Car Insurance in Corvallis – 7 Discounts to Lower Rates

Are you confused by the crazy number of car insurance company choices in Corvallis? Many other drivers are as well. Drivers have so many options available that it can be a big hassle to locate the lowest price.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you should be able to save some money using these techniques. The purpose of this article is to familiarize you with how car insurance quotes work and some money-saving tips. But Oregon vehicle owners must comprehend how insurance companies market on the web because it can help you find the best coverage.

Don’t pay full price with these seven discounts

Auto insurance companies do not advertise all available discounts very well, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving.

• Safe Driver Discount – Drivers who avoid accidents can pay as much as 50% less than drivers with accidents.
• Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• New Vehicle Savings – Adding a new car to your policy can save up to 30% since new cars are generally safer.
• Multi-car Discount – Buying insurance for more than one vehicle with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
• Accident Forgiveness – Some insurance companies allow you one accident before your rates go up so long as you haven’t had any claims for a certain period of time.
• Seat Belts Save – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could save 15% off your medical payments premium.
• Driver’s Ed – Have your child complete a driver education course in school.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, car insurance companies aren’t that generous.

Car Insurance Prices in Corvallis, OR

There are several ways to compare rate quotes from different in Corvallis, ORinsurance companies. The recommended way to find the lowest rates is to perform an online rate comparison. This can be accomplished in a couple of different ways.

The single most time-saving way to get quotes for comparison is an all-inclusive rate comparison (click to open form in new window). This method eliminates the need for a different quote for each company. One form submission compares rates from multiple companies. Just one form and you’re done.

A slightly less efficient method to shop for car insurance online consists of going to each company’s website to complete their respective quote request forms. For examples sake, let’s assume you want rates from Nationwide, State Farm and Progressive. To get each rate you have to spend time on each company’s site and enter your policy data, which is why most consumers use the first method.

To view a list of companies in Corvallis, click here.

It’s up to you which method you use, but make sure you use identical information for every company. If you have different liability limits it will be very difficult to determine the lowest rate in Corvallis. Quoting even small variations in insurance coverages can result in a big premium difference. It’s important to know that obtaining a wide range of quotes helps locate lower pricing.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When choosing the best car insurance coverage, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Each situation is unique.

For instance, these questions can help discover if your insurance needs will benefit from professional help.

• What are the financial responsibility laws in Oregon?
• If my vehicle is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
• What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
• Does my insurance cover damage caused when ticketed for reckless driving?
• Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Oregon?
• Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
• What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
• Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
• Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form.

Car insurance policy coverages

Knowing the specifics of your car insurance policy helps when choosing the right coverages for your vehicles. The coverage terms in a policy can be difficult to understand and reading a policy is terribly boring.

Uninsured and underinsured coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage provides protection when other motorists either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.

Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 25/50/20), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.

Comprehensive coverages – Comprehensive insurance coverage pays for damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for claims such as vandalism, damage from getting keyed and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Collision coverage – This coverage covers damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with an object or car. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision can pay for claims like backing into a parked car, hitting a mailbox, sideswiping another vehicle, crashing into a building and colliding with another moving vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to raise the deductible to bring the cost down.

Coverage for medical payments – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for short-term medical expenses like ambulance fees, nursing services and X-ray expenses. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Liability – This provides protection from damage or injury you incur to people or other property in an accident. This coverage protects you against claims from other people, and does not provide coverage for your own vehicle damage or injuries.

It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. Your policy might show liability limits of 50/100/50 that translate to a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability coverage pays for claims like emergency aid, court costs, legal defense fees, attorney fees and medical services. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but you should buy higher limits if possible. Oregon state minimum liability requirements are 25,000/50,000/20,000 but drivers should carry more coverage.

Online plus local equals savings

Low-cost car insurance is possible from both online companies in addition to many Corvallis insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best selection. A few companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.

Insureds change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including high prices, unfair underwriting practices, poor customer service and even policy non-renewal. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching car insurance companies is less work than it seems.

While you’re price shopping online, you should never reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where drivers have reduced liability coverage limits only to regret at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.