Easy Ways to Pay Less on Philadelphia Auto Insurance

I can’t think of a single person who likes paying for auto insurance, particularly when the price is too high. Because there are so many auto insurance companies to choose from, it’s nearly impossible to pick the lowest cost insurer.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Auto insurance companies don’t list every discount very well, so here is a list both well-publicized and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings. If you don’t get every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

Government Employees – Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off depending on your company.
Discount for New Cars – Buying coverage on a new vehicle is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Low Mileage – Keeping the miles down could be rewarded with discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Student in College – Any of your kids who are attending college and don’t have a car can receive lower rates.
Military Discounts – Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
Multiple Policy Discount – If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you may earn 10% to 20% off each policy.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

To see a list of companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Philadelphia, click here.

Philadelphia Auto Insurance Comparisons

Getting a lower price on insurance can be relatively painless. Consumers just need to spend a few minutes to get quotes online from several insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done in several different ways.

The fastest way to compare a lot of rates at once is an all-inclusive rate comparison (click to open form in new window). This easy form prevents you from having to do boring form submissions for each company. One quote request gets rate comparisons from many national carriers.

A more time consuming way to shop for auto insurance online requires you to visit the website for each individual company and request a quote. For examples sake, let’s say you want comparison quotes from State Farm, Esurance and Travelers. To find out each rate you need to spend time on each company’s site and enter your policy data, which is why most consumers use the first method.

For a handy list of car insurance company links in Philadelphia, click here.

The hardest way to get comparison rates is driving to different Philadelphia agent offices. Shopping for auto insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you prefer the personal advice of a licensed agent. It is possible to get the lowest quotes online and get advice from an agent in your area and we’ll touch on that later.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just make sure you use exactly the same coverages for each price quote. If you are comparing mixed coverages it’s not possible to make a fair comparison in Philadelphia.

Get Cheaper Rates by Understanding Pricing

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in better auto insurance rates.

Theft deterrents lower rates – Purchasing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention features such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all aid in stopping car theft.
Men fork out a little more – Statistics have proven that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that women are better drivers. They both cause accidents in similar percentages, but the men cause more damage. Men also statistically receive more costly citations such as reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and therefore are the most expensive to insure.
Liability coverage protects you – Liability coverage will protect you in the event that you are found liable for personal injury or accident damage. Liability insurance provides you with a defense in court starting from day one. Liability is cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not skimp.
A clean driving record saves money – A bad driving record has a huge affect on how much you pay. Even one moving violation may increase your cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers with clean records receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. If you have dangerous violations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may find they need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to prevent a license revocation.
How your age affects price – Youthful drivers in Pennsylvania tend to be careless and easily distracted in a vehicle so auto insurance rates are higher. Mature drivers are more cautious drivers, statistically cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations.
Your auto insurance rates can be influenced by your job – Jobs such as lawyers, business owners and stock brokers tend to have the highest rates due to high stress levels and lengthy work days. On the other hand, occupations such as farmers, students and the unemployed receive lower rates.
Marriage brings a discount – Having a spouse can get you a discount on your policy. Having a significant other usually means you are more responsible and it’s statistically proven that married couples file fewer claims.
Where you reside plays a part – Being located in less populated areas can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Drivers in populated areas regularly have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer people translates into fewer accidents and a lower car theft rate.

You may need specialized coverage

When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions may help you determine whether or not you will benefit from professional help.

Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
Who is covered by my policy?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in Pennsylvania?
What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
Does my medical payments coverage pay my health insurance deductible?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Quote online but still have a local agent

Some consumers would prefer to buy from a local agent and that is OK! Licensed agents can answer important questions and give you someone to call. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain the best rates and still have an agent to talk to.

After filling out this simple form, the coverage information is sent to local insurance agents who will battle for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. It doesn’t get any easier!

Picking an provider shouldn’t rely on just the price. Agents should be asked these questions:

Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
Who is covered by the car insurance policy?
Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?

Philadelphia insurance agents come in two flavors

When researching a good insurance agency, there are two different types of agents that you can select. Insurance agencies in Philadelphia can either be captive or independent. Both write coverage properly, but it’s worth learning the differences because it can influence buying decisions.

Agency Captives

Captive agents have only one company to place business with and examples are Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. They usually cannot shop your coverage around so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captive agencies are trained well on the products they sell which can be an advantage.

Below are captive insurance agencies in Philadelphia willing to provide price quote information.

Liberty Mutual Insurance – 111 S Independence Mall E – Philadelphia, PA 19106 – (215) 925-7915
Allstate Insurance – 6541 Roosevelt Blvd – Philadelphia, PA 19149 – (215) 288-2400
State Farm Insurance – 7034 Frankford Ave – Philadelphia, PA 19135 – (215) 333-5544

Independent Agents

Independent agents are not required to write business for one company so they can insure your vehicles amongst many companies and potentially find a lower price. To transfer your coverage to a different company, an independent agent can move your coverage without you having to go to a different agency.

When comparing rates, we recommend you contact multiple independent agents for the best price selection.

Below is a list of independent agencies in Philadelphia that can give you rate quotes.

Integrity Insurance – 1405 S Broad St – Philadelphia, PA 19147 – (215) 339-1000
Franklin Agency Inc – 212 S 4th St – Philadelphia, PA 19106 – (215) 627-4241
American Re Insurance Co – 510 Walnut St – Philadelphia, PA 19106 – (215) 814-1500
Gannon Agency – 212 Fairmount Ave – Philadelphia, PA 19123 – (215) 629-2800
Choe Agency – 4719 N Broad St – Philadelphia, PA 19141 – (215) 324-2857

To view a complete directory of Philadelphia insurance agents, click here to link.

Once you have received good answers to your questions and a good coverage price, most likely you have located an insurance agency that is a good match to insure your vehicles.

How can Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm save drivers who switch?

Pennsylvania consumers can’t get away from ads that promise big savings by Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to say the same thing about savings if you move to their company.

How do they all make almost identical claims?

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that is profitable for them. An example of a profitable customer might be profiled as between the ages of 40 and 55, has no tickets, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any driver who meets those qualifications receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential insureds who don’t measure up to this ideal profile must pay a more expensive rate which leads to business not being written. The ad wording is “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much money. That’s why insurance companies can advertise the way they do. This illustrates why you need to quote coverage with many companies. You cannot predict which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates.

Smart consumers save more

When buying insurance coverage, you should never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In many cases, someone dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits and learned later that it was a big error on their part. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Discount auto insurance can be sourced on the web as well as from independent agents in Philadelphia, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

To learn even more about auto insurance

More detailed Pennsylvania auto insurance information is located at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department website. Pennsylvania consumers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, learn about specific coverages, and read state legal mandates and laws.

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Top Five Ways to Save Money on on Auto Insurance in Philadelphia