Buy Bellingham, WA Auto Insurance Like a Scrooge

Comparison shopping for Bellingham auto insurance is always difficult for beginners to comparison shopping online. People have so many options available that it can turn into more work than you anticipated to locate the lowest price in Bellingham.

Consumers need to compare prices every six months because insurance rates are usually higher with each renewal. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price a couple years back the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. So just forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because we’re going to show you the best methods to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.

Buy Cheaper Auto Insurance with These Tips

It’s important that you understand the different types of things that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

• Rates may be higher depending on your occupation – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Jobs such as lawyers, architects and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates because of job stress and long work hours. Conversely, jobs such as scientists, engineers and performers receive lower rates.
• Do men or women drive better? – Statistics demonstrate that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, don’t assume that women are better drivers. They both have accidents in similar percentages, but the men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also statistically receive more costly citations like DUI and reckless driving.
• Consolidate policies to earn discounts – The majority of companies provide better rates to insureds who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, you still need to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal.
• Discounts for married couples – Having a spouse can get you a discount on your policy. It usually means you are more responsible it has been statistically shown that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
• Credit scores impact auto insurance rates – Credit score is a huge factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. People with excellent credit tend to be more responsible than drivers with lower credit scores. Therefore, if your credit rating is low, you could be paying less to insure your by repairing your credit.

Which Auto Insurance is Cheapest in Bellingham, WA?

All major auto insurance companies allow you to get prices on the web. Getting online quotes is fairly straightforward as you just type in the coverages you want into the quote form. After you submit the form their rating system collects reports for credit and driving violations and returns a price based on these and other factors.

Being able to quote online makes comparing rates easy, but the time required to go to many different websites and complete many quote forms is repetitive and time-consuming. Unfortunately, it is important to have as many quotes as possible if you are searching for a lower rate.

There is an easier way!

The easiest way to find cheaper rates uses one simple form that gets price quotes from several different companies. The form is fast, requires less work, and makes online price comparison much easier. Once the form is submitted, it gets priced and you can select any of the resulting price quotes.

If the quotes result in lower rates, you can simply submit the application and purchase coverage. This process just takes a couple of minutes and may result in a nice savings.

To find out if lower rates are available, click here to open in a new tab and complete the simple form. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you copy the insurance coverages as close as possible to your current policy. This way, you’re receiving rate quotes for similar coverage.

Drivers who switch save $464 a year? Really?

Auto insurance providers like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive consistently run television and radio advertisements. They all make the same claim of big savings if you change to their company. How can each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a certain “appetite” for the driver that earns them a profit. For example, a driver they prefer might be between 25 and 40, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. Any driver who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Potential customers who are not a match for this ideal profile will have to pay higher rates and ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say “people who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much. This is how insurance companies can advertise the way they do.

Because of the profiling, you should get as many comparisons as possible. It’s not possible to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

Lower rates by qualifying for discounts

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but you may find discounts to help offset the cost. Some discounts apply automatically at quote time, but some must be inquired about in order for you to get them.

• Own a Home – Owning a house in Bellingham may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
• One Accident Forgiven – A handful of insurance companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums as long as you don’t have any claims for a certain period of time.
• Paperwork-free – A few companies may give you up to $50 simply for signing digitally online.
• Discount for Swiching Early – A few companies offer discounts for switching to them before your current policy expires. The savings is around 10%.
• Multi-policy Discount – If you have multiple policies with one insurance company you will save up to 20% off your total premium.
• Organization Discounts – Being a member of a civic or occupational organization may earn a discount on auto insurance.
• Good Student – This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.
• Payment Method – By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you could save up to 5%.
• Auto/Life Discount – Some companies give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
• Distant Student – Any of your kids living away from home attending college and do not have a car can receive lower rates.

Keep in mind that many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like you could get a free auto insurance policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. But all discounts will reduce your overall premium however.

To see a list of insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Bellingham, click this link.

Much more information about auto insurance in Washington is available on the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website located here. Consumers can find a variety of consumer forms, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, find out industry alerts, and download brochures.

Also read more on this site for rates in Washington and this link which helps you find a Bellingham agent.

Quote often and quote early

As you prepare to switch companies, you should never reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many situations where someone dropped liability coverage limits and found out when filing a claim that it was a big mistake. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price.

Cheap auto insurance is attainable from both online companies in addition to many Bellingham insurance agents, and you should be comparing both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies do not provide online price quotes and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.

Drivers leave their current company for many reasons like delays in responding to claim requests, being labeled a high risk driver, high prices or even poor customer service. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, switching companies can be less work than you think.