Learn How to Quote Charleston Auto Insurance Like a Pro

Have you had enough of scraping the payment together to pay your car insurance bill each month? Your situation is no different than the majority of other car owners in West Virginia. You have so many insurers to insure vehicles with, and even though it’s nice to have a choice, it can be more challenging to find the lowest cost provider.

What impacts Charleston insurance rates?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that go into determining your auto insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get big savings.

• How’s your driving record? – Your driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Drivers who don’t get tickets receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Even one moving violation can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers who get flagrant violations such as DUI or reckless driving may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
• Rate your vehicle for proper use – The higher the mileage driven in a year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles left parked in the garage get more affordable rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your auto insurance declarations sheet is rated on the correct usage for each vehicle.
• Extra add-on coverages are wasting money – There are a ton of extra bells and whistles that can waste your money on your policy. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness and motor club memberships are examples of these. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but if you don’t need them eliminate them to save money.
• Liability coverage is cheap – Liability coverage is the protection in the event that you are found to be at fault for damages from an accident. 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 drivers should carry high limits.
• Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? – Many companies provide better rates to people who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even with this discount, you may still want to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still find better rates by splitting coverages up.
• Older drivers pay less – Teenage drivers in West Virginia are known to get distracted easily behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Parents adding a teen driver to your policy can be very expensive. Older drivers are more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel.
• Your occupation can affect rates – Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for auto insurance? Occupations like doctors, executives and financial analysts are shown to have higher average rates due to high stress and lengthy work days. Conversely, professions such as actors, engineers and performers pay the least.

Take advantage of discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but companies offer discounts to reduce the price significantly. A few discounts will automatically apply at quote time, but a few need to be asked about before they will apply. If they aren’t giving you every credit available, you’re just leaving money on the table.

• Military Rewards – Being deployed with a military unit can result in better rates.
• Safe Driver Discount – Safe drivers may receive a discount up to 45% less than drivers with accidents.
• Homeowners Savings – Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.
• Senior Discount – Mature drivers may qualify for reduced rates.
• Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Low mileage vehicles could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
• E-sign – A few companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy over the internet.
• No Accidents – Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay less when compared to accident-prone drivers.
• Anti-lock Brake System – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Clubs and Organizations – Affiliation with a professional or civic organization could trigger savings when buying auto insurance.

It’s important to note that most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any qualifying discounts will cut the cost of coverage.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

West Virginia consumers can’t get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance from the likes of 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to say the same thing about savings if you switch your coverage to them.

How does each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

All companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that is profitable for them. For example, a driver they prefer might be profiled as over the age of 40, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save quite a bit of money when switching.

Potential insureds who don’t measure up to these standards will be charged a higher premium and ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads say “customers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. That’s why companies can truthfully state the savings.

That is why you absolutely need to get quotes from several different companies. It’s just too difficult to predict which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates.

Additional auto insurance information is available on the website for the West Virginia Insurance Commission through this link. Consumers can view a list of available companies, download brochures, read state legal mandates and laws, and learn about insurance regulations.

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In the end, you save

Lower-priced auto insurance can be found from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Charleston agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies may not provide online quoting and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.

When you buy insurance online, it’s a bad idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced full coverage only to discover later they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

You just read some good ideas how you can reduce auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest premiums are with the least-expected company. These companies often have lower prices on specific markets than their larger competitors like State Farm and Allstate.