Auto Insurance in Petersburg – 5 Discounts You Might be Losing Out On

Searching for low-cost Petersburg auto insurance online can be somewhat difficult for beginners to comparison shopping online. Because there are so many companies competing online, how can anyone have a chance to compare the different rates to find the best available price?

It is always a good idea to compare rates at least once a year since insurance rates go up and down regularly. Even if you think you had the lowest price on your last policy you may be paying too much now. So just block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because we’re going to show you the fastest and easiest way to lower your annual insurance bill.

If you have a current auto insurance policy or are shopping for new coverage, you can follow these tips to cut your premiums while maximizing coverage. Pricing more affordable auto insurance in Petersburg is simple if you know the tricks. Alaska vehicle owners just need to understand how to compare rates over the internet.

Discounts can save BIG

Auto insurance companies don’t list all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we break down some of the more common as well as the least known auto insurance savings. If you aren’t receiving every discount you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

• Senior Discount – Mature drivers may qualify for a discount up to 10%.
• Federal Employees – Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off depending on your company.
• Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Keeping the miles down could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
• Auto/Life Discount – Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase life insurance.
• Discount for New Cars – Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most credits do not apply the the whole policy. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

Will just any policy work for me?

When it comes to buying coverage, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Each situation is unique.

Here are some questions about coverages that could help you determine whether you may require specific advice.

• Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
• Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in Petersburg?
• What can I do if my company denied a claim?
• Where can I get insurance after a DUI in Alaska?
• Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
• Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
• Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?

If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Additional resources for Alaska consumers

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the Alaska Division of Insurance website. Alaska consumers can read consumer alerts, find out which companies have the most complaints, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Learn about auto insurance coverages

Understanding the coverages of auto insurance can be of help when determining the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording.

Liability coverages – Liability coverage can cover injuries or damage you cause to other people or property by causing an accident. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show policy limits of 50/100/50 that means you have $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage pays for claims such as medical expenses, legal defense fees, loss of income, repair bills for other people’s vehicles and pain and suffering. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford. Alaska requires minimum liability limits of 50,000/100,000/25,000 but you should consider buying higher limits.

Comprehensive (Other than Collision) – Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as hitting a deer, hitting a bird, a broken windshield and rock chips in glass. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Medical expense insurance – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for short-term medical expenses for pain medications, doctor visits, nursing services and dental work. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to you and your occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Protection from uninsured/underinsured drivers – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your vehicle.

Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (which is 50/100/25), their limits can quickly be used up. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea.

Collision – Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage pays for claims such as hitting a parking meter, colliding with another moving vehicle, hitting a mailbox and scraping a guard rail. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Quote more, save more

As you restructure your insurance plan, make sure you don’t buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits only to regret that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Drivers switch companies for any number of reasons including unfair underwriting practices, policy non-renewal, being labeled a high risk driver or poor customer service. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new company is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.

Low-cost auto insurance can be sourced both online and also from your neighborhood Petersburg agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.