Proven Tricks for Buying Opelika, AL Car Insurance at a Discount

Have you fallen victim to an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Trust us when we tell you there are many people just like you. Big-name insurance companies like GEICO, Farmers Insurance and State Farm all promote huge savings with ad campaigns and it is difficult to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

Discounts are available to cut your rates

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always list every available discount very well, so we break down both well-publicized as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If you don’t get every credit available, you’re just leaving money on the table.

• Claim Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents can save substantially compared to accident-prone drivers.
• Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more.
• Organization Discounts – Affiliation with a professional or civic organization may earn a discount on car insurance.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Driving fewer miles can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.
• Student in College – Youth drivers who are attending college and do not have a car can receive lower rates.
• Own a Home – Simply owning a home may trigger a car insurance policy discount because of the fact that having a home shows financial diligence.
• Good Students Pay Less – Getting good grades can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.

Keep in mind that many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don’t profit that way.

For a list of insurance companies who offer car insurance discounts in Alabama, click here.

Is my situation unique?

When choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions could help you determine whether or not you might need an agent’s assistance.

• Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
• Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
• When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
• Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
• Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• How high should my medical payments coverage be?
• Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
• When would I need additional glass coverage?
• How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
• Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Your local neighborhood insurance agent

Certain consumers would rather get advice from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and give you someone to call. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is you can get the best rates but still work with a licensed agent.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this short form, your insurance coverage information gets sent to participating agents in Opelika who will return price quotes for your coverage. You don’t have to visit any agencies as quotes are delivered directly to your email. How’s that for easy!

Choosing an insurer should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. These questions are important to ask:

• If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
• Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
• What insurance company do they write the most business with?
• Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?
• Do they make recommendations based only on price?
• Is working in the agency their full-time job?
• If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?

If you wish to view a list of agents in Opelika to contact, please view this page.

Once you have received satisfactory answers to your questions and an acceptable price quote, you have narrowed it down to a company that meets your needs to insure your vehicles.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Consumers in Alabama can’t get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like Allstate and Progressive. They all seem to make the same claim that you’ll save big if you switch to them.

How can each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

Different companies can use profiling for the driver that is profitable for them. For example, a driver they prefer could be a mature driver, is a homeowner, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any driver who meets those qualifications will get the preferred rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Drivers who do not match this ideal profile will have to pay a more expensive rate which leads to business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much. That’s the way insurance companies can make those claims. Because of the profiling, it’s extremely important to get as many quotes as possible. It’s impossible to know which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

Additional consumer information websites

Additional detailed information is located at the Alabama Department of Insurance website. Alabama consumers can file complaints about a company, report car insurance fraud, read consumer alerts, and download brochures.

A tidy conclusion

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s very important that you do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are too many instances where someone sacrificed full coverage to discover at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

In this article, we covered a lot of tips how to get a better price on car insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the lowest premiums are with some of the smallest insurance companies. Smaller companies often have lower prices on specific markets as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.