6 Discounts Thurmont Drivers Forget when Buying Auto Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can overdraw your savings account, especially in this economy. Shopping your coverage around is a great way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket. Drivers have multiple car insurance companies to pick from, and although it’s nice to have a choice, having more insurance companies makes it harder to compare company pricing.

You need to take a look at other company’s rates once or twice a year due to the fact that insurance rates change frequently. If you had the best price last year you may be paying too much now. Starting right now, forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because I’m going to teach you the things you must know in order to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

Shopping for the lowest cost auto insurance in Thurmont is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you have a current auto insurance policy or are shopping for new coverage, you can use these tips to reduce the price you pay and still get good coverage. Maryland drivers only need to know the tricks to get comparison quotes online.

Finding Auto Insurance Deals in Thurmont

All the larger auto insurance companies like State Farm and Allstate provide prices for coverage on the web. Obtaining pricing doesn’t take much effort as you simply type in the amount of coverage you want into the quote form. Upon sending the form, their rating system will order information on your driving record and credit history and gives you a price quote. Online price quotes makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the work required to visit several different sites and enter the same data into a form can get tiresome after awhile. But it’s very important to compare as many rates as possible in order to get lower prices.

Rate comparisons made easy

An easier way to compare auto insurance pricing uses one simple form to obtain quotes from more than one company. This type of form saves time, requires much less work on your part, and makes online quotes much easier. As soon as you send your information, it is quoted and you can select your choice of the quotes that you receive.

If the quotes result in lower rates, you can simply submit the application and purchase the new policy. This process can be completed in a matter of minutes and you’ll know if lower rates are available.

To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now, click here and begin entering your coverage information. If you currently have coverage, we recommend that you enter coverages and limits as close as possible to your current policy. This ensures you will have comparison quotes for the exact same coverage.

Policy discounts you shouldn’t miss

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but there could be available discounts that you may not know about. Most are applied at the time of purchase, but a few need to be asked for before being credited. If you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you’re just leaving money on the table.

• Theft Prevention Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
• Memberships – Being a member of a qualifying organization could qualify you for a break on your policy.
• Multi-policy Discount – If you have multiple policies with one company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
• Drivers Education – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver’s ed class if offered at their school.
• New Vehicle Savings – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
• Homeowners Pay Less – Simply owning a home may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.

Drivers should understand that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. But any discount will bring down your overall premium however.

What about my local Thurmont agents?

Some consumers prefer to sit down with an agent and that is a personal choice. Professional agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help submit paperwork. One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is that you can obtain lower rates but still work with a licensed agent. Supporting local insurance agencies is definitely important in Thurmont.

Upon completion of this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is sent to participating agents in Thurmont who will battle for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to drive around as quotes are delivered to the email address you provide.

Do you need an independent or captive car insurance agent?

When searching for a good Thurmont insurance agent, there are a couple of types of insurance agents to choose from. Agencies in Thurmont are either independent or captive. Both types can insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning the difference between them since it can impact the selection process.

Independent Agents

Independent agents do not work for one specific company but rather can write business with any number of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To move your coverage to a new company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part.

When comparison shopping, we recommend you contact several independent insurance agents for maximum quote selection.

Shown below is a list of independent insurance agents in Thurmont that can give you pricing information.

Zentz Insurance – 130 E Main St – Thurmont, MD 21788 – (301) 662-9549
United American Insurance – – Thurmont, MD 21788 – (301) 271-0321

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies work for only one company like Allstate, AAA, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. These agents are unable to give you multiple price quotes so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captives are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which can be an advantage.

Deciding on an auto insurance agent requires more thought than just a low price. Agents should be asked these questions:

• How often do they review policy coverages?
• Can glass repairs be made at your home?
• Can they give you a list of client referrals?
• Will your rates increase after a single accident?
• Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
• Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
• Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?

After getting good answers to all your questions and locked in a price quote, most likely you have located an insurance agency that is a good match to service your policy. Just keep in mind you can always cancel your coverage at any point so never feel that you are obligated to a policy with no way to switch.

When might I need an agent?

When choosing coverage, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover if your insurance needs may require specific advice.

• Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
• Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
• If my vehicle is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
• How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in Maryland?
• Does my vehicle need full coverage?
• How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
• How high should my medical payments coverage be?

If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, 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’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and you can get the answers you need.

Auto insurance coverages explained

Knowing the specifics of your policy helps when choosing which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are typical coverages found on the average auto insurance policy.

Auto liability – This can cover damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people in an accident. It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show liability limits of 100/300/100 which stand for $100,000 bodily injury coverage, a per accident bodily injury limit of $300,000, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Some companies may use a combined limit which limits claims to one amount without having the split limit caps.

Liability coverage pays for things such as repair costs for stationary objects, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, pain and suffering and medical expenses. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a personal decision, but you should buy as much as you can afford. Maryland state law requires minimum liability limits of 30,000/60,000/15,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy better liability coverage.

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision) – This coverage pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first have to pay a deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as vandalism, rock chips in glass, hail damage, damage from a tornado or hurricane and theft. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Insurance for medical payments – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for bills for surgery, EMT expenses, prosthetic devices, dental work and nursing services. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP coverage is only offered in select states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Since many Maryland drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (which is 30/60/15), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Collision coverages – This covers damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision coverage protects against claims such as hitting a mailbox, crashing into a building, sustaining damage from a pot hole and driving through your garage door. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.

Final considerations

We covered a lot of techniques to shop for auto insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even discover the best price on auto insurance is with an unexpected company. They often have lower prices on specific markets as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive or GEICO.

Cheap auto insurance is available from both online companies in addition to many Thurmont insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

When shopping online for auto insurance, it’s very important that you do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There have been many situations where an accident victim reduced full coverage to discover at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.

Much more information about auto insurance in Maryland can be found on the website for the Maryland Insurance Administration through this link. Consumers can learn about specific coverages, download brochures, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.