Frequent auto insurance claims increase rates - Companies in Washington give lower rates to drivers who do not file claims often. If you file claims often, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for the large, substantial claims.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Washington consumers get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings from the likes of Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. They all make the same claim that you can save after switching your coverage to them.

How does each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

All companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that earns them a profit. An example of a driver they prefer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has a short commute. A driver who matches those parameters will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Drivers who don't qualify for these standards will be quoted higher premiums which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. That's the way insurance companies can make the claims of big savings.

This emphasizes why drivers should compare as many rates as you can. It is impossible to predict which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Find out more about auto insurance

More information is available on the website for the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Click here for link. Washington consumers can read industry bulletins, discover disciplinary actions, get help finding coverage, and find disaster information.

And the best car insurance company is...

Affordable auto insurance can be sourced online as well as from independent agents in Yakima, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and these smaller companies work with independent agents.

As you shop your coverage around, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where an insured dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.