Is Your Hopkinsville Car Insurance Too High? Here is How to Save Money

If shopping for car insurance online is new to you, you may be overwhelmed because of the huge number of companies vying for business in Hopkinsville.

Smart consumers take time to take a look at other company’s rates periodically because prices trend upward over time. If you had the lowest rates a year ago a different company probably has better rates today. Starting right now, forget all the misinformation about car insurance because I’m going to teach you one of the quickest ways to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

Smart Buyers can Save Money

It’s important that you understand the factors that come into play when calculating car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

• Marriage pays dividends – Having a spouse can get you a discount when buying car insurance. Having a spouse translates into being more mature and it’s proven that being married results in fewer claims.
• Multi-policy discounts can save money – Most companies will give a discount to customers who consolidate policies with them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you’re getting this discount it’s in your best interest to compare rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.
• Adjust deductibles and save – Physical damage insurance, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered are colliding with a building, damage from fire, or theft. Your deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend before a claim is paid by your company. The more the insured has to pay upfront, the less your car insurance will be.
• How your age affects price – Teen drivers in Kentucky tend to be careless and easily distracted in a vehicle so they pay higher car insurance rates. Mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel.
• Allowing your policy to lapse raises rates – Allowing your coverage to lapse is a sure-fire way to increase your car insurance rates. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage can result in a steep fine or even jail time.Then you may be required to file a SR-22 with the Kentucky department of motor vehicles.
• Rural vs Urban Areas – Living in a rural area is a positive aspect when it comes to car insurance. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. Urban drivers have to deal with more traffic problems and longer commutes to work. More time on the road means more change of being in an accident.

Do you qualify for discounts?

Companies do not advertise all their discounts very clearly, so we break down some of the more common and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving.

• Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
• Early Signing – Some companies give discounts for switching policies prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.
• Federal Employees – Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% depending on your company.
• Braking Control Discount – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Save with a New Car – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
• Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Accident Waiver – A handful of insurance companies allow you one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.
• Military Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.
• Driver’s Ed – Require your teen driver to take driver’s ed class in school.
• 55 and Retired – Older drivers may receive reduced rates.

It’s important to note that some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won’t be that lucky.

For a list of insurers who offer car insurance discounts in Hopkinsville, click this link.

Won’t my local insurance agent miss me?

Some people just want to visit with an insurance agent and that is just fine! The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find the best rates but also keep your business local.

After completing this simple form, your insurance coverage information is emailed to insurance agents in Hopkinsville who will compete for your business. There is no need to drive around because quoted prices will be sent directly to your email. It doesn’t get any easier! You’ll get the best rates and an insurance agent to talk to.

Deciding on an insurer should depend on more than just the price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
• Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Kentucky?
• How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
• Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
• Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
• Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
• Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
• What insurance companies do they work with?

If you wish to view licensed agents in Hopkinsville, please go to this site.

Upon receiving positive responses to these questions and locked in a price quote, most likely you have located an insurer that meets your needs to service your policy.

Buyer beware of car insurance advertising tricks

Car insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate and GEICO regularly use television and radio advertisements. They all seem to make an identical promise that you’ll save big if you move to them. How does each company make the same claim?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver they prefer to insure. For instance, a desirable insured could possibly be between 25 and 40, insures multiple vehicles, and chooses high deductibles. Any new insured who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Drivers who don’t qualify for this ideal profile will have to pay higher rates and this can result in business not being written. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much money. That’s the way insurance companies can confidently make those claims. Because of the profiling, drivers should get as many comparisons as possible. It’s not possible to predict which car insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

Even more information can be read at the Kentucky Department of Insurance website. Kentucky drivers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, find disaster information, read consumer alerts, and read state legal mandates and laws.

One last thing

Lower-priced car insurance can be purchased from both online companies in addition to many Hopkinsville insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some insurance providers do not provide online quoting and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

You just learned a lot of information how to get a better price on car insurance. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the best prices are with a small local company.

Insureds switch companies for a number of reasons such as policy non-renewal, high rates after DUI convictions, lack of trust in their agent and even high prices. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a new car insurance company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.