Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Marysville Washington? Here’s How to Save!

Nobody I know looks forward to buying auto insurance, especially knowing they are paying too much.

Big companies like GEICO and Progressive increase brand awareness with ad campaigns and consumers find it hard to avoid their marketing magic and take the time to shop coverage around.

Consumers should take time to check auto insurance prices at least once a year because prices are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. If you had the lowest price a couple years back the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Starting right now, ignore everything you know about auto insurance because I’m going to teach you one of the best ways to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.

If you currently have car insurance, you will most likely be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. Finding the best rates in Marysville is not rocket science. Although Washington vehicle owners should learn how companies sell insurance online and take advantage of how the system works.

Auto Insurance Prices in Marysville, WA

When shopping for auto insurance there are multiple ways of comparing rate quotes from different in Marysville, WAinsurance companies. The quickest method to compare insurance prices is simply to get online rate quotes. This can be done using a couple different methods.

• Probably the best way to find low rates would be an industry-wide quote request form click here to open form in new window. This method keeps you from doing a different quote for each company you want a rate for. One simple form will return price quotes from multiple low-cost companies.
• A more difficult way to get quotes online is to take the time to go to each company website and complete a new quote form. For sake of this example, let’s say you want to compare GEICO, Farmers and Liberty Mutual. To find out each rate you need to take the time to go to each site to input your insurance information, and that’s why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Marysville, click here.
• The least efficient way to compare rates is to spend your day driving to insurance agents’ offices. The ability to buy insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you have a need for the professional guidance only provided by licensed Marysville agents. It is possible to get prices online but buy from a local insurance agent and we’ll touch on that later.

Whichever method you choose, ensure you are comparing identical coverages for every quote you compare. If you use different values for each quote it will be next to impossible to determine the best price in Marysville. Just a small difference in coverages can make a big difference in price. Keep in mind that comparing more company’s prices helps you find better pricing.

Is there truth in advertising?

State Farm, Allstate and GEICO continually stream ads on television and other media. All the companies make the same claim that you can save after switching to their company. But how can every company say the same thing?

Insurance companies can use profiling for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For instance, a driver they prefer might be profiled as over the age of 50, has no prior claims, and chooses high deductibles. Any new insured that hits that “sweet spot” gets the lowest rates and as a result will probably pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Potential customers who do not match the requirements will have to pay a more expensive rate which leads to the customer not buying. The ads state “customers that switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much money. This is how companies can make the claims of big savings.

Because of the profiling, you should get as many quotes as possible. It’s just too difficult to predict which auto insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces used by your company to calculate rates.

• Bad driving skills means higher rates – Your driving record has a huge affect on how much you pay. Even a single moving violation can increase rates forty percent or more. Good drivers get better rates than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who get dangerous violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to prevent a license revocation.
• Do you have enough liability coverage? – Your policy’s liability coverage will protect you when a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. It provides for a legal defense starting from day one. Liability insurance is quite affordable as compared to coverage for physical damage, so buy as much as you can afford.
• Clean credit earns discounts – Your credit score is a large factor in determining your rates. People with high credit scores tend to be more responsible than those with poor credit. If your credit is low, you could potentially save money when insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit.
• Your job and insurance rates – Did you know your job can affect your rates? Occupations such as doctors, business owners and accountants tend to have higher rates than average because of stressful work requirements and long work days. On the flip side, professions such as scientists, athletes and homemakers receive lower rates.
• Proper usage rating affects rates – The more miles you rack up on your car in a year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. The majority of insurers charge to insure your cars based on how the vehicle is used. Autos not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven.
• High crash test scores lower rates – Safer cars get lower rates. Safer cars reduce injuries and any reduction in injury severity means less money paid by your insurance company and more competitive rates for policyholders.
• Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? – Most insurers give discounts to people who buy several policies from them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, it’s in your best interest to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still be able to find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.
• Older drivers save more – Teenage drivers in Washington are known to be careless and easily distracted when driving so auto insurance rates are higher. Adding a young driver onto a policy can be very expensive. More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, statistically cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel.

Lots of discounts mean lots of savings

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but companies offer discounts that can drop the cost substantially. A few discounts will automatically apply when you quote, but a few must be requested specifically prior to getting the savings.

• Multiple Cars – Having all your vehicles on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
• Memberships – Being a member of certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates on auto insurance.
• Anti-lock Brake Discount – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Keeping the miles down could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
• Life Insurance Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with a break if you buy life insurance.
• E-sign – A handful of insurance companies give back up to $50 simply for signing on their website.

Keep in mind that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So despite the fact that it appears you could get a free auto insurance policy, it just doesn’t work that way. But all discounts will help reduce your overall premium however.

To see a list of companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Washington, click here to view.

Compare online but buy from a local Marysville agent

Some consumers would prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is just fine! The best thing about getting online price quotes is that you can obtain better rates but still work with a licensed agent. Supporting local businesses is important particularly in Marysville.

By using this form (opens in new window), your coverage information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents who will return price quotes to get your business. There is no need to visit any agencies as quotes are delivered directly to your email. Now that’s easy! You can find better rates and work with a local agent.

Choose an insurance agent wisely

If you’re trying to find a good insurance agency, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Marysville agents are categorized either captive or independent (non-captive).

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agencies are not required to write business for one company but instead can place your coverage amongst many companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, an independent agent can move your coverage and you won’t have to switch agencies. When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you contact at least one independent agent to ensure the widest selection of prices.

Listed below are independent agents in Marysville that are able to give price quote information.

Axel Agency – 4107 80th St NE – Marysville, WA 98270 – (360) 659-6296
Wagner Insurance Inc – 1375 State Ave # C – Marysville, WA 98270 – (360) 653-3737
Whitfield’s United Insurance – 1059 State Ave # B – Marysville, WA 98270 – (360) 659-1288

Agency Captives

These agents can only write with one company and examples are Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so always compare other rates. Captive agents are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products which can be an advantage.

Below is a list of captive insurance agents in Marysville willing to provide price quote information.

Allstate Insurance – 1326 5th St # A2 – Marysville, WA 98270 – (360) 653-5561
State Farm Insurance – 1517 10th St – Marysville, WA 98270 – (360) 653-2582

To view a full list of auto insurance agents in Marysville, visit this site.

Selecting an insurance agency shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. These questions are important to ask:

• Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
• Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
• How are they compensated?
• Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
• Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
• What insurance company do they write the most business with?

Once you have satisfactory answers for all questions you ask and a good coverage price, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agent that can properly insure your vehicles.

What is YOUR best insurance company?

The cheapest auto insurance is possible online and also from your neighborhood Marysville agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance providers may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

Throughout this article, we presented quite a bit of information on how to get a better price on auto insurance. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the best price on auto insurance is with some of the smallest insurance companies. These companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate and Progressive.

More information about auto insurance

Additional auto insurance information can be found on the website for the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner through this link. Visitors are able to read state legal mandates and laws, view agent and company licensing information, and find a variety of consumer forms.