3 Secrets Of Cheaper Auto Insurance Cost

Renewing an auto insurance or just applying for a new one? Either way you can get some insights from this article to help you get a cheaper auto insurance cost.

Oh! I also compiled more articles that you should read before buying any auto insurance to avoid regrets later. You can view them at my site, look for the link at the bottom of this article.

Secret #1 of getting a cheaper auto insurance cost

Shop and compare - This old age technique almost works on all fields of life. Whether buying a car, house or a pair of pants. Don't buy the first auto insurance quote that's been thrown at you. You might find get hit with a large auto insurance cost and even get a bonus headache for it. Always get a lot of quotes from different insurance companies and find the one that suits for you. Remember the cheapest is not always the best, its better to find the cheapest and the one that would cover your needs.

Secret #2 of getting a cheaper auto insurance cost

Find the Right Car - Driving the right car has a significant impact on auto insurance cost. Taking car model as an example. Sports cars have naturally higher insurance cost than Toyota sedans. Insurance companies know that this type of cars has more built in risk in them. Other factors that include are mileage, age and value of car. Checking this stuffs before purchasing a car is the best way to go. But if you have already a vehicle then keep it in check regularly.

Secret #3 of getting a cheaper auto insurance cost

Master Yourself - The most crucial factor that would certainly get you a cheaper auto insurance cost is yourself. Are you a responsible driver or a reckless one? Are speeding tickets normal to as tissue papers? Insurance companies regularly evaluate your driving habits. Basically the more law abiding you are the higher chance of getting that cheaper auto insurance cost. You can also do the extra mile such as taking advance driving course.

These secrets are no really secrets at all. Yet following this simple advice would almost certainly get you a cheaper auto insurance cost.

Getting Online Auto Insurance Quotes

Are you searching for better auto insurance rates? Are you tired of feeling as though you're overpaying despite your spotless driving record? If so, it's about time you started shopping around for the best auto insurance rates from a new auto insurance company. Thanks to the web, motorists are no longer limited to dealing exclusively with local agents and hoping for the best deal. Instead, the internet has opened a new door for those who are looking to compare auto insurance rates and get the best value for their money.

When shopping online, the process of choosing an auto insurance company is a bit more involved than simply asking your neighbor which local agent he/she deals with. When you shop online, you may be required to do a bit more footwork on researching the auto insurance company, but the end results can pay off in a very big way. The best way to find a respectable auto insurance company is to research their history, learn about their policies and how long they have been in business, check their reputation with the Better Business Bureau and request a free auto insurance quote.

What is the most common way that an auto insurance company could compete for your business? By offering the lowest auto insurance rates, correct? If you said yes, then getting auto insurance online may be the way to go. Because there's so much more competition online, companies must work harder to get your business. In most cases, you can complete a request for a free auto insurance quote online in a matter of minutes. Depending on the auto insurance company, the number of requests and day of the week, it may take hours or several days to receive a response. The best part, however, is that you can shop from a nation of auto insurance companies with the click of a button and never even have to step out your front door.

Free auto insurance quotes online are very valuable for any number of reasons, including the obvious fact that they cost you absolutely nothing. Not to mention, the option is very convenient for someone who lives in a rural location and perhaps isn't close enough to visit several auto insurance companies or doesn't have the access to a great number of companies because of the fact that they reside in a small town. Where there's less competition, the prices are higher. But the internet has changed the face of competition by bringing a variety of options to those who either enjoy the convenience that the world wide web can offer or those who need the competitive pricing that simply isn't available in their area. Whether you are shopping for Pennsylvania auto insurance, New York auto insurance, Florida auto insurance, Arizona auto insurance, California auto insurance or anywhere in between, you can search for discount auto insurance rates from the comfort of your favorite recliner.

The information in this article is provided for reference purposes only. It should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional financial or insurance advice relating to auto insurance quotes, discount auto insurance or auto insurance rates. For additional information or to receive an auto insurance quote, contact a local auto insurance company.

Auto Insurance Pricing in Texas: Why Some Insurance Policies Are More Expensive Than Others

For some, shopping for auto insurance in Austin, TX can be a difficult and confusing process. Texas auto policies can be somewhat complicated and differences in price should be analysed and accounted for in order to choose the best auto policy or company. For the average consumer, the process of getting auto quotes from different insurance companies and understanding why some policies are more expensive than others can be complicated. This article tries to inform the consumer why some auto policies are more expensive than others and gives the reader some tips on how to research auto policies in Austin, TX and receive the most value for their dollar.

