Easy Methods to Cut Costs on Springfield Auto Insurance

Scraping up a payment for overpriced auto insurance can take a big chunk out of your personal savings and put the squeeze on your family’s finances. Shopping your coverage around is a smart way to make sure you’re not throwing money away. Companies like Allstate and Progressive promote their brand names with advertising and it is challenging if not impossible to see through the deception and do the work needed to find the best deal.

It’s a good habit to check auto insurance prices yearly because rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best deal last year there may be better deals available now. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding auto insurance online, so with this article, you’re going to get some great ways to buy auto insurance cheaper.

Discounts are great for lower rates

Companies offering auto insurance don’t always advertise all their discounts very well, so we took the time to find some of the best known and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings. If you don’t get every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

Homeowners Savings – Owning a house in Springfield may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
New Vehicle Savings – Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
E-sign – Certain companies give back up to $50 simply for signing digitally online.
Service Members Pay Less – Being on active duty in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
Low Mileage – Keeping the miles down can qualify you for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Life Insurance Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with lower rates if you buy life insurance.
Save over 55 – If you’re over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for reduced rates.

Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.

How to Buy Springfield Auto Insurance Online

Finding a lower price on insurance is not a difficult process. All you need to do is invest a little time to get quotes provided by online insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done using a couple different methods.

One of the simplest ways consumers can make multiple comparisons is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This type of form eliminates the need for separate forms to each individual auto insurance company. A single, simple form will return price quotes from multiple companies.
Another way to compare rate quotes requires visiting each company’s website and complete a new quote form. For example, let’s say you want comparison quotes from State Farm, Farmers and Liberty Mutual. To find out each rate you need to visit each site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is quicker.
For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Springfield, click here.
The least recommended way to compare rates is to waste gas driving to local Springfield insurance agencies. The ability to buy insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you require the professional guidance of a licensed agent. It is possible to comparison shop online but still have the advice of a local agent. We’ll cover that shortly.

Whichever method you choose, ensure you are comparing apples-to-apples coverage limits with every price quote. If you compare different liability limits it’s impossible to make an equal comparison in Springfield.

Rate influencing factors

It’s important that you understand the rating factors that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

More than one policy can earn a discount – The majority of companies will award you with lower prices to insureds who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even though this discount sounds good, it’s in your best interest to compare rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. Consumers may find a better deal by buying insurance from more than one company.
Careful drivers pay lower rates – Good drivers receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. Even a single ticket can increase rates twenty percent or more. Drivers with dangerous tickets like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.
Don’t get talked into coverage you don’t need – There are quite a few add-on coverages that you can buy if you aren’t careful. Coverages like roadside assistance, towing coverage and term life insurance are some examples. These coverages may sound good when talking to your agent, but if they’re wasting money get rid of them and save.
Lower deductibles cost more – Your deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. Physical damage coverage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, protects your car from damage. Examples of covered claims are running into the backend of another car, collision with an animal, and windstorm damage. The more money you’re willing to pay, the lower your rates will be.
With age comes lower rates – Mature drivers are more cautious drivers, file fewer claims and receive fewer citations. Teen drivers are known to be more careless in a vehicle and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
Pay less if you’re married – Having a wife or husband can actually save you money on auto insurance. Having a significant other means you’re more responsible and statistics show drivers who are married are more cautious.
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. Both sexes are in accidents at about the same rate, but the men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also statistically receive more costly citations like reckless driving and DUI.
Do you have enough liability coverage? – Your policy’s liability coverage provides coverage when a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. Liability insurance provides legal defense starting from day one. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not skimp.

Tailor your coverage to you

When buying the right insurance coverage, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s situation is a little different and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.

Is there coverage for injuries to my pets?
Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
Does my policy cover me when driving someone else’s vehicle?
How much underlying liability do I need for an umbrella policy?
Is my babysitter covered when using my vehicle?
Does my insurance cover my expensive audio equipment?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.

Price shop online but buy from a local Springfield agent

A small number of people just want to talk to a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and help in the event of a claim. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is you can get better rates but still work with a licensed agent. Springfield OH insurance prices

For easy comparison, once you complete this quick form, your insurance data is transmitted to companies in Springfield who will give you bids to get your business. You won’t need to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go to the email address you provide. It doesn’t get any easier!

Choosing an insurance company needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

Does the agency support the community they serve?
If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
Do they assist clients in filing claims?
How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?

Springfield insurance agents are either independent or captive

If you’re trying to find a reliable agent, there are a couple of types of insurance agents to choose from. Insurance agencies in Springfield are classified as either independent or captive. Both types can do a good job, but it’s worth mentioning how they differ because it can influence your selection of an agent.

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies work for only one company like Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. Captives cannot shop your coverage around so keep that in mind. They are very knowledgeable on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage.

Listed below are Springfield captive agencies that can give you comparison quotes.

American Family Insurance – 2647 E Main St – Springfield, OH 45503 – (937) 322-8071
Allstate Insurance Co – 2628 E Main St – Springfield, OH 45503 – (937) 325-2474

Independent Agents

Independent agents are not employed by any specific company but instead can place your coverage with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, an independent agent can move your coverage and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparing rates, it’s recommended you get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to get the best comparison.

Listed below are independent agencies in Springfield that can give you comparison quotes.

Iis Agency Inc – 2155 Cheviot Hills Dr – Springfield, OH 45505 – (937) 325-0455
Acceptance Insurance Agency – 1107 N Bechtle Ave – Springfield, OH 45504 – (937) 323-7997
Acceptance Insurance Agency – 1107 N Bechtle Ave – Springfield, OH 45504 – (937) 323-7997
Insurance Planning and Analysis – 1730 N Limestone St – Springfield, OH 45503 – (937) 399-8390
Johnston Agency Inc – 1729 Walnut Ter – Springfield, OH 45504 – (937) 399-5298

For a full directory of Springfield insurance agents, click here to link.

Once you have received reasonable responses to any questions you have and locked in a price quote, most likely you have located an auto insurance agent that is a good match to properly service your auto insurance policy.

One last thing

Lower-priced auto insurance is available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Springfield agents, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies may not provide online quoting and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

We covered a lot of tips how to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more quotes you get, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even find the lowest rates come from some of the lesser-known companies. Smaller companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates compared to the large companies like GEICO and State Farm.

When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There are too many instances where someone dropped collision coverage only to discover later they didn’t have enough coverage. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate.

More detailed Ohio auto insurance information can be read at the Ohio Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read state legal mandates and laws, download brochures, learn about specific coverages, and view agent and company licensing information.

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