Are you a victim of high-priced auto insurance? Trust us, there are a lot of people in Bethlehem just like you who feel imprisoned by their auto insurance policy. You have so many insurers to pick from, and even though it’s nice to have multiple companies, lots of choices makes it harder to compare rates.
You should take the time to get comparison quotes once or twice a year because rates trend upward over time. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price a couple years back you can probably find a better price now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you’re about to find out the best methods to get good coverage at a lower rate.
Finding the best rates in Bethlehem is not rocket science. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will most likely be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. Pennsylvania consumers only need an understanding of the proper methods to find the lowest price on the web.
Discounts are basically free money
Companies don’t always list all available discounts very well, so we researched some of the more common as well as the least known ways to save on auto insurance. If you don’t get every credit available, you’re just leaving money on the table.
- Drivers Education – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver’s ed class in high school.
- Government Employees – Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
- Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who don’t get into accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less than their less cautious counterparts.
- No Charge for an Accident – A few companies allow you one accident before your rates go up as long as you don’t have any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
- Resident Student – Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
- Drive Less and Save – Keeping the miles down could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
- Multiple Policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you may save up to 20% off your total premium.
- Seat Belts Save – Requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more off your medical payments premium.
It’s important to understand that many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. A few only apply to individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies don’t profit that way.
To choose insurers offering auto insurance discounts in Pennsylvania, click here.
Educated Consumers Know How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper
Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that could result in lower auto insurance prices.
Shown below are some of the factors companies use to determine premiums.
- Keep rates low by being claim-free – If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Insurance companies in Pennsylvania give cheaper rates to insureds who do not file claims often. Car insurance is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
- Battle of the sexes – Statistics demonstrate that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are better drivers. Men and women cause accidents at a similar rate, but the males have costlier accidents. They also receive more costly citations such as reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are several times more likely to be in an accident and therefore are the most expensive to insure.
- Don’t buy coverages you don’t need – There are quite a few extra bells and whistles that you can get tricked into buying if you aren’t careful. Things like roadside assistance, accidental death and term life insurance are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea when talking to your agent, but if they’re wasting money remove them from your policy.
- Better credit means lower rates – A driver’s credit history is a large factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. If your credit score is not that good, you could pay less to insure your by improving your rating. People with excellent credit tend to be more responsible than drivers with lower credit scores.
- What type of vehicle do you drive? – The type of vehicle you are buying insurance for makes a significant difference in how high your rates are. The lowest base rates are generally reserved for economy passenger vehicles, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
But don’t I need an insurance agent?
A small number of people prefer to talk to a local agent and that is OK! Educated insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help you file claims. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find better rates but still work with a licensed agent.
After filling out this short form, your insurance coverage information is emailed to local insurance agents who will return price quotes for your coverage. You won’t need to drive around since price quotes are sent to your email. Now that’s easy!
Selecting an insurance company requires more thought than just the premium amount. Agents should be asked these questions:
- How long has their agency been open in Bethlehem?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
Different types of Bethlehem insurance agents
When looking for an insurance agent, you must know there are a couple different agency structures from which to choose. Agencies in Bethlehem are classified as either independent or captive. Both types can do a good job, but it’s good to learn how they are different because it can impact your agent selection.
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agencies are contracted to one company like Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so always compare other rates. They are trained well in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents.
Below is a short list of captive insurance agents in Bethlehem who may provide you with price quotes.
State Farm Insurance – 6357 Airport Rd – Bethlehem, PA 18017 – (610) 837-8700
Allstate Insurance – 1459 Roselawn Dr – Bethlehem, PA 18017 – (610) 867-7200
Independent Agents
These agents are not locked into one company but instead can place your coverage with multiple insurance companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, the business is moved internally and you won’t have to switch agencies. When shopping rates, it’s recommended you include price quotes from at least one independent agent to ensure the widest selection of prices.
Below are independent insurance agencies in Bethlehem that are able to give rate quotes.
Jim Sharp Insurance – 306 Brodhead Ave – Bethlehem, PA 18015 – (610) 694-0650
John Clark Insurance – 2200 W Broad St – Bethlehem, PA 18018 – (570) 254-7048
Lane Agency – 1021 W Broad St – Bethlehem, PA 18018 – (610) 882-0805
Thomas E Michael Agency Inc – 1685 Stoke Park Rd – Bethlehem, PA 18017 – (610) 867-8248
Hampson-Mowrer Kreitz Agency – 54 S Commerce Way # 150 – Bethlehem, PA 18017 – (610) 868-8507
For a complete listing of Bethlehem insurance agents, visit this link.
Upon getting positive feedback to your questions and locked in a price quote, it’s possible that you found an insurance agent that will service your policy.
To learn more about auto insurance in Pennsylvania
More detailed Pennsylvania auto insurance information is located at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department website. Consumers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, find out industry alerts, and file complaints about a company.
What is YOUR best insurance company?
When you buy insurance online, do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are many occasions where someone sacrificed physical damage coverage only to find out that the savings was not a smart move. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.
Throughout this article, we presented many tips how you can lower your auto insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Consumers could even find that the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a lesser-known regional company. They may only write in your state and offer lower rates as compared to the big name companies such as State Farm, Geico and Nationwide.