Buying affordable Vestavia Hills auto insurance on the web is difficult for beginners to buying insurance on the web. With so many choices of insurers to choose from, how can anyone effectively compare the different rates to find the lowest price?
Vestavia Hills Auto Insurance Comparisons
Most major insurance companies such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm give price estimates on the web. Getting online rates doesn’t take a lot of time as you simply type in the coverages you want as detailed in the form. Once entered, the system sends out for credit information and your driving record and generates pricing information determined by many factors.
Online price quotes makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the time required to go to multiple sites and complete many quote forms gets old quite quickly. But it is imperative to have as many quotes as possible in order to get better prices.
There is an easier way!
The quickest way to locate the lowest prices uses one form to return rates from several different companies. The form is fast, eliminates repetitive work, and makes online quotes much more efficient. As soon as you send your information, it is rated and you can select your choice of the quote results.
If the quotes result in lower rates, you can click and sign and buy the policy. It takes just a few minutes to complete and may save quite a bit of money.
To get comparison pricing now, click here to open in new window and fill out the form. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you input the coverages exactly as shown on your declarations page. Doing this guarantees you are getting rate comparison quotes for exact coverage.
Tips to Get Lower Vestavia Hills Rates
Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that could result in big savings.
- Being married can save on auto insurance – Having a spouse can actually save you money on your policy. Having a spouse is viewed as being more mature than a single person and it’s proven that being married results in fewer claims.
- How’s your driving record? – Drivers who don’t get tickets receive lower rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Even a single ticket can bump up the cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers with severe tickets like DUI or reckless driving are required to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to drive a vehicle legally.
- Optional equipment can affect rates – Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention features like GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all hinder auto theft.
- Liability coverage protects you – Liability insurance is the protection if ever a jury decides you are liable for personal injury or accident damage. Liability provides for a legal defense starting from day one. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
- Pleasure use saves money – The more miles you rack up on your car each year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. The majority of insurers charge to insure your cars based upon how you use the vehicle. Autos left parked in the garage get more affordable rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your auto insurance policy is rated on how each vehicle is driven.
- High credit ratings translate to low rates – Credit history is a big factor in determining your rates. Therefore, if your credit history is not that good, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your credit score. Drivers who have good credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have lower credit scores.
- High numbers of claims are not good – If you are a frequent claim filer, you can expect either higher rates or even cancellation. Insurance companies in Alabama give better rates to people who do not file claims often. Car insurance is intended for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
Discounts are great for lower rates
Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but companies offer discounts to help offset the cost. Some trigger automatically when you quote, but a few need to be asked about before you get the savings. If you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you’re just leaving money on the table.
- Student Driver Training – Require your teen driver to take driver’s ed class in school.
- Auto/Life Discount – Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy life insurance.
- Drive Less and Save – Driving fewer miles could be rewarded with a substantially lower rate.
- No Claims – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay much less compared to accident-prone drivers.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts can get savings of 20% or more.
- Federal Government Employee – Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off depending on your company.
- Save with a New Car – Buying coverage on a new vehicle is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
- Pay Upfront and Save – If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
- Military Discounts – Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
- Multi-car Discount – Buying insurance for more than one vehicle on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
It’s important to note that most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. But any discount will reduce your overall premium however.
To choose insurers with discount auto insurance rates in Vestavia Hills, click here to view.
Do I just need basic coverages?
When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different.
These are some specific questions can aid in determining whether you will benefit from professional help.
- I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
- Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
- Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?
- Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
- Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
- Is Alabama a no-fault state?
- Is my business laptop covered if it gets stolen from my vehicle?
If you can’t answer these questions then you might want to talk to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form. It’s fast, free and can help protect your family.
Buying car insurance locally
Some consumers just want to buy from a local agent. Good agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and give you peace of mind. The best thing about getting online price quotes is you can get better rates but still work with a licensed agent. And providing support for small agencies is especially important in Vestavia Hills.
Once you complete this simple form, the quote information is sent to companies in Vestavia Hills who will give you bids for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. How cool is that?!
Not all insurance agencies are the same
When researching a reliable agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Vestavia Hills agents are classified as either independent or captive. Either one can insure your vehicles, but it’s important to know how they are different since it can impact your selection of an agent.
Independent Agents
These agents are not required to write business for one company so they can insure your vehicles with any number of different companies and potentially find a lower price. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and that require little work on your part.
When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to get quotes from several independent insurance agents for maximum quote selection. They also have the ability to place coverage with smaller regional carriers which may provide better rates.
Shown below are Vestavia Hills independent insurance agents that may be able to provide comparison quotes.
- Canfield Insurance and Financial – 701 Montgomery Hwy # 207 – Vestavia Hills, AL 35216 – (205) 822-5477
- John Dillon Agency – 100 Olde Towne Rd – Vestavia Hills, AL 35216 – (205) 823-5400
- C S Insurance Inc – 217 Woodberry Ln – Vestavia Hills, AL 35216 – (205) 824-8900
- Al Holifield Agency – 1008 Montgomery Hwy # 101 – Vestavia Hills, AL 35216 – (205) 822-8333
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agencies write business for a single company like AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance and Allstate. These agents are unable to compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. Captive agencies receive extensive training in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers frequently buy insurance from these agents mostly because of the prominence of the brand and solid financial strength.
Choosing a car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a low price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
- How are claims handled?
- If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
Once you have satisfactory answers and an affordable coverage quote, you’ve probably found an auto insurance agent that can insure your vehicles.
Smart shoppers get results
When buying insurance coverage, it’s a bad idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many cases, someone sacrificed physical damage coverage and discovered at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your strategy should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price, not the least amount of coverage.
Insureds change insurance companies for any number of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, poor customer service, not issuing a premium refund or even policy cancellation. No matter why you want to switch, finding a great new company can be easier than you think.
Throughout this article, we presented many ideas to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Drivers may discover the lowest premiums are with some of the lesser-known companies.
More information is available on the Alabama Department of Insurance website found here. Visitors are able to find a variety of consumer forms, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and learn about insurance regulations.
Other useful links include this page for auto insurance in Alabama and this resource to find Vestavia Hills, AL insurance agents.