Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy overpriced auto insurance? Believe me, you are not the only one feeling buyer’s remorse. Having so many options when it comes to auto insurance, it is very difficult to pick the most cost effective company.
Finding affordable coverage in Kettering is quite easy. If you have a current auto insurance policy or are just looking to switch companies, you can use these techniques to get lower rates while maintaining coverages. Ohio drivers just need to know the proper methods to buy auto insurance on the web.
Compare the Market for Auto Insurance in Kettering
Shopping for lower auto insurance rates can be a daunting task if you don’t utilize the fastest way to get free quotes. You can waste hours talking about coverages with agents in Kettering, or you can stay home and use the web to achieve your goal.
Many insurance companies belong to a marketplace that enables customers to enter their policy data once, and at least one company provides a quote based on that information. This eliminates the need for quote forms to each individual auto insurance company.
To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.
The only drawback to using this type of system is you can’t choose the companies you will receive quotes from. So if you want to choose specific providers to compare rates, we put together a list of the cheapest auto insurance companies in Ohio. View list of Ohio insurance companies.
It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just ensure you are comparing apples-to-apples coverages for every quote you compare. If you enter different limits and deductibles on each one it will be very difficult to determine which rate is truly the best in Kettering.
Don’t believe everything you hear
Ohio consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings by Allstate, Geico and Progressive. All the ads have a common claim that you can save if you change to their company.
How does each company make almost identical claims? It’s all in the numbers.
All companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a profitable customer might be a mature driver, has no prior claims, and has great credit. A driver who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and most likely will save a lot of money.
Potential insureds who are not a match for these standards will be quoted a more expensive rate which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that kind of money. That’s why companies can advertise the savings. This emphasizes why it is so important to compare as many rates as you can. You cannot predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.
Why some people pay less for insurance in Kettering
An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that help determine auto insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.
- Do you know your deductibles? – Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply would be collision with another vehicle, damage caused by hail, and rolling your vehicle. Deductibles for physical damage are how much you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be.
- Careful drivers pay lower rates – Your driving record impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Even a single ticket can increase rates by twenty percent. Good drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to file a SR-22 with the DMV in their state in order to continue driving.
- Safe vehicles cost less to insure – Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles result in less severe injuries and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and more competitive rates for policyholders.
- Multiple policies with one company can save – Some insurance companies provide better rates to people who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to 10 percent or more. Even with this discount, it’s in your best interest to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
These discounts can lower your rates
Companies don’t always advertise every discount in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of some of the best known and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings. If they aren’t giving you every credit possible, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Organization Discounts – Being a member of certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break on your policy.
- Good Students Pay Less – Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.
- Use Seat Belts – Requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save up to 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
- Multi-car Discount – Buying coverage for more than one vehicle on one policy qualifies for this discount.
- Payment Discounts – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of paying each month you can actually save on your bill.
- Homeowners Savings – Being a homeowner may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
It’s important to understand that some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So even though they make it sound like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won’t be that lucky.
For a list of insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Kettering, click here.
Don’t I need to talk to an agent?
A small number of people would rather buy from a local agent and that is just fine! Insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help you file claims. One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find lower rates but still work with a licensed agent.
To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this quick form, your coverage information is transmitted to participating agents in Kettering who will return price quotes for your coverage. There is no need to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go directly to your email. How’s that for easy!
Deciding on an insurance company requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. These are valid questions to ask:
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
- How long has their agency been open in Kettering?
- Is assistance available after office hours?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
To view a list of agents in Kettering to contact, please view this page.
Once you have received positive feedback to any questions you have as well as a affordable price, most likely you have located an provider that is a good match to provide auto insurance coverage.
Final thoughts
As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, never reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many cases where an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage and found out when filing a claim they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.
In this article, we covered quite a bit of information on how to lower your auto insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even discover the lowest premiums are with some of the smallest insurance companies. Smaller companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost compared to the large companies like Allstate or State Farm.
Read more about Ohio auto insurance
More tips and info about auto insurance can be read at the Ohio Department of Insurance website. Ohio consumers can read consumer alerts, report car insurance fraud, and read state legal mandates and laws.
The following information may also be useful.