Are Your GMC K3500 Pickup Car Insurance Rates Way Too Much?

Sick and tired of paying out the nose to pay your car insurance bill each month? You’re in the same situation as millions of other consumers. Because there are so many options, it is hard for the average consumer to pick the most cost effective insurer.

Consumers need to do rate comparisons once or twice a year because insurance rates change quite often. Even if you got the lowest price on K3500 pickup coverage six months ago you can probably find a better price now. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because we’re going to demonstrate the things you must know in order to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

These factors can influence what you pay for GMC K3500 Pickup insurance

It’s important that you understand the factors that go into determining your car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates enables informed choices that can help you get lower car insurance prices.

Better credit means lower rates – Having a bad credit score is a important factor in determining what you pay for car insurance. If your credit score is lower than you’d like, you could potentially save money when insuring your GMC K3500 Pickup by repairing your credit. People with high credit scores tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with poor credit.
Adjust deductibles and save – Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your GMC. Some instances where coverage would apply are collision with another vehicle, vandalism, or theft. Physical damage deductibles are how much you are required to spend out-of-pocket before your car insurance pays a claim. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your car insurance will be on K3500 pickup coverage.
Do you need the policy add-ons? – There are quite a few additional coverages you can purchase on your K3500 Pickup policy. Things like roadside assistance, better glass coverage and membership fees are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but your needs may have changed so remove them from your policy.
Is your vehicle built for speed? – The performance of the car you own makes a significant difference in the rate you pay. The lowest base rates tend to be for lower performance four cylinder passenger models, but there are many factors that impact the final cost. Since the GMC K3500 Pickup is considered a pickup truck, rates will be similar in price compared to average rates.
Being married can save on car insurance – Being married helps lower the price on your policy. Marriage means you’re more mature and it’s statistically proven that married couples file fewer claims.
Proper usage rating affects rates – The higher the mileage driven in a year’s time the more you will pay for car insurance. The majority of insurers charge to insure your cars based on how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. An improperly rated K3500 Pickup may be costing you. Ask your agent if your car insurance declarations sheet is rated on the correct usage for each vehicle, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Occupation reflects on rates – Occupations such as real estate brokers, executives and accountants tend to pay higher rates than average due to job stress and lots of time spent at work. On the flip side, occupations like scientists, athletes and retirees have the lowest average rates on K3500 pickup coverage.
Optional equipment can affect rates – Owning a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention features like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system can help prevent your car from being stolen.

How to Compare Car Insurance Costs

Lowering your GMC K3500 Pickup car insurance rates can be surprisingly simple. Drivers just need to spend a few minutes on the computer comparing rate quotes provided by online insurance companies. This can be accomplished in several different ways.

One of the best ways to find low rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison like this one (opens in new window). This method keeps you from doing repetitive form submissions for every car insurance company. Taking the time to complete one form gets you coverage quotes from multiple companies.
A slightly less efficient method to obtain and compare quotes online requires a visit to the website for each individual company and request a quote. For sake of this example, let’s say you want comparison quotes from USAA, 21st Century and Liberty Mutual. To get each rate you have to take the time to go to each site to enter your coverage information, and that’s why the first method is more popular.
For a list of links to insurance companies in your area, click here.
The least efficient method to get comparison rates to insurance agents’ offices. The ability to buy insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you require the professional advice of a local agent. Drivers can price shop your coverage online but buy from a local insurance agent. We’ll cover that shortly.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just ensure you are comparing apples-to-apples coverage limits for each price quote. If your comparisons have differing limits it’s impossible to make an equal comparison.

Do you qualify for a discount?

Auto insurance companies don’t always advertise every discount in an easy-to-find place, so we break down both well-publicized and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you’re just leaving money on the table.

No Claims – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay less as compared to frequent claim filers.
Lower Rates for Military – Having a deployed family member can result in better rates.
Resident Student – Kids in college who live away from home and don’t have a car may qualify for this discount.
Senior Discount – Mature drivers can possibly qualify for a discount up to 10% on K3500 pickup coverage.
Discount for Life Insurance – Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase life insurance.
Paperwork-free – Some insurance companies give back up to $50 just for signing your application on their website.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don’t apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won’t be that lucky.

To choose insurance companies with discount car insurance rates, click this link. insurance banner

Are insurance agents obsolete?

Some people would prefer to sit down with an agent and that is a personal choice. Educated insurance agents can answer important questions and help you file claims. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain the lowest rates but also keep your business local.

Upon completion of this quick form, your insurance data is submitted to participating agents who will battle for your coverage. You won’t need to leave your computer as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox. How cool is that?!

Deciding on a company requires more thought than just the premium amount. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?

Independent or Captive: It’s your choice

When looking for a good insurance agency, there are a couple of different types of agents that you can select. Insurance agencies are classified as either captive or independent (non-captive). While both can write coverage properly, but it’s good to learn how they differ since it can impact your selection of an agent.

Captive Agents

Captive agents can only write with one company and some examples include State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. These agents are not able to provide prices from multiple companies so they have to upsell other benefits. These agents are very knowledgeable on the products they sell which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.

Independent Agents

Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with any number of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they simply move the coverage in-house and that require little work on your part.

When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to contact at a minimum one independent agency for the best price selection.

For a complete listing of car insurance agents, visit this page.

Upon getting positive feedback for all questions you ask and an acceptable price quote, you have narrowed it down to an auto insurance agent that can insure your vehicles.

Better coverage you can count on

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s very important that you do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced full coverage only to discover later that the savings was not a smart move. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

We just presented some good ideas how to shop for GMC K3500 Pickup insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers could even find that the best price on car insurance is with some of the lesser-known companies. These smaller insurers may only write in your state and offer lower rates as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.