9 Must-Know Techniques When Comparing Takoma Park, MD Car Insurance

Are you a victim of high-priced car insurance? Trust us when we tell you many Takoma Park consumers feel financially strained by their car insurance policy.

Big companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive all promote huge savings with fancy advertisements and it can be hard to see through the deception and do the work needed to find the best deal.

Vehicle Insurance Comparison

To find the best car insurance prices, there are several ways of comparing rates from car insurance companies in your area. By far the easiest way to find the cheapest insurance rates consists of shopping online. This can be accomplished in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

The most efficient way consumers can analyze rates is a comparison rater form (click to open form in new window). This type of form eliminates the need for repetitive form entry for every car insurance company. One form gets you coverage quotes direct from many companies.

A different way to obtain and compare quotes online requires you to visit the website of each company to complete their respective quote request forms. For example, let’s assume you want rates from Liberty Mutual, GEICO and GMAC. To find out each rate you need to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is quicker. For a list of links to insurance companies in Takoma Park, click here.

Whichever way you use, ensure you’re using identical coverage information for every quote you compare. If you use mixed coverages it’s not possible to determine the lowest rate in Takoma Park. Quoting even small variations in coverages can mean a large discrepancy in price. Just keep in mind that obtaining a wide range of quotes helps locate better pricing.

Save money by taking advantage of these discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, buy you may qualify for discounts that you may not know about. Some trigger automatically at quote time, but a few need to be asked for in order for you to get them.

• Homeowners Discount – Simply owning a home may trigger a car insurance policy discount due to the fact that maintaining a home demonstrates responsibility.
• Club Memberships – Being a member of certain professional organizations may earn a discount when buying car insurance.
• Driver’s Ed – Require your teen driver to successfully complete driver’s ed class in school.
• Air Bag Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
• No Charge for an Accident – A few companies permit an accident without raising rates if you are claim-free for a set time period.
• No Claims – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts when compared with bad drivers.
• Paperless Signup – A few companies will give a small break for buying your policy digitally online.
• Resident Student – Children living away from home attending college without a vehicle on campus may be able to be covered for less.
• Good Student Discount – Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
• Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.

Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So despite the fact that it appears it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies don’t profit that way. But any discount will reduce your overall premium however.

When should I use an insurance agent?

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different so your insurance needs to address that. For example, these questions could help you determine if you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• Who is covered by my policy?
• Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
• Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
• Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
• What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
• Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
• Can I still get insurance after a DUI?

If you can’t answer these questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier

Much more information about car insurance in Maryland is located on the website for the Maryland Insurance Administration found here. Maryland drivers can learn about specific coverages, report car insurance fraud, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and read state legal mandates and laws.

Compare but don’t skimp

Affordable car insurance is attainable from both online companies in addition to many Takoma Park insurance agents, so compare prices from both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who do not provide the ability to get a quote online and these smaller companies work with independent agents.

When buying insurance coverage, you should never reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where an insured dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to find out they didn’t have enough coverage. Your strategy should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.