Cheapest Car Insurance Exclusively for Renton, WA Residents

Finding affordable Renton car insurance can seem to be hard for people who are new to shopping for insurance online. There are so many options available that it can be a challenge to find lower rates in Renton.

Discounts are available to cut your rates

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of some of the more common as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using.

Defensive Driver – Completing a defensive driving course could save 5% or more depending on where you live.
Anti-theft Discount – Vehicles with anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Fewer annual miles can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Multi-car Discount – Buying insurance for more than one vehicle with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
Auto/Home Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same insurance company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.
Payment Discounts – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
Homeowners Pay Less – Being a homeowner can help you save on car insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home demonstrates responsibility.
No Charge for an Accident – Some insurance companies will allow you to have one accident without raising rates so long as you haven’t had any claims for a certain period of time.
New Car Discount – Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
Distant Student – Any of your kids who live away from home and do not have a car may qualify for this discount.

Consumers should know that many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears you could get a free car insurance policy, companies don’t profit that way.

To see a list of providers who offer car insurance discounts in Renton, click here.

Learn How to Buy Car Insurance Cheaper

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that play a part in calculating your car insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get lower car insurance prices.

A lapse in coverage is a bad thing – Driving your car without having proper coverage is illegal and as a result your rates will increase for letting your coverage have a gap. Not only will you pay more, but not being able to provide proof of insurance can result in a steep fine or even jail time.
Theft deterrents lower rates – Driving a car with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention devices such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all hinder auto theft.
Big city or small town – Choosing to live in a rural area is a positive aspect when buying car insurance. Drivers who live in large cities have to deal with more traffic problems and a longer drive to work. Lower population translates into fewer accidents and a lower car theft rate.
Extra coverages can waste money – There are quite a few additional coverages that you can buy on your car insurance policy. Coverages like personal injury protection, towing coverage and term life insurance are some examples. They may seem good initially, but if they’re wasting money get rid of them and save.
Lower miles equals lower premium – The more miles you rack up on your car in a year’s time the more you will pay for car insurance. The majority of insurers rate vehicles based on their usage. Autos left parked in the garage get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your car insurance policy is rated on how each vehicle is driven.
Liability coverage protects you – Your policy’s liability coverage provides coverage in the event that a court rules you are at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It will provide for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so buy as much as you can afford.

Which policy gives me the best coverage?

When it comes to choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.

These are some specific questions might point out whether or not you might need an agent’s assistance.

Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Washington?
When should my teen driver be added to my policy?
Do I need motorclub coverage?
What can I do if my company denied a claim?
Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?

If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form.

But buying car insurance online seems impersonal

Certain consumers would prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is just fine! One of the best bonuses of price shopping on the web is that you can obtain the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to.

After completing this short form, your insurance data is instantly submitted to companies in Renton who will return price quotes to get your business. You never need to leave your computer as quotes are delivered to the email address you provide. How’s that for easy! You’ll get the best rates and an insurance agent to talk to.

Deciding on an insurer should depend on more than just a low price. These are valid questions to ask:

How are claims handled?
Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?
Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
How long has their agency been open in Renton?

Two types of Renton insurance agents

If you’re trying to find an insurance agent, there are two types of insurance agents to choose from. Renton agents are categorized either captive or independent (non-captive).

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents can only place business with one company such as Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They are unable to compare other company’s rates so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. They are well schooled on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents. Some consumers prefer to buy from captive agents partially due to the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

Shown below are captive insurance agents in Renton that are able to give comparison quotes.

Farmers Insurance Group – 555 S Renton Village Pl # 500 – Renton, WA 98055 – (425) 254-0464
Allstate Insurance – 14410 SE Petrovitsky Rd # 206a – Renton, WA 98058 – (425) 277-0966

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agents do not work for one specific company but rather can write business with any number of different companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part. When comparison shopping, you should always include price quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to ensure the widest selection of prices.Most can insure with smaller regional carriers which can be an advantage.

Listed below is a list of independent agencies in Renton willing to provide price quote information.

Balmores Agency – 1500 Benson Rd S # 103 – Renton, WA 98055 – (425) 235-4776
D Kent Bradford Insurance – 1000 S 2nd St – Renton, WA 98055 – (425) 226-5980
A and M Insurance – 14274 SE 176th St – Renton, WA 98058 – (425) 228-7406
Chuck Rubin Agency – 326 Union Ave NE – Renton, WA 98059 – (425) 644-2676
Cynthia Do Agency – 228 SW 43rd St – Renton, WA 98055 – (425) 251-6395

To view a full list of Renton insurance agents, view this link.

Once you have received good answers to your questions as well as a affordable price, you’ve probably found an insurance agent that will service your policy.

Can switching companies really save?

State Farm, Allstate and GEICO regularly use ads in print and on television. All the companies make the same claim about savings if you move to them. How does each company claim to save you money?

Different companies can use profiling for the right customer they prefer to insure. A good example of a preferred risk could be over the age of 50, has no prior claims, and drives newer vehicles. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and therefore will save when switching.

Drivers who do not match these standards will be charged more money and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads state “customers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently make those claims. That is why it is so important to get a wide range of price quotes. It’s impossible to know which company will have the lowest rates.

More detailed Washington car insurance information is available at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website. Washington drivers can discover disciplinary actions, read consumer alerts, and learn about specific coverages.

Summing up your car insurance search

In this article, we covered a lot of tips how to save on car insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers could even find that the best prices are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.

Low-cost car insurance can be found both online and with local Renton insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

Insureds leave their current company for a variety of reasons including high prices, being labeled a high risk driver, policy cancellation or even delays in responding to claim requests. Regardless of your reason, switching car insurance companies can be easy and end up saving you some money.