Never Quote Seward Alaska Auto Insurance Without Knowing These Money Saving Tips

Sick and tired of trying to scrape together enough money to buy car insurance? You’re in the same situation as many other drivers in Alaska. Numerous insurers battle to insure your vehicles, and it can be difficult to compare rates and get the definite best rate

You should take the time to take a look at other company’s rates on a regular basis because prices go up and down regularly. Even if you think you had the lowest rates a few years ago other companies may now be cheaper. You’ll find quite a bit of inaccurate information about auto insurance online but we’re going to give you a lot of great tips on how to find affordable auto insurance.

If you have a policy now or are looking for a new policy, you can use these tips to cut your premiums and still get good coverage. Finding affordable coverage in Seward is not that difficult. Alaska drivers just need to understand the best way to get comparison rates online.

Comprehensive Seward Auto Insurance Comparison Quotes

Most companies quote pricing on the web. This process is quite easy as you simply type in the amount of coverage you want into the quote form. When complete, their system orders your driving record and credit report and quotes a price based on these factors. This helps simplify price comparisons, but the process of having to visit each company’s website and repetitively fill out multiple forms can be a bit tiresome and repetitive. Unfortunately, it is important to perform this step if you want to find better auto insurance pricing.

The better way to compare rates

The preferred way to compare auto insurance pricing makes use of a single form that analyzes rates from several different companies. It’s a real time-saver, eliminates repetitive work, and makes online shopping a little more enjoyable. As soon as the form is sent, it is rated and you can select any or none of the price quotes you receive. If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, you can simply submit the application and purchase the new policy. The entire process just takes a couple of minutes and may result in a nice savings.

To find out how much you’re overpaying now, click here and complete the simple form. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you duplicate deductibles and limits as shown on your current policy. This helps ensure you will be getting a rate comparison based on similar coverages.

Discounts are great for lower rates

Car insurance companies don’t always advertise every discount very well, so we researched some of the best known and the harder-to-find ways to save on auto insurance. If you don’t get every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

Lower Rates for Military – Having a deployed family member can result in better rates.
Paperwork-free – A few companies will give a small break simply for signing digitally online.
Driver Safety – Taking part in a defensive driving course could save 5% or more if your company offers it.
Anti-lock Brakes – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can avoid accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
No Charge for an Accident – A handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident before raising your premiums if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.
Multi-policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you may save approximately 10% to 15%.
Good Student – Performing well in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The discount lasts up to age 25.
Discount for Swiching Early – Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. The savings is around 10%.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most cut specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.

To choose insurers with discount auto insurance rates in Alaska, click here.

But I prefer to buy car insurance from an agent

A small number of people prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is a personal choice. Educated insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and give you someone to call. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is you can get the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to.

After filling out this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is submitted to local insurance agents in Seward who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent straight to your inbox. How’s that for easy! Seward insurance comparisons

Deciding on a company shouldn’t rely on just the price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
Are they full-time agents?
What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
Are claims handled at the agent’s location?

Is a captive or independent car insurance agent right for you?

When researching a good Seward insurance agent, you need to know there are two types of agencies from which to choose. Agents are either independent or captive. Both types can do a good job, but it’s worth learning the differences because it can impact buying decisions.

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive insurance agents can only write with one company like American Family, Liberty Mutual and AAA. Captives cannot place coverage with different providers so they have to upsell other benefits. Captives receive extensive training in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage.

Independent Insurance Agents

These agents do not work for one specific company so they have the ability to put coverage with any number of different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the agent simply finds a different carrier without you having to go to a different agency.

When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to include several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.

Below is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Seward willing to provide price quotes.

Seward Insurance – 11709 Seward Hwy # E – Seward, AK 99664 – (907) 224-7370

For a full directory of Seward insurance agents, visit this site.

Once you have answers to your satisfaction for all questions you ask and an affordable coverage quote, it’s possible that you found an insurance agency that can adequately provide auto insurance.

Your coverage should be tailored to you

When it comes to choosing adequate coverage, there isn’t really a single plan that fits everyone. Each situation is unique so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether your personal situation would benefit from professional advice.

Will my rates increase for filing one claim?
Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in Alaska?
Do I qualify for additional discounts?
If my vehicle is totaled, can I afford another vehicle?
Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
What can I do if my company denied a claim?

If you can’t answer these questions, you might consider talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Why your price might be higher

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Drive less and save money – The more you drive every year the higher your rate. Most insurance companies rate vehicles determined by how the vehicle is used. Autos used primarily for pleasure use get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your auto insurance policy is showing the correct driver usage.
Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? – Most companies will award you with lower prices to people who buy several policies from them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can add up to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you’re getting this discount you may still want to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still be able to find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
Never let your coverage lapse – Driving your car without having proper coverage is illegal and auto insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage lapse. And not only will your rates increase, getting caught without coverage might get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.
Liability coverage protects you – The liability section of your policy is the protection in the event that you are found liable for damages caused by your negligence. It provides for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability is cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
More claims means more premium – If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance companies in Alaska provide better rates to people who do not file claims often. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of the large, substantial claims.
Pay less if you’re married – Having a spouse actually saves money on your auto insurance policy. Having a significant other means you’re more mature than a single person and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.
Younger drivers pay higher rates – Young drivers in Alaska are known to be less responsible behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Having to add a young driver to your auto insurance policy can break the bank. Older drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.

Advertising myths

Consumers can’t ignore all the ads that promise big savings from the likes of State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all seem to make the same claim that you can save if you switch your coverage to them.

How does each company make the same claim?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that is profitable for them. For instance, a driver they prefer might be between 25 and 40, has no driving citations, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A driver that hits that “sweet spot” will get very good rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who do not match the “perfect” profile will have to pay a more expensive rate which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say “drivers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much. This is how companies can truthfully claim big savings. Because of the profiling, you need to compare as many rates as you can. It’s not possible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More quotes mean more savings

We’ve covered some good ideas how you can save on auto insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more providers you compare, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the lowest rates come from a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising. These smaller insurers may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive and GEICO.

When buying insurance coverage, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are too many instances where drivers have reduced collision coverage to discover at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your strategy should be to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.

Learn more today

Additional detailed information is available at the Alaska Division of Insurance website. Alaska consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, view a list of available companies, learn about specific coverages, and find out industry alerts.

Other informative sites include Wikipedia and this page of insurance agents in Seward.