Perplexed by the number of auto insurance company choices in Bethlehem? Lot’s of other consumers are too. There are so many companies to choose from that it can quickly become a ton of work to find better rates.
Finding affordable coverage in Bethlehem is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you currently have car insurance, you will most likely be able to lower your premiums substantially using these techniques. Pennsylvania drivers just need to understand the most effective way to buy auto insurance online.
Policy discounts you shouldn’t miss
Companies don’t list all their discounts very well, so we took the time to find both the well known and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving. If you don’t get every credit available, you’re paying more than you need to.
- More Vehicles More Savings – Having multiple cars or trucks on the same auto insurance policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
- Save over 55 – If you’re over the age of 55, you may be able to get better auto insurance rates.
- Good Students Pay Less – Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts until age 25.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Fewer annual miles can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.
- Life Insurance Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with lower rates if you buy life insurance.
- Sign Online – A handful of insurance companies will give a small break for buying your policy on their website.
Consumers should know that some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. So even though it sounds like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it just doesn’t work that way.
Compare online but buy from a local Bethlehem agent
Some people prefer to buy from a local agent and that is OK! Insurance agents can point out coverage gaps and help submit paperwork. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is you may find lower rates but still work with a licensed agent.
To find an agent, once you fill out this short form, your insurance coverage information gets sent to local insurance agents in Bethlehem who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go to your email. How’s that for easy!
Deciding on an provider requires more thought than just the premium amount. 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?
- Can glass repairs be made at your home?
- Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
- Can they give you a list of client referrals?
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
Bethlehem insurance agencies are either independent or captive
If you’re trying to find local Bethlehem agents, you must know there are a couple different types of agents to choose from. Agents are either captive or independent. Both do a good job, but it’s good to learn the differences since it can impact the type of agent you choose
Captive Agents
This type of agents write business for a single company and some examples include AAA, Allstate and State Farm. They generally cannot shop your coverage around so they have to upsell other benefits. Captive agencies receive extensive training in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers sometimes buy insurance from these agents partially due to high brand loyalty and solid financial strength.
Shown below are Bethlehem captive insurance agents who can help you get comparison quotes.
- Allstate Insurance – 3639 Bath Pike – Bethlehem, PA 18017 – (610) 694-9860
- State Farm Insurance – 1021 W Broad St – Bethlehem, PA 18018 – (610) 866-0440
Independent Agents
Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company but instead can place your coverage with lots of companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To move your coverage to a new company, the agent simply finds a different carrier without you having to go to a different agency.
When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you include multiple independent agents for maximum quote selection. Most have the option of insuring with smaller regional carriers which can save you money.
The following are Bethlehem independent agents willing to provide price quote information.
- Nationwide Insurance – 1111 W Broad St – Bethlehem, PA 18018 – (610) 691-3602
- Brion Agency – 602 W Broad St – Bethlehem, PA 18018 – (610) 865-9001
- William Cary Agency Inc – 3482 Linden St – Bethlehem, PA 18017 – (610) 867-3218
- Thomas E Michael Agency Inc – 1685 Stoke Park Rd – Bethlehem, PA 18017 – (610) 867-8248
- Gallagher-Phillipeck Insurance – 2650 Schoenersville Rd # 304 – Bethlehem, PA 18017 – (610) 691-0560
For a full directory of licensed insurance agents in Bethlehem, please view this page.
Once you have acceptable answers in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you may have just found an insurance agent that meets your needs to properly insure your vehicles.
Car insurance is unique, just like you
When choosing coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Everyone’s needs are different.
For example, these questions might help in determining if your insurance needs could use an agent’s help.
- How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in Pennsylvania?
- Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
- Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
- Can my teen driver be rated on a liability-only vehicle?
- When should I drop full coverage on my vehicle?
- Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
- What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?
- Does my vehicle need full coverage?
- Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?
- Do I qualify for additional discounts?
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and you can get the answers you need.
Auto insurance coverages 101
Knowing the specifics of your auto insurance policy aids in choosing the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP kick in for short-term medical expenses for chiropractic care, dental work, ambulance fees, doctor visits and prosthetic devices. They are often used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you lack health insurance entirely. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Comprehensive insurance – Comprehensive insurance pays for damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive can pay for things such as a broken windshield, rock chips in glass, hail damage, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and damage from a tornado or hurricane. The maximum amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your vehicle.
Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits (15/30/5), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family.
Liability car insurance – This coverage provides protection from damage that occurs to people or other property that is your fault. This coverage protects you against claims from other people. It does not cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. As an example, you may have values of 25/50/25 that translate to $25,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for damaged propery.
Liability coverage pays for things like structural damage, loss of income, repair bills for other people’s vehicles, pain and suffering and funeral expenses. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford. Pennsylvania state minimum liability requirements are 15,000/30,000/5,000 but drivers should carry more coverage.
Collision – Collision coverage covers damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with an object or car. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage protects against claims like scraping a guard rail, sideswiping another vehicle and crashing into a building. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to increase the deductible to bring the cost down.
Even more information is available at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department website. Pennsylvania drivers can find out industry alerts, read consumer alerts, learn about specific coverages, and find out which companies have the most complaints.
More effort can pay off
We just covered many ways to reduce auto insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers may even find the lowest priced auto insurance comes from some of the lesser-known companies.
Discount auto insurance is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood Bethlehem agents, so you should compare both to have the best rate selection. A few companies may not provide online quoting and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
People change insurance companies for many reasons like policy cancellation, poor customer service, an unsatisfactory settlement offer and delays in responding to claim requests. No matter why you want to switch, switching auto insurance companies is actually quite simple.