Quick Guide to Buying Coverage Online for an Oldsmobile Cutlass

Feel like you’re a prisoner to an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Believe me when I say many consumers are feeling buyer’s remorse and feel like there’s no way out. Numerous insurers battle for your business, and because of this it can be hard to compare insurers to get the lowest price

If you have insurance now or need a new policy, you can follow these tips to find better prices while maximizing coverage. Finding affordable coverage is quite easy. Drivers just need to know the tricks to compare rates online.

Comprehensive Car Insurance Comparison

There are a variety of methods to shop for car insurance, but there is one way that is easier and takes less work. You could spend the better part of a day talking about coverages with agents in your area, or you can stay home and use online quotes to get the quickest rates.

Many companies take part in a program where prospective buyers complete one form, and at least one company can give them a price determined by their information. This eliminates the need for quote requests for each company you want a rate for.

To find out what other companies charge click here (opens in new window).

The one downside to getting quotes like this is you don’t know exactly which companies to get quotes from. So if you want to select from a list of companies for rate comparison, we have a page of car insurance companies in your area. View list of insurance companies.

Whichever way you use, make absolute certain that you use exactly the same coverages for each price quote. If the quotes have higher or lower deductibles you will not be able to determine the best price for your Oldsmobile Cutlass.

Don’t listen to company ads

Consumers can’t get away from ads that promise big savings by companies like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. All the ads have a common claim of big savings if you change to them.

How does each company make almost identical claims?

All the different companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer that makes them money. For instance, a profitable customer might be a mature driver, a clean driving record, and has a short commute. A driver that hits that “sweet spot” will get the preferred rates and therefore will save when switching. insurance banner

Drivers who don’t measure up to the “perfect” profile will have to pay a more expensive rate and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ads say “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently make those claims.

Because of the profiling, it is so important to compare many company’s rates. Because you never know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Cut your premium with discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but there could be available discounts to cut the cost considerably. Certain discounts will be applied when you purchase, but some must be specially asked for before being credited. If you don’t get every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts can get savings of 20% or more.
Multiple Cars – Buying coverage for all your vehicles on the same car insurance policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Good Student Discount – Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. This discount can apply up until you turn 25.
Anti-theft System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
Save over 55 – Mature drivers may be able to get reduced rates for Cutlass coverage.
New Car Discount – Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Auto/Home Discount – If you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.
No Charge for an Accident – A handful of insurance companies will allow you to have one accident before your rates go up if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
Memberships – Belonging to certain professional organizations may earn a discount when shopping for car insurance for Cutlass coverage.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability, collision or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, car insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any qualifying discounts will cut the amount you have to pay.

For a list of insurers offering car insurance discounts, click here.

Quote online but still have a local agent

A small number of people would prefer to get advice from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Licensed agents can answer important questions and help submit paperwork. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find lower rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying from local businesses is definitely important in smaller communities.

After completing this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is emailed to agents in your area who will compete for your insurance coverage. You never need to drive around since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. How cool is that?!

If you prefer to view licensed agents in your state, click here.

Picking an insurance company should depend on more than just the price. Agents should be asked these questions:

What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?

Once you have received satisfactory answers and locked in a price quote, you may have just found an insurance company that is a good match to insure your vehicles.

You may need specialized coverage

When it comes to choosing adequate coverage, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions might point out if your situation could use an agent’s help.

Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
How much liability coverage do I need in my state?
Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
What if I total my Oldsmobile Cutlass and owe more than it’s worth?
Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
Is there coverage for injuries to my pets?
Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
Can I afford to pay high deductible claims out of pocket?
When would I need additional glass coverage?
What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and you can get the answers you need.

In Summary

In this article, we presented some good ideas how to shop for Oldsmobile Cutlass insurance online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the lowest rates come from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. They can often provide lower rates in certain areas as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate and Progressive.

When shopping online for car insurance, make sure you don’t buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are many occasions where consumers will sacrifice collision coverage only to regret that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.