9 Discounts Auburn Shoppers Neglect when Shopping for Auto Insurance on the Internet

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can overdraw your savings account and make it hard to pay other bills. Doing a price comparison is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to slash your bill and have more diposable income. Consumers have many insurers to pick from, and even though it’s nice to be able to choose, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

How to Compare Auburn Auto Insurance Costs

Most companies such as State Farm, Allstate and GEICO quote price estimates online. Getting online quotes is quite easy as you simply type in the coverages you want as detailed in the form. After you submit the form the company’s rating system orders your credit score and driving record and returns a price quote based on many factors. Being able to quote online simplifies rate comparisons, but the process of having to visit different websites and enter the same data into a form can be a bit repetitive. But it’s absolutely necessary to do this if you want to find a lower rate.

Rate comparisons made easy

The easiest way to locate the lowest prices is to use a quote form that gets price quotes from a lot of companies. This type of form saves time, eliminates repetitive work, and makes quoting online a lot less work. After sending your information, your coverage is rated and you can select any of the quote results. If the quotes result in lower rates, you can simply submit the application and purchase the new policy. It only takes a few minutes and you will know how your current rates stack up.

If you want to compare rates using this form now, click here to open in new window and complete the simple form. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend you replicate the limits and deductibles identical to your current policy. Doing this assures you will receive a price comparison based on identical coverages.

Save $435 a year. For real?

Consumers in Washington can’t ignore all the ads that promise big savings from the likes of State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. All the companies have a common claim that you’ll save big after switching your coverage to them.

But how can every company claim to save you money?

All companies have a preferred profile for the right customer they prefer to insure. A good example of a driver they prefer might be over the age of 50, is a homeowner, and chooses high deductibles. A propective insured who meets those qualifications will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Consumers who are not a match for this ideal profile will have to pay more money and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads say “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save money. That is how companies can truthfully state the savings. Because of the profiling, you should get a wide range of price quotes. It’s impossible to know which company will have the lowest rates.

Do you qualify for a discount?

Car insurance companies don’t list every discount in an easy-to-find place, so we researched both well-publicized as well as the least known auto insurance savings. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

Defensive Driving Course – Taking part in a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill and easily recoup the cost of the course.
Organization Discounts – Being a member of a civic or occupational organization could trigger savings when buying auto insurance.
Senior Discount – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for reduced rates.
Drivers Ed for Students – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver’s ed class in high school.
Theft Prevention System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Good Students Pay Less – Performing well in school can get you a discount of up to 25%. The good student discount can last up until you turn 25.
Resident Student – Children living away from home attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
Multi-policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you could get a discount of approximately 10% to 15%.
Claim Free – Claim-free drivers pay much less as compared to frequent claim filers.

Consumers should know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So even though they make it sound like all those discounts means the company will pay you, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.

To see a list of insurers with the best auto insurance discounts in Auburn, click here.

But I want to work with a local agent

Certain consumers would prefer to talk to a local agent and that is OK! Professional agents can answer important questions and help in the event of a claim. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is you can get the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent.

Upon completion of this quick form, your coverage information is sent to agents in your area who will battle for your business. There is no reason to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go straight to your inbox.

Deciding on an provider should depend on more than just the premium amount. These are valid questions to ask: Auto insurance in Auburn Washington

Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?
Does the agency support the community they serve?
What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
Are there any discounts that you might be missing?

Captive and independent Auburn insurance agencies

When looking for a reliable agent, you must know there are a couple types of agencies from which to choose. Agents can either be independent (non-captive) or captive. Both properly insure your vehicles, but it’s good to learn the differences because it can influence your agent selection.

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents can only place business with one company like Farmers Insurance, American Family, State Farm and Allstate. These agents are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agents are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales which can be an advantage.

Listed below are Auburn captive agencies who may provide you with comparison quotes.

Allstate Insurance – 1408 Lake Tapps Pkwy E # E102 – Auburn, WA 98092 – (253) 833-5215
Farmers Insurance Group – 903 E Main St # 105 – Auburn, WA 98002 – (253) 931-8880

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent insurance agents do not work for one specific company but instead can place your coverage with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you won’t have to switch agencies.

When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you contact multiple independent agents for maximum quote selection.

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

Bob Mc Conkey Insurance – 1403 Auburn Way S # G1 – Auburn, WA 98002 – (253) 288-9730
Bell-Anderson Insurance – 402 16th St NE # 101 – Auburn, WA 98002 – (253) 833-1550

For a complete listing of Auburn insurance agents, please go to this site.

Once you have positive responses to these questions and an acceptable price quote, you’ve probably found an auto insurance agent that meets your needs to properly service your auto insurance policy. Keep in mind once you purchase a policy you can cancel your coverage at any time so never assume you’re contractually obligated to the auto insurance policy with no way out.

Auto insurance coverage options

Knowing the specifics of your policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need for your vehicles. Auto insurance terms can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement. Below you’ll find typical coverages found on the average auto insurance policy.

Auto liability – This protects you from damage or injury you incur to other people or property in an accident. It consists of three limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see liability limits of 50/100/50 which stand for $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability coverage pays for claims like pain and suffering, emergency aid, attorney fees, funeral expenses and structural damage. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but buy as high a limit as you can afford. Washington state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/10,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.

Insurance for medical payments – Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for expenses for things like rehabilitation expenses, hospital visits and doctor visits. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Collision coverages – Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by collision with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage pays for things such as damaging your car on a curb, sideswiping another vehicle and backing into a parked car. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to increase the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision) – This coverage pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as hitting a deer, damage from getting keyed, falling objects, fire damage and vandalism. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your vehicle.

Due to the fact that many Washington drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (which is 25/50/10), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea.

And the best car insurance company is…

Cheap auto insurance is possible online and also from your neighborhood Auburn agents, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers may not provide online price quotes and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

We just covered a lot of ways to get a better price on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even discover the biggest savings come from some of the smallest insurance companies. Regional companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm or Progressive.

More detailed Washington auto insurance information can be read at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website. Consumers can view a list of available companies, discover disciplinary actions, read industry bulletins, and file complaints about a company.

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