Shopping online for Auburn auto insurance might seem complicated at first if you’ve never compared quoting online. But don’t let that discourage you because online price shopping is actually quite simple.
It’s a great practice to take a look at other company’s rates yearly because rates are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. If you had the lowest price a year ago you may be paying too much now. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you’re about to find out the best way to reduce your cost while improving coverage.
How to Lower Your Auto Insurance Cost in Auburn
When shopping for auto insurance there are multiple ways to compare quotes from auto insurance companies in your area. The easiest way by far to find competitive insurance rates is to use the internet to compare rates. This can be accomplished in a couple of different ways.
One of the simplest ways to find low rates is an all-inclusive rate comparison click here to open form in new window. This easy form prevents you from having to do separate quotation requests for each company. One quote request compares rates instantly. It’s the fastest way to compare.
A harder way to get comparison quotes consists of visiting each individual company website and request a quote. For examples sake, we’ll assume you want to compare rates from Auto-Owners, Progressive and State Farm. To get rate quotes you would need to take the time to go to each site to enter your coverage information, which is why most consumers use the first method.
To view a list of companies in Auburn, click here.
It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just double check that you are using exactly the same coverage limits with every price quote. If you use different deductibles then you won’t be able to find the best deal in Auburn. Just a small difference in limits may result in a large different in cost. Just remember that more quotes gives you a better chance of getting the best offered rates.
Do you qualify for these ten discounts?
Companies offering auto insurance do not list every available discount very clearly, so we break down some of the best known and the more hidden auto insurance savings.
- Government Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job can earn a discount up to 10% with select insurance companies.
- Multi-policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with the same company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
- Paperwork-free – A handful of insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks simply for signing over the internet.
- Club Memberships – Being a member of a qualifying organization could trigger savings when shopping for auto insurance.
- Accident Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay less as compared to bad drivers.
- Accident Forgiveness – A few companies allow you one accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you haven’t had any claims prior to the accident.
- Braking Control Discount – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Theft Prevention System – Anti-theft and alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Use Seat Belts – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save 10% or more off the personal injury premium cost.
- Low Mileage – Keeping the miles down can qualify you for a substantially lower rate.
Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears adding up those discounts means a free policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.
To choose companies with discount auto insurance rates in Alabama, click here.
Don’t assume everyone needs the same coverage
When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Each situation is unique.
These are some specific questions may help highlight if your situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
- Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
- Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
- Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
- Is pleasure use cheaper than using my vehicle to commute?
- Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
- Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
- Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
- Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
- Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
If you can’t answer these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.
Even more information can be read at the Alabama Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to download brochures, learn about insurance regulations, view a list of available companies, and view agent and company licensing information.
The following information may also be useful.
Coverage specifics
Learning about specific coverages of your auto insurance policy can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. Auto insurance terms can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.
Comprehensive coverages – Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as a broken windshield, hitting a deer, damage from flooding, rock chips in glass and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.
Coverage for medical payments – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for expenses for things like pain medications, rehabilitation expenses and doctor visits. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover all vehicle occupants and also covers being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Collision coverages – Collision coverage covers damage to your vehicle from colliding with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage protects against claims such as damaging your car on a curb, crashing into a building and sideswiping another vehicle. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Drivers also have the option to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Auto liability – Liability coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people by causing an accident. It protects YOU from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t cover damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You might see policy limits of 50/100/50 which stand for a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a total of $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability insurance covers claims such as emergency aid, attorney fees, structural damage and pain and suffering. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but buy as large an amount as possible. Alabama state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy better liability coverage.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage – This gives you protection when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as your vehicle’s damage.
Due to the fact that many Alabama drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (25/50/25 in Alabama), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is very important.
Affordable insurance is out there
Drivers switch companies for many reasons like poor customer service, policy cancellation, an unsatisfactory settlement offer and delays in responding to claim requests. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a new auto insurance company can be easier than you think.
Throughout this article, we presented some good ideas how to shop for auto insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get rates for, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may even find the biggest savings come from some of the lesser-known companies.
Affordable auto insurance is attainable online and with local Auburn insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.