5 Must-Know Tricks When Shopping for Auburn, AL Auto Insurance

Finding the lowest cost Auburn auto insurance over the internet can seem to be difficult for consumers new to online price comaprisons. With so many companies competing online, how can Auburn drivers effectively compare every company to locate the best price?

If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to save some money using these tips. The purpose of this post is to let you in on how to get online quotes and some tricks to saving. Nevertheless, Alabama consumers do need to understand the way companies compete online and use this information to your advantage.

Finding Auto Insurance Deals in Auburn, AL

There are several ways of comparing rate quotes from auto insurance companies in your area. The recommended way to find the cheapest insurance rates consists of obtaining rate quotes online. This can be done in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The most efficient way to find low rates is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This form keeps you from doing separate quotation requests for every auto insurance company. Taking the time to complete one form compares rates from several companies. It’s the fastest way to compare.

A harder way to get comparison quotes requires visiting each company’s website to request a price quote. For instance, we’ll assume you want to compare rates from Progressive, Liberty Mutual and GEICO. To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is more popular.

To view a list of companies in Auburn, click here.

The hardest way of getting rate comparisons is to waste gas driving to insurance agents’ offices. The internet eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you prefer the trained guidance that only a license agent can provide. However, consumers can comparison shop your insurance online and get advice from an agent in your area and we’ll talk about that later.

However you get your quotes, make sure you use apples-to-apples coverage limits and deductibles with every price quote. If your comparisons have different values for each quote you can’t possibly find the best deal in Auburn. Just a small difference in insurance coverages may result in a large different in cost. Just keep in mind that getting more free quotes provides better odds of finding lower pricing.

Save big with these discounts

Car insurance companies don’t always publicize every discount in an easy-to-find place, so we researched both well-publicized and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using.

Auto/Home Discount – When you have multiple policies with the same company you will save up to 20% off your total premium.
Life Insurance – Some companies give a break if you buy life insurance from them.
Safe Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents may save up to 50% more than drivers with accidents.
Defensive Driving Course – Successfully completing a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
Distant Student – Children who are attending college and don’t have a car can receive lower rates.
Employee of Federal Government – Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off with select insurance companies.
Anti-theft Discount – Vehicles with anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Service Members Pay Less – Being on active duty in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.

Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won’t be that lucky.

To see a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Auburn, click here to view. save money in Alabama

But don’t I need an insurance agent?

Certain consumers just want to buy from a licensed agent. One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find better rates and still have an agent to talk to.

After filling out this quick form, your insurance data is instantly submitted to local insurance agents who will compete for your business. You don’t have to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go to your email. How’s that for easy! You can find better rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.

Picking an provider requires more thought than just a low price. Some important questions to ask are:

Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
Who are their largest clients?
Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?
Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
Is assistance available after office hours?
Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Alabama?
Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?

Do you need an independent or captive insurance agency?

When finding an insurance agent, you need to know there are two types of agencies to choose from. Auburn agents are categorized either captive or independent.

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies work for only one company such as State Farm, Allstate and AAA. Captives cannot shop your coverage around so they have to upsell other benefits. Captives are very knowledgeable on the products they sell which helps them compete with independent agents. Some consumers prefer to buy insurance from these agents partially due to the prominence of the brand and strong financial ratings.

Listed below is a short list of captive agents in Auburn that can give you rate quotes.

Kathy Powell State Farm – 2408 E University Dr # 104 – Auburn, AL 36830 – (334) 501-8245
Allstate Insurance – 721 E Glenn Ave – Auburn, AL 36830 – (334) 821-7570

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent insurance agents do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with any number of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent.

When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency for the best price selection.Many can place coverage with smaller regional carriers which may provide better rates.

The following is a short list of independent agents in Auburn willing to provide comparison quotes.

A C Huey Agency – 708 Green St – Auburn, AL 36830 – (334) 821-2553
Henderson Insurance – 1234 Commerce Dr # A – Auburn, AL 36830 – (334) 821-6001
Jerry C Powell Insurance – 166 N Gay St – Auburn, AL 36830 – (334) 887-5164

To view a full list of auto insurance agents in Auburn, please click here.

After getting satisfactory answers and locked in a price quote, chances are good that you have found a car insurance agent that is a good match to provide auto insurance coverage.

More detailed Alabama auto insurance information is available at the Alabama Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to file complaints about a company, learn about specific coverages, find a variety of consumer forms, and get help finding coverage.

In Summary

Discount auto insurance can be sourced on the web in addition to many Auburn insurance agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. A few companies do not provide online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

We covered a lot of information how to get a better price on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Consumers may even find the lowest priced auto insurance comes from the smaller companies.

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s a bad idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many situations where an insured cut liability coverage limits and discovered at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The ultimate goal is to buy the best coverage you can find for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.