Are you a victim of an overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me when I say you are not the only one feeling buyer’s remorse. Many insurance companies vie for your business, so it can be very hard to choose a company and get the definite lowest rate
It’s a great practice to compare prices once or twice a year since insurance rates are usually higher with each renewal. Even if you think you had the best rates last year there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to the best way to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.
Smart Buyers can Save Money
It’s important that you understand the different types of things that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. Understanding what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that could result in big savings.
- Drive less and save money – The more miles you rack up on your car each year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies rate vehicles based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy is showing how each vehicle is driven.
- Big city or small town – Choosing to live in small towns and rural areas is a positive aspect when insuring your vehicles. Less people living in that area means reduced accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. Drivers in populated Arizona areas regularly have more traffic problems and longer commute times. Higher commute times translates into higher accident risk.
- Men are more aggressive – The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. Now that doesn’t mean women are BETTER drivers than men. They both cause accidents at a similar rate, but the men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also statistically receive more costly citations such as reckless driving.
- Your job and insurance rates – Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for auto insurance? Occupations such as real estate brokers, business owners and dentists are shown to have the highest average rates attributed to high stress and lots of time spent at work. Other professions such as actors, historians and homemakers pay the least.
- Extra coverages can waste money – There are a lot of extra bells and whistles you can purchase if you aren’t careful. Coverages for personal injury protection, better glass coverage and membership fees are some examples. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
- Lower rates come with age – Youthful drivers in Arizona are statistically proven to be more careless when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Having to add a teenage driver onto a policy can be very expensive. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers.
- Safer cars are cheaper to insure – Safer cars are cheaper to insure. Safe vehicles reduce injuries and any reduction in injury severity means less money paid by your insurance company and lower rates for you.
Comprehensive Auto Insurance Comparison in Douglas
Effectively comparing auto insurance prices can take time and effort if you don’t understand the fastest way to get free quotes. You could spend your day discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in Douglas, or you could use the internet to achieve your goal.
All the larger companies belong to a marketplace where prospective buyers only type in their quote data once, and every company then gives them pricing based on that data. This saves time by eliminating repetitive form submissions to every company. To access this free quoting program, click here (opens in new window).
The only drawback to comparing rates this way is buyers cannot specifically choose which providers to get quotes from. So if you prefer to pick from a list of companies to compare, we have a listing of auto insurance companies in Arizona. Click to view list.
However you get your quotes, compare the exact same coverage limits on every quote you get. If the quotes have different values for each quote it will be impossible to make an equal comparison in Douglas.
Lots of discounts mean lots of savings
Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not know about. Most are applied when you get a quote, but a few need to be asked about prior to getting the savings. If you’re not getting every credit possible, you are paying more than you should be.
- Government Employees – Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% depending on your company.
- Discounts for Safe Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than drivers with accident claims.
- Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could save 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
- Accident Waiver – A handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident without raising rates as long as you don’t have any claims prior to the accident.
- Auto/Life Discount – Some companies give lower rates if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
- Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
- Senior Citizens – Mature drivers may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
- Good Student Discount – A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts until age 25.
- Discount for New Cars – Insuring a new car is cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
- Anti-lock Brakes – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
It’s important to understand that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, companies don’t profit that way. But all discounts will cut the amount you have to pay.
To choose insurance companies with discount auto insurance rates in Douglas, click here.
What about using a local agent?
A small number of people just want to get advice from a local agent and that is just fine! Professional agents can point out coverage gaps and help file insurance claims. One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find the lowest rates and still have an agent to talk to. And supporting local businesses is important especially in Douglas.
After completing this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is submitted to agents in your area who will battle for your insurance coverage. You never need to even leave your home as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox. How’s that for easy!
The type of car insurance agent you choose is important
When researching a good Douglas insurance agent, you need to know there are two types of insurance agents that you can select. Agencies in Douglas are classified as either independent or captive. Both types can write coverage properly, but it’s worth learning how they are different because it can impact the type of agent you choose
Independent Insurance Agents
These agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business amongst many companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part.
When comparing rates, it’s recommended you contact at least one independent agent for maximum quote selection.
Below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Douglas that may be able to provide pricing information.
Douglas Insurance Ctr – 1340 F Ave # A – Douglas, AZ 85607 – (520) 364-5409
Mexican Insurance Specialists – 948 F Ave – Douglas, AZ 85607 – (520) 364-4444
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agents write business for a single company and some examples include Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm and AAA. They usually cannot place coverage with different providers so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agents are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents.
Shown below are Douglas captive agencies willing to provide price quote information.
Farmers Insurance Group – 1350 N San Antonio Ave – Douglas, AZ 85607 – (520) 364-3446
To view a complete directory of auto insurance agents in Douglas, visit this site.
Choosing a car insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just a low price. These are valid questions to ask:
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
- How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?
- How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
- Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
After receiving answers to your satisfaction to these questions and an affordable coverage quote, you have narrowed it down to an auto insurance agent that will properly service your auto insurance policy.
More information can be read on the website for the Arizona Department of Insurance found here. Arizona drivers can discover disciplinary actions, report car insurance fraud, learn about insurance regulations, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.
The articles below may also help you learn more about auto insurance in Douglas
One last thing
Throughout this article, we presented a lot of ways to lower your auto insurance rates. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Drivers may discover the best prices are with a smaller regional carrier. These companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates than their larger competitors like State Farm and Allstate.
As you restructure your insurance plan, don’t be tempted to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many situations where an insured dropped physical damage coverage only to discover later that the savings was not a smart move. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.