Are you overwhelmed by the sheer number of car insurance options in Rome? You’re not the only one! People have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a ton of work to find better rates.
It’s a great practice to check car insurance prices before your policy renews because prices trend upward over time. Even if you got the best rates two years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Starting right now, ignore everything you know about car insurance because you’re about to learn the quickest way to find lower rates on car insurance.
If you currently have car insurance, you should be able to save some money using this information. Shopping for more affordable car insurance in Rome is simple if you know the tricks. Nevertheless, Georgia car owners must learn the methods companies use to market on the web.
Discounts are basically free money
Car insurance companies do not list all their discounts very clearly, so we break down some of the best known and also the lesser-known ways to save on car insurance.
- Clubs and Organizations – Being a member of certain professional organizations could trigger savings when buying car insurance.
- Use Seat Belts – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
- Student in College – Kids in college living away from home attending college and don’t have a car may be able to be covered for less.
- Pay Upfront and Save – By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you could save up to 5%.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Companies who offer life insurance give a break if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
- Anti-lock Brakes – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can reduce accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Sign Online – A few companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy over the internet.
Keep in mind that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don’t profit that way.
Learn How to Lower your Rates
Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that go into determining your car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels enables informed choices that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.
- Performance level impacts rates – The performance level of the vehicle you are insuring makes a huge difference in your rates. The lowest base rates tend to be for low performance passenger models, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
- Liability coverage is cheap – Your policy’s liability coverage provides coverage in the event that you are found to be at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so buy as much as you can afford.
- Lower rates come with age – More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and get fewer tickets. Youthful drivers tend to be more careless when driving and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher.
- Safe vehicles cost less to insure – Vehicles with good safety scores tend to have better insurance rates. The safest vehicles result in less severe injuries and lower injury rates means less money paid by your insurance company passed on to you as lower rates.
- Do you need the policy add-ons? – There are a lot of extra bells and whistles that you can buy on your policy. Coverages like roadside assistance, towing coverage and term life insurance are examples of these. These coverages may sound good initially, but if they’re wasting money get rid of them and save.
- Your occupation can affect rates – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Jobs such as judges, architects and stock brokers have the highest rates in part from high stress levels and lengthy work days. On the other hand, occupations like pilots, students and homemakers get better rates.
Which insurance is the “right” coverage?
When it comes to buying adequate coverage, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is unique.
Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine if you might need professional guidance.
- When should I drop full coverage on my vehicle?
- Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
- Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Georgia?
- Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
- Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
- Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form.
Additional resources for Georgia consumers
Additional detailed information can be found at the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner website. Georgia drivers can read state legal mandates and laws, discover disciplinary actions, and find disaster information.
Cheaper insurance is a realistic goal
People change insurance companies for many reasons like lack of trust in their agent, delays in responding to claim requests, denial of a claim or even high prices. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new company can be less work than you think.
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s a bad idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage and discovered at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.
We covered quite a bit of information on how to shop for car insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even find the lowest premiums are with the smaller companies.