Different Insurance Companies Have Different Customer Service Levels

One factor that accounts for price differences among auto policies is quality of service. As with other service products, there are many levels of service among auto policies and auto insurance companies. From well-known national brands to lesser known local insurance brokers, the insurance shopper has many options to choose from. Each auto insurance company and product offers their own customer service experience and level of quality and these differences are usually reflected in their premium prices. When shopping for insurance policies and talking to insurance companies here are a few tips for determining what level of service you can expect to receive from a particular insurance Company:

When you have account or billing issues or need to initiate an insurance claim, who do you speak with at the company? Some companies are structured where you speak with an individual agent or agent office for most claims and account management issues. This structure is best suited to people who want a more personalized experience. When you call these types of companies you will generally speak to one of a few people in the office. The benefit of this type of setup is that these people will oftentimes know you and your particular situation and will have generally built a professional relationship over you over time.

Another structure that you will find, usually with lest costly insurance policies, is the call center environment. With these types of insurance companies you will generally be directed to a call center if you call with claims or customer service issues. A call center is a larger, less personalized customer service experience. In this situation, the representative you speak with will most likely be in another city, state, or country. There will be a large pool of representatives for you to deal with and it is very unlikely that these people will know you personally or know your particular situation. In this type of system you may be rotated among different call center representatives and speak to a different person each time you call. Some people do not like this type of system because it is far less personalized customer service experience than the preceding example.

Differences in coverage can account for price differences

When comparing auto insurance quotes among different insurance companies or agents the consumer should to compare the different coverage amounts among the different quotes. The consumer should be aware that there a variety of different coverage amounts for such things as liability coverage, comprehensive coverage, deductibles, uninsured motorist insurance, and personal injury protection. Any difference in coverages will result in a change in the total premium for that policy. In order to compare premium costs among different insurance companies the consumer should examine a hard copy printout of each insurance quote and verify that the coverage amounts are the same among the quotes. The consumer should also make sure that optional coverages for things such as towing coverage and rental car coverage are uniform among the different quotes.

Differences in the auto policies themselves account for price differences

Auto polices in Texas are regulated by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). The TDI is a government entity whose function is to regulate the insurance industry in Texas. Some things the TDI regulates for insurance policies are premiums levels and policy contents. The TDI tries to assure consistency among insurance policy types and the specific coverages that are included in different types of auto policies. Although the TDI regulations strive to maintain consistency among insurance policy offerings between different insurance policies, there are situations where differences in coverages will differ between the same type of policy. Oftentimes these differences won't be disclosed to the consumer and they won't know that they're not covered for a particlar item until they need to put in a claim. When getting auto quotes, it is a good practice to compare the specific coverages among the auto policies. One way to compare coverages is to look at the website of the Office of Public Insurance Counsel http://www.opic.state.tx.us/hoic.php. On this website the consumer can compare the standard policies between the major insurance companies and make sure that they are making an apples to apples comparison between policies.

Insurance company track record and reputation affects the price of their services

In making an informed decision on Austin auto insurance, It is also advisable for the consumer to research the insurance company track record. One way to research the insurance company itself is to visit the Texas Department of Insurance website. On this website the consumer can verify the validity of licensing for the insurance company and also see if there have been any complaints or enforcement issues with particular insurance companies or agents. One final option is to visit the Austin Better Business Bureau http://austin.bbb.org/. The Better Business Bureau maintains a database of complaints against companies and is a good resource to use to investigate Austin insurance carriers. In order to make an informed decion on auto insurance in Austin it is advised that the consumer the follow suggestions contained in this article, visit the recommended websites, and do some homework. If the consumer has questions about differences in policies, coverages, or anything on the insurance policies, they should address this with the insurance agent or company representative. In this way they can make a logical, informed comparison of the auto quotes, policies, and premiums and make a smart buying decision.

How to Buy Auto Insurance on the Internet

Are auto insurance agents a dying breed? Today, auto insurance is one of those service businesses that are becoming more and more dominated by online providers.

In fact, there's some question whether auto insurance agents are needed at all anymore. Do you really want to spend your Saturday morning visiting an auto insurance office being pitched on a single car insurance company's policy when you can buy auto insurance online any time - weekends, evenings, etc. Not only that, but buying auto insurance online enables you to compare the offerings of several companies side-by-side in terms of policies and premiums. What's more, you can buy the policy online (in most states), and even file claims online.

One might well point out, of course, that many people simply prefer meeting and talking face-to-face with an insurance agent, rather than simply pounding a computer keyboard. For one thing, they may feel more secure about transferring money (premium payments) in person than on the Internet. For another, they may prefer having a knowledgeable individual they can communicate with and ask questions of.

But the number of such people as a proportion of the adult population is clearly dwindling. According to market research firm ComScore, 67.5% of 2,000 U.S. consumers surveyed last year said they would consider purchasing their next auto insurance policy online. Auto insurance purchasing online has been growing at an amazing 55%+ rate over the past couple years.

Therefore, whether you're looking for a replacement policy or for your first policy, online auto insurance offers a number of benefits: cost-savings, convenience, speed, and better information about available policies from a range of insurance providers.

