Easy Tips to Cut Costs on Kettering, OH Car Insurance

Are you sick and tired of paying out the nose to insure your vehicles every month? Your situation is no different than many other Ohio consumers.

Consumers have many auto insurance companies to choose from, and although it’s nice to have a choice, it can be more difficult to find the best rates for your vehicles.

You should make it a habit to price shop coverage at least once a year since insurance rates are usually higher with each renewal. Even if you got the best deal last year a different company probably has better rates today. There is a lot of wrong information about car insurance online, so with this article, you’re going to get the easiest ways to put money back in your pocket.

You probably qualify for some discounts

Companies don’t necessarily list every discount in a way that’s easy to find, so the following is a list of both the well known and also the lesser-known car insurance savings.

Good Student Discount – A discount for being a good student can earn a discount of 20% or more. This discount can apply until age 25.
Claim Free – Claim-free drivers can earn big discounts as compared to accident-prone drivers.
Student in College – Any of your kids who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle may qualify for this discount.
Anti-theft System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Sign Online – A few companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying your policy on their website.
More Vehicles More Savings – Having multiple cars or trucks on the same car insurance policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Fewer annual miles could be rewarded with a substantially lower rate.
Discounts for Safe Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents may save up to 50% more than drivers with accidents.

Consumers should know that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only cut individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think you could get a free car insurance policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.

For a list of companies with discount car insurance rates in Kettering, click this link.

How to Lower Your Car Insurance Cost in Kettering, OH

Most major insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive provide insurance quotes online. Getting online rates is quite easy as you simply enter into the quote form. Once you submit the form, their system will order your driving and credit reports and generates a price. Quoting online makes comparing rates easy, but the work required to visit many different websites and type in the same information can get tiresome after awhile. But it’s very important to compare as many rates as possible in order to get lower prices.

The preferred way to locate the lowest prices requires only one form that gets prices from several different companies. This type of form saves time, requires less work, and makes comparison shopping much more enjoyable and efficient. Immediately after submitting the form, it gets priced with multiple companies and you can pick your choice of the pricing results. If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, you simply finish the application and buy the new coverage. The entire process only takes a few minutes and may result in a nice savings. save money concept

If you want to get comparison pricing now, click here to open in a new tab and input your coverage information. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended that you enter the coverages just like they are on your policy. This way, you will get comparison quotes using the same coverage and limits.

How insurance companies determine rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in big savings.

Shown below are a few of the “ingredients” used by your company to calculate premiums.

Liability coverage protects you – Your policy’s liability coverage is the coverage that protects you in the event that you are found liable for damages from an accident. It will provide for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
Claim-free discounts can add up – If you are a frequent claim filer, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Car insurance companies in Ohio give cheaper rates to people who are claim-free. Car insurance is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Theft deterrents lower rates – Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention devices such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.
Rural vs Urban Areas – Residing in a small town is a positive aspect when it comes to car insurance. Fewer people translates into fewer accidents and a lower car theft rate. City drivers have to deal with more traffic problems and a longer drive to work. More time on the road means more change of being in an accident.
Do you need those extra coverages? – There are a ton of extra coverages that you can buy on your car insurance policy. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and membership fees may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea when talking to your agent, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.

What about my local Kettering agents?

Some consumers would rather visit with an insurance agent and that is OK! One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to.

Once you complete this form (opens in new window), your coverage information is transmitted to local insurance agents who will battle for your business. You won’t need to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go to your email. How cool is that?! It’s the lowest rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.

Picking a company shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. Some important questions to ask are:

If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
Does the agency support the community they serve?

If you prefer to select a specific agent in Kettering, visit this site.

Once you have good answers to all your questions and a good coverage price, most likely you have located an provider that can insure your vehicles.

Smart consumers save more

As you restructure your insurance plan, make sure you don’t buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, drivers have reduced physical damage coverage only to regret they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.

Discount car insurance is available on the web and also from your neighborhood Kettering agents, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

Some additional reading

More tips and info about car insurance is located at the Ohio Department of Insurance website. Ohio consumers can read consumer alerts, learn about specific coverages, and view agent and company licensing information.