How to Know You’re Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Princeton

Beginners to buying insurance online could find purchasing cheap Princeton auto insurance nearly impossible.

You probably qualify for some discounts

Companies offering auto insurance do not advertise all available discounts very clearly, so we researched both the well known and the more hidden auto insurance savings.

  • Anti-theft Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more.
  • Seat Belt Usage – Drivers who require all occupants to buckle their seat belts can save 10% or more off your medical payments premium.
  • Good Student Discount – A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.
  • Safe Driver Discount – Drivers who don’t get into accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less than less cautious drivers.
  • Federal Employees – Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off depending on your company.
  • Passive Restraint Discount – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.
  • Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
  • College Student – Kids in college living away from home attending college and don’t have a car may qualify for this discount.

It’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you’re out of luck.

To see a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts in West Virginia, click this link.

Princeton Rates are Influenced by These Factors

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that help determine auto insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.auto insurance image

The following are some of the factors used by your company to calculate your rates.

  • Do you work long hours in a high stress job? – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations such as doctors, business owners and stock brokers tend to pay the highest rates because of high stress levels and lots of time spent at work. On the other hand, jobs such as scientists, students and homemakers have the lowest average rates.
  • Where do you drive? – Driving more miles in a year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most companies price each vehicle’s coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars that are left in the garage receive lower rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Verify your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
  • Liability insurance protects assets – Liability insurance is the protection when you are found liable for damages from an accident. It provides you with a defense in court starting from day one. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
  • With age comes lower rates – More mature drivers are more responsible, file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel. Young drivers tend to be more careless when driving and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate and Geico continually stream ads on television and other media. They all seem to make an identical promise about savings after switching to them. How do they all make the same claim?

Insurance companies can use profiling for the driver they prefer to insure. For instance, a preferred risk could possibly be between 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has great credit. A propective insured who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and as a result will probably save quite a bit of money when switching.

Potential customers who don’t meet these standards will be charged a higher premium which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say “people who switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. That is why you should get a wide range of price quotes. Because you never know which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

For more information

More detailed West Virginia auto insurance information can be found at the West Virginia Insurance Commission website. Consumers can learn about specific coverages, find disaster information, find a variety of consumer forms, and read industry bulletins.

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Best coverage at the best price

Insureds who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including extreme rates for teen drivers, high rates after DUI convictions, being labeled a high risk driver or lack of trust in their agent. Regardless of your reason, finding a new company is easier than you think.

We just showed you some good ideas how to lower your auto insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers could even find that the most savings is with the smaller companies.

Discount auto insurance can be found online and with local Princeton insurance agents, so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who do not offer the ability to get a quote online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.