Buy Miami Beach Auto Insurance Like a Bargain Hunter

Are you overwhelmed by the sheer number of auto insurance options in Miami Beach? Many other drivers are as well. Drivers have so many companies to choose from that it can easily become more work than you anticipated to find the lowest price.

Discounts are available to cut your rates

Auto insurance companies don’t always advertise all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of both the well known and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using.

• Drive Less and Save – Fewer annual miles could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
• Accident Forgiveness – A few companies will allow you to have one accident without raising rates as long as you don’t have any claims for a set time period.
• No Accidents – Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay less as compared to drivers who are more careless.
• Discount for Good Grades – Performing well in school can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.
• Lower Rates for Military – Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.
• Theft Prevention Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Seat Belt Usage – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
• Auto/Life Discount – Larger companies have a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
• Discount for Swiching Early – Some companies give discounts for switching to them prior to your current policy expiring. The savings is around 10%.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears you could get a free auto insurance policy, you won’t be that lucky.

To choose providers offering auto insurance discounts in Florida, click here.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Miami Beach

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine premiums.

• Add-on coverages can add up – There are a lot of extra coverages that you can get tricked into buying when buying auto insurance. Insurance for roadside assistance, accidental death and additional equipment coverage may be wasting your money. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
• Credit scores impact auto insurance rates – Your credit score is a large factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. Consumers who have high credit scores tend to be less risk to insure than drivers who have lower ratings. If your credit rating is low, you could pay less to insure your by improving your credit score.
• What type of vehicle do you drive? – The type of vehicle you are insuring makes a substantial difference in the rate you pay. Low performance passenger cars usually have the lowest rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
• High deductibles save money – Insurance for physical damage to your car, also known as collision and other-than-collision, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, and rolling your vehicle. Your deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend before your auto insurance pays a claim. The higher the amount the insured has to pay upfront, the lower your rates will be.
• Traffic citations inflate rates – Just one ticket can increase rates by as much as thirty percent. Good drivers get better rates than bad drivers. Drivers who have serious citations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to file a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to continue driving.

Everyone needs different coverages

When buying proper insurance coverage, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Everyone’s needs are different.

Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine if you would benefit from professional advice.

• Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
• Does my vehicle need full coverage?
• Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
• How many claims can I have before being cancelled?
• What is the minimum liability in Florida?
• Does my vehicle qualify for pleasure use?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form.

More detailed Florida auto insurance information is located at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website. Florida drivers can learn about insurance regulations, download brochures, and read consumer alerts.

Additional helpful sites include FindNewCarInsurance.com and this list of insurance agents in Miami Beach, FL.

Keep this in mind

The cheapest auto insurance can be found both online in addition to many Miami Beach insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies do not provide online quoting and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

Drivers leave their current company for a variety of reasons including being labeled a high risk driver, delays in paying claims, delays in responding to claim requests and extreme rates for teen drivers. Whatever your reason, choosing a new insurance company can be easier than you think.

When shopping online for auto insurance, it’s a bad idea to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In too many instances, someone sacrificed liability coverage limits and found out when filing a claim they didn’t have enough coverage. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.