Auto Insurance in Tampa, FL – 7 Tips to Save Money

Are you overwhelmed by the wide range of auto insurance companies in Tampa? You have a lot of company. Consumers have so many companies to choose from that it can easily become more work than you anticipated to find better rates.

If you currently have car insurance, you should be able to save some money using this strategy. This article will instruct you on the best way to quote coverages and some tricks to saving. But Florida car owners can benefit from knowing the way companies compete online and take advantage of how the system works.

Do you qualify for a discount?

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you can get discounts to cut the cost considerably. Some discounts apply automatically when you quote, but a few must be asked for in order for you to get them.

• Senior Discount – Older drivers may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
• No Accidents – Good drivers with no accidents pay less when compared with bad drivers.
• Accident Forgiveness – Some insurance companies permit an accident before your rates go up if you are claim-free for a set time period.
• Organization Discounts – Belonging to certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates on auto insurance.
• Good Student Discount – This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
• Anti-lock Brake System – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Multiple Cars – Having all your vehicles with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.

Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So despite the fact that it appears it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies don’t profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will cut the amount you have to pay.

For a list of insurers offering auto insurance discounts in Tampa, follow this link.

But I want to work with a local agent

A small number of people just want to sit down with an agent and that is just fine! One of the best bonuses of price shopping on the web is you can get the lowest rates but also keep your business local. Buying from local insurance agencies is important particularly in Tampa.

Upon completion of this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is emailed to insurance agents in Tampa who will give you bids to get your business. You won’t need to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. Now that’s easy! You’ll get the best rates and a licensed agent to work with.

Listed below are agents in Tampa that are able to give comparison quotes.

• Liberty Mutual Insurance – 3901 Premier North Dr, Tampa, FL 33618 – (813) 264-6588
• Carron Insurance – 233 W Waters Ave, Tampa, FL 33604 – (813) 933-7861
• Farm Bureau Insurance – 1046 W Busch Blvd # 100, Tampa, FL 33612 – (813) 933-5440
• State Farm Insurance – 4819 E Busch Blvd # 102, Tampa, FL 33617 – (813) 985-6038
• Frontline Insurance Manager – 8875 Hidden River Pkwy # 300, Tampa, FL 33637 – (813) 975-7405
• Paul Rees Agency – 6617 N 12th St, Tampa, FL 33604 – (813) 239-0206
• Allstate Insurance – 1904 S Macdill Ave, Tampa, FL 33629 – (813) 341-6677

To view a full list of auto insurance agents in Tampa, click here to link.

Picking an insurance company requires more thought than just the price. Here are some questions to ask:

• Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
• Which company do they place the most coverage with?
• What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
• Do they make recommendations based only on price?
• Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
• Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
• If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
• How often do they review policy coverages?

After receiving satisfactory answers to all your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, it’s possible that you found a company that will properly service your auto insurance policy.

Do drivers who switch really save?

Auto insurance providers like State Farm, GEICO and Progressive continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all say the same thing that you’ll save big after switching to them. How can each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer they prefer to insure. A good example of a desirable insured could be between 25 and 40, has no prior claims, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A propective insured that hits that “sweet spot” will get the preferred rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who do not match the requirements will be quoted more money and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ads state “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save money. This is how insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings.

This emphasizes why you absolutely need to compare as many rates as you can. It’s impossible to know which company will have the lowest rates.

Much more information about auto insurance in Florida can be found on the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website through this link. Florida drivers can read state legal mandates and laws, get help finding coverage, and report car insurance fraud.

Car insurance coverages

Learning about specific coverages of your policy aids in choosing the best coverages for your vehicles. Auto insurance terms can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Coverage for collisions

Collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle from colliding with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision coverage protects against things such as damaging your car on a curb, crashing into a ditch, sideswiping another vehicle and colliding with another moving vehicle. This coverage can be expensive, 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.

Liability

Liability insurance provides protection from damage or injury you incur to other people or property that is your fault. This insurance protects YOU from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.

Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see limits of 100/300/100 which means a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a limit of $300,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $100,000. Another option is a combined single limit or CSL that pays claims from the same limit rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability can pay for claims like pain and suffering, bail bonds, attorney fees and medical services. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but consider buying as large an amount as possible. Florida requires drivers to carry at least 10,000/20,000/10,000 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.

Medical payments coverage and PIP

Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for expenses like chiropractic care, pain medications, hospital visits and X-ray expenses. The coverages can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Comprehensive coverage

This coverage covers damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like damage from flooding, vandalism, theft and fire damage. The most a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage

This protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries and damage to your vehicle.

Because many people have only the minimum liability required by law (10/20/10 in Florida), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Frequently your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.

And the best car insurance company is…

Consumers switch companies for a number of reasons such as delays in responding to claim requests, policy cancellation, delays in paying claims and high prices. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.

As you restructure your insurance plan, you should never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. Too many times, an insured cut full coverage only to discover later they didn’t have enough coverage. Your strategy should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

The cheapest auto insurance is attainable online and with local Tampa insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.