10 Tips Shown to Save on Auto Insurance Costs in Tualatin

Shopping for cheap Tualatin auto insurance online can seem to be intimidating for consumers not familiar with buying insurance online. With so many insurers to choose from, how can anyone even start to compare every one to find the best pricing?

Smart consumers take time to shop coverage around once or twice a year because prices change quite often. Even if you got the best price a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance on the web, but I’m going to show you some excellent ideas to save money.

If you are insured now or are just looking to switch companies, you can use this information to cut your premiums while maximizing coverage. Shopping for cheaper auto insurance in Tualatin is simple if you know the tricks. Oregon consumers just need to learn the most efficient way to get comparison quotes online.

Don’t overlook these ten discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but there could be available discounts to help offset the cost. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you quote, but a few need to be asked for before being credited. If you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.

• Bundle and Save – When you combine your home and auto insurance with one company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
• Braking Control Discount – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems can reduce accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Accident Waiver – Certain companies will allow you to have one accident before your rates go up so long as you haven’t had any claims for a set time period.
• Good Student – Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. This discount can apply until age 25.
• New Car Discount – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
• Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who avoid accidents can pay as much as 50% less than less cautious drivers.
• Multiple Vehicles – Having multiple vehicles on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
• Discount for Swiching Early – Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. The savings is around 10%.
• Seat Belts Save – Requiring all passengers to use their safety belts can save up to 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
• Pay Upfront and Save – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any amount of discount will bring down your overall premium however.

To choose insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Oregon, click this link.

Won’t my local insurance agent miss me?

A small number of people prefer to talk to a local agent. Agents can help determine the best coverages and help submit paperwork. The best thing about price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find lower rates but also keep your business local. And supporting local businesses is important particularly in Tualatin.

By using this simple form, your coverage information is transmitted to participating agents in Tualatin who will give you bids for your coverage. You don’t have to drive around since price quotes are sent directly to your email.

The different types of insurance agents

When finding a reputable insurance agent or broker, you need to know there are two different types of agents from which to choose. Insurance agencies in Tualatin are categorized either independent or captive. Both properly insure your vehicles, but it’s important to know how they are different since it can impact your selection of an agent.

Independent Agents

These agents are not locked into one company but rather can write business with many different companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to include multiple independent agents for the best price selection.Most can insure with smaller companies which may provide better rates.

Shown below is a list of independent agents in Tualatin willing to provide pricing information.

• Philadelphia Insurance Co – 18765 SW Boones Ferry Rd – Tualatin, OR 97062 – (503) 692-0111
• Christian Watts Agency – 7160 SW Hazelfern Rd # 800 – Tualatin, OR 97062 – (503) 601-0351
• Insurance Marketing Corp Of Or – 18810 SW Boones Ferry Rd – Tualatin, OR 97062 – (503) 783-2650
• Ralph Householder Agency Inc – 7050 SW Nyberg Rd – Tualatin, OR 97062 – (503) 691-9710

Captive Agents

These agents are contracted to one company and some examples include Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm and AAA. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so always compare other rates. These agents are well schooled in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers often buy from captive agents partially due to loyalty to the company and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

Below are captive insurance agents in Tualatin willing to provide price quotes.

• State Farm Insurance – 7575 SW Mohawk St – Tualatin, OR 97062 – (503) 454-3500
• American Family Insurance – 19289 SW Martinazzi Ave – Tualatin, OR 97062 – (503) 885-8700
• Allstate Insurance – 8101 SW Nyberg Rd # 205 – Tualatin, OR 97062 – (503) 620-4444
• Farmers Insurance Group – 19300 SW Boones Ferry Rd – Tualatin, OR 97062 – (503) 692-4400

For a complete listing of captive insurance agents in Tualatin, visit this site.

Deciding on an insurance agency should depend on more than just a cheap price. Here are some questions to ask:

• What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
• What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
• How long has their agency been in business in Tualatin?
• Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
• Who is covered by the car insurance policy?

After receiving satisfactory answers to all your questions and a good coverage price, chances are good that you have found an insurance agent that can provide auto insurance coverage. But keep in mind once you purchase a policy you can cancel coverage whenever you wish so don’t feel that you’re stuck with any particular company for the entire policy term.

Save $476 a year. For real?

Consumers in Oregon get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings by companies like Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all say the same thing of big savings if you switch to them.

But how can every company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

All companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that earns them a profit. An example of a driver they prefer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has a high credit rating. A propective insured that hits that “sweet spot” gets the lowest rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Drivers who fall outside the “perfect” profile will be charged a higher premium and ends up with business not being written. The ad wording is “drivers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much money. That’s the way companies can truthfully state the savings.

That is why it is so important to compare as many rates as you can. It’s not possible to predict which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Specific coverage details

Knowing the specifics of your auto insurance policy aids in choosing which coverages you need for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and coverage can change by endorsement.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – This provides protection from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.

Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (25/50/20 in Oregon), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Frequently these limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Collision coverage – This coverage covers damage to your vehicle resulting from colliding with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision can pay for things such as driving through your garage door, scraping a guard rail and sustaining damage from a pot hole. This coverage can be expensive, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Coverage for liability – This coverage provides protection from damage that occurs to other people or property that is your fault. Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show values of 50/100/50 which means $50,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Some companies may use a combined single limit or CSL which provides one coverage limit without having the split limit caps.

Liability insurance covers things like emergency aid, structural damage, loss of income, legal defense fees and medical expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but you should buy as much as you can afford. Oregon requires drivers to carry at least 25,000/50,000/20,000 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Med pay and PIP coverage pay for expenses like prosthetic devices, dental work, hospital visits and doctor visits. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover you and your occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Comprehensive insurance – Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things like rock chips in glass, falling objects and hail damage. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Additional auto insurance links

More information is available on the Oregon Insurance Division website. Click here for link. Visitors are able to read consumer alerts, read industry bulletins, learn about specific coverages, and file complaints about a company.

Other useful links include Wikipedia and this page where you can research Tualatin insurance agents.

Quote often and quote early

Cheap auto insurance is attainable both online and with local Tualatin insurance agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance providers do not offer online quoting and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.

Insureds change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including policy cancellation, denial of a claim, an unsatisfactory settlement offer and delays in responding to claim requests. No matter why you want to switch, finding a new auto insurance company is easier than you think.

As you restructure your insurance plan, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, someone dropped full coverage and found out when filing a claim that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.