Learn How to Shop For Eugene Oregon Auto Insurance Like an Informed Consumer

Buying the cheapest Eugene auto insurance over the internet may be impossible for consumers not familiar with buying insurance online. Because there are so many online companies, how can you possibly compare every one to find the best price?

Make smart decisions and save

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces that factor into rates.

• Choose a safe vehicle and save – Safer cars get lower rates. Safer cars result in less severe injuries and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies and more competitive rates for policyholders.
• Special features that cut premiums – Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft features such as LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.
• Men are more aggressive – The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn’t necessarily mean that women are BETTER drivers than men. Both sexes are in accidents in similar numbers, but the men cause more damage. Men also statistically get more serious tickets like DUI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers tend to get in the most accidents and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
• How your age affects price – Teen drivers in Oregon tend to be careless and easily distracted behind the wheel so auto insurance rates are higher. Parents adding a youthful driver onto your auto insurance can be quite pricey. Older drivers are more cautious drivers, file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel.
• The type of vehicle makes a difference – The make and model of the vehicle you are buying insurance for makes a big difference in determining your rates. Small economy passenger cars generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
• Poor credit can mean higher rates – Credit history is a large factor in your rate calculation. If your credit is not that good, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your rating. Consumers who have excellent credit tend to be less risk to insure than drivers who have lower credit scores.

Comparison of Auto Insurance in Eugene

All the larger auto insurance companies provide prices for coverage online. The process doesn’t take a lot of time as you simply type in your coverage information into the quote form. Behind the scenes, their rating system orders your driving and credit reports and provides a quote based on many factors.

Online quotes simplifies rate comparisons, but the time required to go to a lot of sites and complete many quote forms is monotonous and tiresome. But it’s absolutely necessary to have as many quotes as possible if you want to find a lower rate.

A more efficient way to compare auto insurance pricing is to use a quote form that analyzes rates from multiple companies. The form is fast, eliminates repetitive work, and makes online quotes a little more enjoyable. As soon as you send your information, it is rated and you can choose your choice of the price quotes you receive.

If you find a better price you can simply submit the application and purchase the new policy. It only takes a few minutes and you will find out if you’re overpaying now.

To quickly find out what other companies charge, click here to open in new window and begin entering your coverage information. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended that you enter just like they are on your policy. Using the same limits helps guarantee you will get rate comparison quotes for similar coverage.

Take advantage of discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but there could be available discounts to help offset the cost. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you quote, but a few need to be asked for before they will apply. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

• Low Mileage Discounts – Driving fewer miles could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
• Senior Discount – Mature drivers may qualify for better auto insurance rates.
• Defensive Driver – Taking part in a defensive driving course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.
• Payment Method – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
• Life Insurance – Some companies give a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
• Lower Rates for Military – Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most cut individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like you can get free auto insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way. But any discount will bring down your premiums.

To choose insurance companies with discount auto insurance rates in Oregon, click here to view.

How to know if you need help

When choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is unique.

For example, these questions can help discover whether you will benefit from professional help.

• When should I not file a claim?
• Do I have coverage when pulling a U-Haul trailer?
• Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
• Do no-fault laws apply in Oregon?
• Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Oregon?
• Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
• What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
• Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
• Do I have coverage when using my vehicle for my home business?
• Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and you can get the answers you need.

Additional auto insurance information is located on the Oregon Insurance Division website. Click here for link. Visitors are able to read industry bulletins, read state legal mandates and laws, and file complaints about a company.

Keep this in mind

While you’re price shopping online, don’t be tempted to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are too many instances where someone sacrificed liability limits or collision coverage only to regret they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your strategy should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Consumers switch companies for a number of reasons such as high prices, extreme rates for teen drivers, an unsatisfactory settlement offer and policy cancellation. No matter why you want to switch, switching auto insurance companies is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.

We covered many tips how you can get a better price on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers may even find the best price on auto insurance is with a lesser-known regional company.