Paying for high-priced car insurance can empty your personal savings, especially in this economy. Doing a price comparison is free and is an excellent way to tighten up your finances.
Big companies like State Farm, GEICO and Farmers Insurance increase brand awareness with catchy ads and it is challenging if not impossible to see through the deception and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
Don’t overlook these discounts
Companies that sell car insurance don’t necessarily list every discount very clearly, so here is a list both well-publicized as well as the least known car insurance savings.
- Drive Less and Save – Keeping the miles down could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
- Seat Belts Save – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
- No Charge for an Accident – A few companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up so long as you haven’t had any claims for a set time period.
- Save with a New Car – Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Companies who offer life insurance give a break if you buy life insurance.
- Drivers Education – Have your child enroll in driver’s education if it’s offered in school.
- Federal Government Employee – Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
- Senior Discount – Older drivers may qualify for a discount up to 10%.
Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So even though it sounds like all those discounts means the company will pay you, it just doesn’t work that way.
For a list of providers offering car insurance discounts in Spanish Fork, click here to view.
Why you might pay higher rates in Spanish Fork
Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in better car insurance rates.
Shown below are some of the factors used by your company to calculate premiums.
- Pleasure use saves money – The more miles you rack up on your car every year the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies price each vehicle’s coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles left parked in the garage can get a lower rate as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Make sure your car insurance policy is showing how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.
- Performance influences rates – The performance level of the car you are insuring makes a huge difference in your rates. Economy passenger models generally receive the lowest base rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
- A lapse in coverage is a bad thing – Having an insurance coverage lapse will be a quick way to pay more for car insurance. Not only will you pay more, failure to provide proof of insurance can result in a revoked license or a big fine.You may have to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the Utah motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
- Your spouse saves you money – Having a spouse can get you a discount on car insurance. It means you’re more mature and it’s proven that being married results in fewer claims.
- Do you know your deductibles? – Physical damage coverage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, and windstorm damage. The deductibles are how much you are willing to pay in the event of a claim. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your car insurance will be.
- High crash test scores lower rates – Vehicles with good safety scores tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles reduce injuries and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts and lower rates for you.
- An active claims history can cost you – Auto insurance companies in Utah provide discounts to drivers who do not file claims often. If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Your insurance policy is designed for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
- Traffic citations inflate rates – Your driving record impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Even a single speeding ticket can increase rates forty percent or more. Good drivers have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who get flagrant violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.
Is my situation unique?
When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Each situation is unique so your insurance needs to address that. Here are some questions about coverages that might help in determining whether you could use an agent’s help.
- Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
- Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
- What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
- Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
- What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
- Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
- What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in Utah?
- Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
- What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
- How high should my medical payments coverage be?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier
Find out more about car insurance
More tips and info about car insurance can be found at the Utah Insurance Department website. Visitors are able to learn about specific coverages, file complaints about a company, read state legal mandates and laws, and read consumer alerts.
More quotes mean more savings
We covered a lot of ways to compare car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more providers you compare, the better your comparison will be. Drivers may discover the lowest premiums are with a smaller regional carrier. These smaller insurers may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm or Progressive.
Lower-priced car insurance is available online as well as from independent agents in Spanish Fork, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best selection. Some car insurance companies don’t offer online price quotes and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.