10 Tricks Guaranteed to Slash the Cost of Car Insurance Costs in Bend Oregon

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy overpriced car insurance? Trust us when we tell you there are lots of people in the same boat. Insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly blast consumers with catchy ads and it is challenging if not impossible to ignore the flying pigs and cute green geckos and take the time to shop coverage around.

It’s a good idea to check car insurance prices periodically because prices go up and down regularly. Even if you think you had the best rates six months ago a different company probably has better rates today. You’ll find quite a bit of inaccurate information about car insurance on the internet, so we’re going to give you some great ways to quit paying high car insurance rates.

Fast and Easy Bend Car Insurance Quotes

Performing a rate comparison can take time and effort if you don’t know the best way to get rate quotes. You can waste hours driving to insurance companies in Bend, or you can utilize the internet to quickly compare rates.

Many of the larger companies are enrolled in a marketplace where insurance shoppers enter their policy data once, and each participating company provides a quote based on that data. This system prevents you from having to do repetitive form submissions to every company.

To compare pricing click here to start a free quote.

The one disadvantage to using this type of form is you are unable to specify which providers you will receive quotes from. If you prefer to choose from a list of companies to compare prices, we put together a list of car insurance companies in Oregon. Click to view list.

Which method you use is up to you, but ensure you’re using exactly the same coverages for every company. If you are comparing different liability limits it will be impossible to determine which rate is truly the best in Bend.

Discounts are available to cut your rates

Companies offering auto insurance don’t always advertise all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list both the well known and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

• Student Driver Training – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver’s education in high school.
• New Vehicle Savings – Buying coverage on a new vehicle is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
• Air Bag Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can get savings up to 30%.
• Drive Less and Save – Fewer annual miles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
• Multiple Vehicles – Having multiple vehicles on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
• Good Students Pay Less – This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts until age 25.
• Paperless Signup – A few companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks just for signing your application over the internet.
• Seat Belt Usage – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save up to 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
• Senior Citizens – If you’re over the age of 55, you may qualify for reduced rates.
• Homeowners Pay Less – Being a homeowner may trigger a car insurance policy discount due to the fact that maintaining a home is proof that your finances are in order.

It’s important to note that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free car insurance policy, you won’t be that lucky.

For a list of insurance companies with discount car insurance rates in Oregon, click this link.

Everyone needs different coverages

When choosing the best car insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Every insured’s situation is different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions might help in determining if your situation might need professional guidance.

• Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Bend?
• Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
• Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
• Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
• If my vehicle is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
• How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in Oregon?
• Is there coverage for injuries to my pets?
• Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?

If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and may give you better protection.

Even more information is available at the Oregon Insurance Division website. Oregon consumers can view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, get help finding coverage, and read consumer alerts.

Auto insurance 101

Understanding the coverages of your policy can help you determine appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The coverage terms in a policy can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. Shown next are the normal coverages found on most car insurance policies.

Collision coverage

This coverage pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision can pay for claims like scraping a guard rail, sustaining damage from a pot hole, hitting a mailbox and crashing into a ditch. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Coverage for medical expenses

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance provide coverage for expenses for doctor visits, EMT expenses, chiropractic care, hospital visits and ambulance fees. The coverages can be used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants and will also cover any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Comprehensive car insurance

This covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like fire damage, rock chips in glass, damage from flooding and a broken windshield. The maximum payout a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.

Coverage for liability

This coverage protects you from damage that occurs to other’s property or people 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 25/50/25 which stand for a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, $50,000 for the entire accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery.

Liability coverage pays for things like emergency aid, loss of income, court costs and funeral expenses. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but you should buy higher limits if possible. Oregon state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/20,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy better liability coverage.

Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers

Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your vehicle.

Due to the fact that many Oregon drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (25/50/20), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family.

Do the work, save more money

When trying to cut insurance costs, do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In too many instances, an insured dropped collision coverage only to discover later that it was a big error on their part. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.

Low-cost car insurance can be purchased both online as well as from independent agents in Bend, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some car insurance companies don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.