Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy overpriced car insurance? Trust us when we tell you there are many people just like you. Companies like Allstate, Progressive and Geico continually hit you with advertising and it is challenging if not impossible to avoid their marketing magic and take the time to shop coverage around.
Where Can I Get Cheap Lake Oswego Car Insurance?
Finding cheaper car insurance prices isn’t really that difficult. Just spend a few minutes on the computer getting comparison quotes provided by online insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done using a couple different methods.
- The fastest way to get quotes is a comparison rater form like this one (opens in new window). This easy form saves time by eliminating separate quotes to each individual car insurance company. One form will return price quotes instantly.
- A different way to find lower rates requires a trip to the website for each individual company to complete their respective quote request forms. For examples sake, we’ll assume you want to compare USAA, State Farm and Farmers. To find out each rate you need to go to every website to input your insurance information, which is why most consumers use the first method. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Lake Oswego, click here.
It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but ensure you’re using exactly the same quote information with every price quote. If you use different values for each quote it will be next to impossible to make an equal comparison in Lake Oswego.
Policy discounts you shouldn’t miss
Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, buy you may qualify for discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Some trigger automatically when you purchase, but a few need to be asked for before being credited. If you’re not getting every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.
- Theft Prevention System – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
- Paperwork-free – A handful of insurance companies will give a small break simply for signing online.
- Safety Course Discount – Completing a driver safety course could save 5% or more if you qualify.
- Drivers Ed for Students – Require your teen driver to complete a driver education course in school.
- Federal Government Employee – Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% depending on your company.
- Accident Forgiveness – Some insurance companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.
- Own a Home – Owning a house in Lake Oswego may trigger a car insurance policy discount because maintaining a house demonstrates responsibility.
- Pay Now and Pay Less – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
- No Claims – Drivers who don’t have accidents can earn big discounts as compared to drivers who are more careless.
Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don’t profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will cut your overall premium however.
Save Money with These Tips
It’s important that you understand some of the elements that help determine the price you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with better car insurance rates.<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px" src="https://www.carinsurancediy.com/wp-content/uploads/ci175-13.jpg" alt="Lake Oswego Oregon insurance quotes” />
- Claim-free discounts can add up – Auto insurance companies in Oregon generally give better rates to insureds who are claim-free. If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance coverage is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
- Adjust deductibles and save – Physical damage insurance, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are collision with another vehicle, collision with an animal, and rolling your vehicle. The deductibles are how much you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. The more you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.
- Traffic violations increase rates – Even a single moving violation can increase rates forty percent or more. Good drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
- Lower miles equals lower premium – The more you drive in a year’s time the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Almost all companies price each vehicle’s coverage based on how the vehicle is used. Cars that are left in the garage qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Verify your car insurance policy is showing the correct driver usage.
- Allowing your policy to lapse raises rates – Letting your insurance expire will be a guaranteed way to increase your car insurance rates. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage might get you a steep fine or even jail time.
- Do you need those extra coverages? – There are quite a few add-on coverages that you can buy when buying car insurance. Things like vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and membership fees may be wasting your money. These coverages may sound good when you first buy your policy, but your needs may have changed so remove them from your policy.
Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?
Oregon drivers can’t get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like State Farm, Geico and Progressive. They all seem to make the same claim about savings if you change to them.
How does each company say the same thing? This is how they do it.
All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that makes them money. For example, a preferred risk could possibly be over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and has excellent credit. A propective insured who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably save when switching.
Potential customers who don’t meet the requirements will have to pay higher prices which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say “drivers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much money. This is how companies can claim big savings.
Because of the profiling, you should get as many comparisons as possible. It is impossible to predict which car insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.
More quotes mean more savings
You just learned many ideas to reduce car insurance prices online. It’s most important to understand that the more companies you get rates for, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. You may even discover the best prices are with some of the lesser-known companies. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than their larger competitors like State Farm or Progressive.
As you shop your coverage around, do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are too many instances where someone dropped collision coverage and learned later that it was a big error on their part. The ultimate goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.
Additional resources for Oregon consumers
Much more information about car insurance in Oregon can be found on the website for the Oregon Insurance Division located here. Oregon consumers can learn about specific coverages, report car insurance fraud, and learn about insurance regulations.
Other useful links include NAIC.org’s Understanding your Policy and this link where you can make Lake Oswego car insurance comparisons.