Popular Techniques for Buying Clarksburg, WV Auto Insurance Cheaper

Comparison shopping for Clarksburg auto insurance can seem to be nearly impossible for people who are new to comparing rates online. Consumers have so many choices that it can be a lot of work to find the best price in Clarksburg.

You should take the time to compare rates before your policy renews because prices are rarely the same from one policy term to another. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price on your last policy you will most likely find a better rate today. There is a lot of bad information regarding auto insurance on the internet, so with this article, you’re going to get some great ways to reduce your auto insurance bill.

Lower rates by qualifying for discounts

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you may find discounts that you may not know about. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time of purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked about prior to receiving the credit. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you are throwing money away.

• Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
• Life Insurance Discount – Larger companies have lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
• Drivers Ed for Students – Have your child successfully complete driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
• Good Student Discount – This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
• Accident Free – Claim-free drivers can save substantially as compared to drivers who are more careless.
• Homeowners Savings – Owning a house in Clarksburg can save you money because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
• Save over 55 – Mature drivers can possibly qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
• Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Fewer annual miles could qualify for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
• Military Discounts – Having a deployed family member may qualify for rate reductions.
• Bundle and Save – When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same insurance company you may save approximately 10% to 15%.

It’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies don’t profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will reduce your premiums.

To see a list of companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Clarksburg, click here.

What determines how much you pay?

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to big savings.

• Big city or small town – Living in small towns and rural areas is a positive aspect when buying auto insurance. Lower population means reduced accidents. Urban drivers tend to have more traffic problems and a longer drive to work. Longer commute distances translates into higher accident risk.
• Don’t cancel a policy without a new one in place – Letting your insurance expire is a sure-fire way to increase your auto insurance rates. And not only will your rates increase, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance may earn you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.
• Multi-policy discounts can save money – Most companies give discounts to policyholders who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. If you currently are using one company, you may still want to shop around to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
• Rate your vehicle for proper use – The more you drive in a year’s time the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. The majority of insurers apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Double check that your auto insurance policy properly reflects the correct driver usage.
• Lower rates with optional equipment – Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft features like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system all hinder your vehicle from being stolen.
• More claims means more premium – Auto insurance companies in West Virginia award lower rates to drivers who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you frequently file small claims, you can pretty much guarantee either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance coverage is designed for the large, substantial claims.

What happened to insurance agents?

Some people just want to talk to a local agent. Educated insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and help submit paperwork. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is that you can obtain better rates and still have an agent to talk to. Supporting local agencies is definitely important in Clarksburg.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this short form, your information is emailed to companies in Clarksburg who will compete for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to drive around since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. Now that’s easy!

Different types of car insurance agents in Clarksburg

When looking for a reputable insurance agent or broker, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents to choose from. Agencies in Clarksburg are either independent or captive. Both types can write coverage properly, but it’s worth learning the difference between them since it may influence the type of agent you choose

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agents are not locked into one company but instead can place your coverage with multiple insurance companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent.

When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from multiple independent agents for maximum quote selection. They often place coverage with different regional companies which may provide better rates.

The following is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Clarksburg that are able to give rate quotes.

• State Auto Insurance Co – 403 Old Bridgeport Hill Rd – Clarksburg, WV 26301 – (304) 623-1916
• Dyer Insurance – 347 Washington Ave – Clarksburg, WV 26301 – (304) 624-5584

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies write business for a single company and examples are Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. They are trained well on the products they sell and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers often buy from captive agents partially due to high brand loyalty and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

Shown below is a short list of captive agencies in Clarksburg that are able to give rate quotes.

• Allstate Insurance – 1201 E Pike St – Clarksburg, WV 26301 – (304) 623-5109
• State Farm Insurance – 104 E Main St # 1b – Clarksburg, WV 26301 – (304) 622-5853

To view a complete directory of captive agents in Clarksburg, visit this site.

Deciding on an auto insurance agent requires more thought than just a low price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
• Does the agency support the community they serve?
• If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
• Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
• Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
• If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?

After getting reasonable responses to these questions and a good coverage price, chances are good that you have found an auto insurance agent that can properly service your auto insurance policy.

The auto insurance bait and switch

West Virginia drivers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance from companies such as Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. They all make the same claim that you can save if you switch your policy.

How do they all say the same thing?

All companies can use profiling for the type of customer that makes them money. For instance, a profitable customer could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no driving citations, and has great credit. Any driver who meets those qualifications receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential customers who don’t qualify for this ideal profile will be quoted more money which usually ends up with business not being written. The ads say “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much money. This is how insurance companies can advertise the way they do.

This emphasizes why drivers must get as many quotes as possible. It’s just too difficult to predict which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates.

Additional consumer information websites

More information can be found on the West Virginia Insurance Commission website found here. Visitors are able to view agent and company licensing information, discover disciplinary actions, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Other useful links include this online resource for free quotes in West Virginia and this page where you can research Clarksburg insurance agents.

The best insurance company isn’t always the cheapest

As you restructure your insurance plan, don’t be tempted to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced full coverage only to discover later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The aim is to buy enough coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

In this article, we covered a lot of ways to shop for auto insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the best price on auto insurance is with some of the lesser-known companies.

Discount auto insurance is available online and with local Clarksburg insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who do not offer online quoting and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.