Best Ways to Spend Less When Buying Volvo S40 Insurance

I can’t think of a single person who looks forward to paying for car insurance, particularly when the cost is too high. Big companies like GEICO, 21st Century and Progressive persitently shower you with ads and consumers find it hard to ignore the propoganda and find the best price available.

It’s a good habit to take a look at other company’s rates on a regular basis because rates are variable and change quite frequently. Despite the fact that you may have had the best deal on S40 insurance a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because you’re about to find out the proper way to find better coverage at a better price.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies don’t always advertise every discount very well, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and the harder-to-find ways to save on car insurance. If you don’t get every credit you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.

• Clubs and Organizations – Belonging to a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break on your policy on S40 insurance.
• Service Members Pay Less – Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
• Good Students Pay Less – Getting good grades can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last until age 25.
• Defensive Driver – Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
• Multiple Policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with one insurance company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.

As a disclaimer on discounts, many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like you could get a free car insurance policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

To choose insurance companies offering car insurance discounts, click here to view.

How to Compare Car Insurance

There are several ways to shop for car insurance, but one way is less time-consuming than others. You can waste a lot of time driving to local insurance agents in your area, or you could save time and use online quoting to get pricing more quickly.

Many popular insurance companies participate in a marketplace where insurance shoppers submit one quote, and each company can give them a price based on the submitted data. This eliminates the need for form submissions for every car insurance company.

To find out what other companies charge click here to start a free quote.

The only downside to doing it this way is that you can’t choose the providers you want pricing from. So if you prefer to pick specific providers to compare rates, we put together a list of companies who write car insurance in your area. View list of insurance companies.

However you get your quotes, ensure you are comparing apples-to-apples coverage limits for every company. If each company quotes unequal deductibles or liability limits you will not be able to determine the lowest rate for your Volvo S40.

Why your Volvo S40 might be costing you more

It’s important that you understand some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are some of the factors that factor into prices.

• What type of vehicle do you drive? – The type of car you drive makes a huge difference in determining your rates. The lowest rates are usually for economy passenger cars, but there are many factors that impact the final cost. Since the Volvo S40 is considered a compact car, insurance will be the same to a little lower when compared to the average rates.
• Your car’s features help determine rates – Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention devices like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system can thwart your car from being stolen.
• An active claims history can cost you – Car insurance companies award lower rates to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you frequently file small claims, you can expect either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
• Never let your coverage lapse – Driving without insurance is against the law and car insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage have a gap. And not only will insurance be more expensive, but not being able to provide proof of insurance might get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.You may then be required to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with your state motor vehicle department.

Do car insurance companies bend the truth?

Consumers constantly see and hear ads for cheaper car insurance from the likes of Allstate and Progressive. They all seem to say the same thing that you’ll save big if you move your coverage to them.

How does each company claim to save you money?

All companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured could possibly be between 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and has a high credit rating. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile receives the best rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Potential customers who fall outside these standards will be quoted more money which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say “drivers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that kind of money. This is how companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings. This emphasizes why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Shop smart and save

When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s not a good idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are too many instances where an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at the best price.

Budget-conscious Volvo S40 insurance is available both online and with local insurance agents, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers do not offer online price quotes and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.