9 Ways You Can Buy Car Insurance for Less in Georgetown

Shopping for the most affordable Georgetown car insurance on the internet can be intimidating for people who are new to buying insurance online. When there are so many companies competing online, how can Georgetown drivers even start to compare them all to find the cheapest available price?

It’s smart to get comparison quotes once or twice a year since insurance rates are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price a year ago a different company probably has better rates today. There is too much inaccurate information about car insurance on the web, but we’re going to give you some good information on how to slash your car insurance rates.

Cheap Georgetown Car Insurance Comparisons

Reducing your insurance rates is not a difficult process. All you need to do is spend a little time getting comparison quotes online with multiple companies. This can be accomplished in a couple of different ways.

The best way to compare a lot of rates at once is a comparison rater form click here to open form in new window. This method saves time by eliminating separate quotes for every car insurance company. A single, simple form will return price quotes . This is by far the quickest method.

Another way to get quotes online is going to each company’s website and request a quote. For sake of this example, let’s assume you want comparison quotes from Auto-Owners, Safeco and GMAC. You would have to spend time on each company’s site and enter your information, and that’s why the first method is more popular.

For a list of links to insurance companies in Georgetown, click here.

The most time-consuming way of getting rate comparisons is to drive around to local Georgetown insurance agencies. The internet has reduced the need for local agents unless you have a need for the personal advice only provided by licensed Georgetown agents. However, consumers can compare the best prices online and still use a local agent and you’ll learn how to do that later.

It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but ensure you’re using the exact same coverages and limits for every company. If the quotes have mixed coverages you will not be able to truly determine the lowest rate in Georgetown.

Slick advertising tricks that work

Consumers in Delaware get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance by Allstate and Progressive. All the ads say the same thing that you’ll save big after switching to their company.

How does each company claim to save you money?

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that is profitable for them. For example, a driver they prefer might be over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and has a high credit rating. A driver that hits that “sweet spot” will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Consumers who don’t meet these standards will be quoted more money which usually ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say “customers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much. That is how insurance companies can advertise the savings. This emphasizes why drivers must compare many company’s rates. It’s impossible to know which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

Policy discounts you shouldn’t miss

Companies don’t always list every discount in an easy-to-find place, so we researched some of the more common and the harder-to-find ways to save on car insurance. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

• Early Switch Discount – Some insurance companies reward drivers for signing up before your current expiration date. It’s a savings of about 10%.
• Braking Control Discount – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
• Homeowners Pay Less – Being a homeowner can help you save on car insurance because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
• Sign Online – A few companies will give a small break for buying your policy on their website.
• Use Seat Belts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could save 15% off your medical payments premium.
• Drivers Ed for Students – Require your teen driver to enroll in driver’s education if offered at their school.
• Lower Rates for Military – Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
• Anti-theft System – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems can help prevent theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Payment Method – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.

Consumers should know that some credits don’t apply to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Just because it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

To choose providers offering car insurance discounts in Georgetown, follow this link.

Are insurance agents a thing of the past?

Certain consumers just want to buy from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Professional agents can point out coverage gaps and help submit paperwork. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is you can get the lowest rates but still work with a licensed agent.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this short form, your insurance data gets sent to local insurance agents who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to drive around since price quotes are sent to your email.

Picking an insurance company needs to be determined by more than just a low price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

• What insurance companies do they work with?
• Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
• Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Who are their largest clients?
• Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?

The type of car insurance agent you choose is important

When searching for an insurance agent, you must know there are a couple different agency structures from which to choose. Agencies in Georgetown can either be captive or independent. Both types can do a good job, but it’s worth mentioning the differences because it can influence your agent selection.

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies work for only one company such as AAA, Allstate, State Farm, Farmers Insurance or Liberty Mutual. They are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captive agencies are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which can be an advantage. Consumers often buy from captive agents mainly due to loyalty to the company and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

Listed below are captive agencies in Georgetown willing to provide rate quotes.

• State Farm Insurance – 522 E Market St – Georgetown, DE 19947 – (302) 856-7724

Independent Agencies or Brokers

These agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business with many different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent. When shopping rates, you should always include several independent insurance agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.Most can insure with lesser-known insurance companies who may have lower rates.

Below is a list of independent agencies in Georgetown that are able to give rate quotes.

• Muncie Insurance and Financial – 314 S Dupont Hwy – Georgetown, DE 19947 – (302) 856-6601
• Clifford Short Insurance – 412 N Dupont Hwy # A – Georgetown, DE 19947 – (302) 856-7773

To view a full list of licensed insurance agents in Georgetown, visit this link.

Once you have satisfactory answers to these questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an auto insurance agent that can insure your vehicles. But remember, you can always terminate your policy any time you want so never feel you’re contractually obligated to a specific agent for the entire policy term.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s needs are different.

These are some specific questions might help in determining if your situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
• How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
• Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
• What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
• What is the minimum liability in Delaware?
• Do I need motorclub coverage?
• What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
• Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
• Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
• Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, take a second and complete this form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can provide invaluable advice.

Car insurance 101

Learning about specific coverages of your policy aids in choosing the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers

Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your vehicle.

Due to the fact that many Delaware drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (15/30/10), their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Liability insurance

This provides protection from injuries or damage you cause to other people or property in an accident. It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. Your policy might show liability limits of 50/100/50 which stand for a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability insurance covers claims such as structural damage, funeral expenses, loss of income, medical services and repair costs for stationary objects. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but you should buy as large an amount as possible. Delaware state law requires minimum liability limits of 15,000/30,000/10,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.

Collision protection

Collision insurance pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage protects against things such as driving through your garage door, crashing into a ditch and scraping a guard rail. This coverage can be expensive, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to bring the cost down.

Medical expense insurance

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for short-term medical expenses like chiropractic care, doctor visits and hospital visits. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover both the driver and occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Comprehensive (Other than Collision)

This coverage covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive can pay for things such as a broken windshield, hitting a deer, damage from flooding, hitting a bird and fire damage. The maximum payout a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.

More detailed Delaware car insurance information is located at the Delaware Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read industry bulletins, find out industry alerts, and learn about insurance regulations.

Keep this in mind

Consumers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including not issuing a premium refund, delays in responding to claim requests, unfair underwriting practices and high prices. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, choosing a new insurance company is actually quite simple.

When you buy insurance online, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where an insured dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to regret at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your goal should be to buy enough coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

You just learned some good ideas how you can compare car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the best prices are with an unexpected company.