Nonetheless, before you sign up for a policy, whether in-person or online, make certain you're familiar with the basics of auto insurance.

Basics of Online Auto Insurance

If you drive a car in the U.S. you need insurance. That's an obvious fact. But what kind of insurance and at what price?

Liability insurance. As you may know, there are two basic types of liability insurance, namely bodily injury and property damage. If you buy a 25/30/25 coverage that means the insurer pays up to $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. So this would be a relatively low amount of coverage, and you must assess your own situation in deciding what level of coverage is best for you. All states, except New Hampshire and Wisconsin, require that you carry liability insurance.

Collision. This category of auto insurance covers your property damage and medical expenses in an accident in which you are at fault.

Comprehensive. This type provides coverage for loss from accidents other than collision, or from theft, for example property damage sustained from flood, fire, or vandalism.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist. Pays you if the other driver in an accident does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance. (It's not required in all states.)

Personal injury protection. Pays your unrecovered medical expenses as well as lost wages resulting from an accident. PIP may also include a death benefit. (About 16 states now require PIP coverage.)

A source of confusion are so-called "no-fault" auto insurance program. In a no-fault system, all drivers pay their own accident costs, no matter who is to blame. It was for a long time thought that this system would reduce litigation thereby holding down costs. It didn't happen. In fact it usually resulted in higher accident rates, higher costs, and higher insurance premiums. As a result, most states that had enacted no-fault laws repealed them (DC, NV, PA, NJ, GA, CT, CO, FL). leaving only Michigan, Kansas, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York North Dakota, and Utah. However a couple states - New Jersey and Pennsylvania - adopted "choice no-fault", allowing drivers to choose between no-fault and a traditional policy. (Results, in terms of premium levels, have been mixed so far.)

Keeping Your Premiums Down

To the average consumer, insurance firms may seem to have some strange ideas about what factors to consider in setting your insurance rates. For example, I once found my rates increased after another driver hit my car, and when I called the company, and explained that the accident had not been my fault, the customer service rep answered, "Yes, but you were in the wrong place at the wrong time."

That is, it's all a numbers game, and there's no real effort to achieve equity in setting rates. So to win the game you have to provide the company with numbers that will result in reasonable premiums. Some of these you have some control over and some you don't. Among the factors that will be taken into account are: age/gender (single males under 25 get higher rates; women generally get lower rates); location (New Jersey and California rates are high; urban rates are higher than rural rates; many companies now even look at your zip code); driving history (if you've filed one or more claims in the past five years, this will boost your premium significantly; so will a speeding ticket or other violation, even if no claim was filed); amount you drive; type of car (expensive cars get higher premiums, so do cars with high rates of theft, like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord; so do off-road vehicles and large SUV's).

Finding an Auto Insurance Company on the Internet

If you run a Google, MSN or Yahoo search for "car insurance" or "auto insurance" you'll see that this is a crowded business on the Internet. There are literally hundreds of companies advertising auto insurance online. However your best bet is to use one of the companies which allow you to order online, like Esurance.com or InsureMe.com.

You'll soon notice that each online insurance company has its own little qualifying process and series of screens it forces you to go through before it give you a quote.

Esurance.com is a good example. It starts by asking you for your zip code - an easy enough question. Then on the ensuing screens they request detailed information -- How many cars you are insuring. How many drivers. Year/Make/Model of your car. Uses of your car. Discounts for which you may be qualified, such as airbags, antilock brakes, car alarm, etc. Coverage you are looking for. And so forth.

The Esurance.com application process is actually fairly simple, and takes only a couple minutes - after which you're provided with a specific quote from Esurance.com, which is a virtual (online) insurance provider.

By contrast, another website, InsureMe.com takes you through a very similar application process, but concludes without providing you with a specific quote. Instead, it lists several brick-and-mortar insurance companies which will contact you later, either by email or phone, with specific quotes. This has the advantage that you will be able to compare policies and quotes, and the disadvantage that you will have to wait awhile for the companies to contact you.

Other auto insurance aggregators (as they are called) have other processes -- some, for example, run your credit report as part of the process.

In any case, as a final step in choosing a policy, you may want to take a little time to check out your selected insurance provider at AMBest.com, particularly if it's one you're not familiar with. To do so you'll have to create an account on AMBest.com to look up an auto insurance company's rating, but it's fairly simple to do so. Once you've created your account, click on "rating and analysis" and input your company's name. Companies are assigned a letter grade from "A++" downward. You'll definitely want your selected company to have at least a "B" rating, which is "good."

Incidentally, even if you already have what you think is a reasonably-priced policy, it's usually still a good idea to apply online to see if you can get a better premium rate. After all, there's no obligation and it only takes a couple minutes. According to a recent survey of consumers by the industry publication EDP Weekly, one in three people who shopped online for auto insurance and then bought a new policy saved more than $500 with some saving $1,100 or more.