How to Know You’re Paying Too Much for Car Insurance in Redmond

Nobody looks forward to buying car insurance, particularly when they are paying too much.

There is such a variety of car insurance companies to pick from, and although it’s a good thing to have multiple companies, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

Automobile Insurance Quotes in Redmond, WA

To find the best car insurance prices, there are several ways of comparing rates from different in Redmond, WAinsurance companies. One of the best ways to compare insurance prices is to perform an online rate comparison. This is very easy and can be done in several different ways.

1. The first (and easiest) way to get the best comparison quotes is an all-inclusive rate comparison (click to open form in new window). This easy form prevents you from having to do multiple quote forms for each company. A single form gets you coverage quotes .
2. A less efficient way to shop for car insurance online is going to each company’s website and complete a new quote form. For instance, let’s say you want to compare rates from Farmers, 21st Century and GEICO. You would have to take the time to go to each site to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is more popular. To view a list of companies in Redmond, click here.

Which method you use is up to you, but make absolute certain that you use apples-to-apples coverages on every quote. If you are comparing different liability limits you will not be able to make a fair comparison in Redmond. Just a small difference in coverages may cause a big price difference. Just remember that having more price comparisons will improve the odds of getting a lower rate.

Take advantage of discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but you may find discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Most are applied at the time you complete a quote, but some must be specially asked for in order for you to get them.

• Save with a New Car – Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
• Use Seat Belts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
• Pay Upfront and Save – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can actually save on your bill.
• Multiple Cars – Having all your vehicles on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
• Good Students Pay Less – Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up to age 25.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. Even though it may seem like you can get free auto insurance, you’re out of luck. But any discount will cut your overall premium however.

Rate influencing factors

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. Understanding what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get better car insurance rates.

• Do you need the policy add-ons? – There are a ton of add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your car insurance policy. Coverages for rental car reimbursement, accidental death and membership fees may be costing you every month. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
• Men pay higher rates – Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. However, don’t assume that men are worse drivers. Women and men are in accidents in similar percentages, but the male of the species cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also tend to get more serious tickets like reckless driving and DUI.
• How many coverages with the same company – Most insurance companies give discounts to insureds who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you still need to compare rates to ensure the best deal. You may still be able to find a better deal by splitting coverages up.
• Do you have a high stress job? – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Jobs such as doctors, business owners and accountants are shown to have higher rates than average because of high stress and lots of time spent at work. On the flip side, professions such as farmers, athletes and homemakers pay the least.
• Save money with special equipment – Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all aid in stopping auto theft.

How to know if you need help

When buying proper insurance coverage, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s needs are different and your policy should reflect that. For instance, these questions could help you determine whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
• Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
• Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
• When would I need additional glass coverage?
• Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
• What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
• Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
• Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
• Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
• Do I have coverage when pulling a U-Haul trailer?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

More information is available on the website for the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner through this link. Visitors are able to report car insurance fraud, find out industry alerts, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Can you really save that much by switching?

Car insurance companies such as Allstate and Progressive consistently run ads on TV and radio. They all seem to make an identical promise of big savings if you change to them. How do they all make almost identical claims?

All the different companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver that is profitable for them. An example of a driver they prefer could be between 25 and 40, a clean driving record, and drives newer vehicles. A driver who fits that profile will get very good rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Consumers who don’t meet the “perfect” profile will be charged a more expensive rate and ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much money. That is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do.

That is why you need to get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict which car insurance company will have the lowest rates.

More effort can pay off

As you shop your coverage around, do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many cases, an insured cut comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret they didn’t have enough coverage. The aim is to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price.

We’ve covered some good ideas how you can get a better price on car insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Consumers could even find that the lowest priced car insurance comes from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. Smaller companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm or Progressive.

Lower-priced car insurance can be bought online in addition to many Redmond insurance agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance providers do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.