Nobody cherishes buying car insurance, in particular when the cost is way too high.
Online insurance companies like State Farm, Geico and Farmers Insurance continually bombard you with TV and radio ads and it is difficult to separate fact from fiction and take the time to shop coverage around.
If you are paying for car insurance now, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using this information. Finding affordable coverage in El Dorado is quite easy. But Arkansas vehicle owners need to have an understanding of how insurance companies determine prices and take advantage of how the system works.
Compare Car Insurance Today
There are a lot of ways you can shop for car insurance but one way is easier and takes less work. You could waste time talking to agents in El Dorado, or you could save time and use online quoting to quickly compare rates.
Most car insurance companies participate in a marketplace where prospective buyers complete one form, and at least one company can provide price quotes determined by their information. This eliminates the need for quote forms to each individual car insurance company.
To participate in this free quote system, click here (opens in new window).
The only drawback to pricing coverage this way is buyers cannot specifically choose which insurance companies you want to price. So if you want to select specific insurance companies to compare rates, we have a listing of car insurance companies in Arkansas. Click here to view list.
It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just double check that you are using apples-to-apples coverages for each price quote. If the quotes have differing limits it will be very difficult to determine the lowest rate in El Dorado. Having just a slight variation in insurance coverages could mean much higher rates. And when comparing car insurance rates, know that quoting more gives you a better chance of getting a better price.
Lower rates by qualifying for discounts
Auto insurance companies do not list every available discount very well, so the following is a list of some of the more common and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using.
- Homeowners Savings – Owning a home in El Dorado may trigger a car insurance policy discount because of the fact that having a home is proof that your finances are in order.
- No Accidents – Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay less as compared to accident-prone drivers.
- Passive Restraints – Factory air bags can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
- Resident Student – Any of your kids who are attending college and don’t have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
- Employee of Federal Government – Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
- Early Switch Discount – A few companies offer discounts for switching to them before your current expiration date. It’s a savings of about 10%.
- Anti-theft Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Save with a New Car – Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can avoid accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Memberships – Being a member of a professional or civic organization is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
Consumers should know that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn’t work that way.
Car insurance is unique, just like you
When it comes to buying adequate coverage, there really is no one size fits all plan. Everyone’s needs are different so your insurance needs to address that. For instance, these questions might help in determining if your insurance needs might need professional guidance.
- How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in Arkansas?
- Do all my vehicles need collision coverage?
- I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
- Am I covered by my employer’s commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
- Do I have coverage when pulling a U-Haul trailer?
- Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
- Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
- Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
- Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
- Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Additional detailed information can be read at the Arkansas Insurance Department website. Arkansas drivers can view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about a company, view a list of available companies, and read consumer alerts.