Auto Insurance in Huntsville – 6 Discounts You Might be Losing Out On

Saving money on Huntsville auto insurance is nearly impossible for beginners to comparing rates online. Consumers have so many choices that it can easily become a ton of work to find the best price in Huntsville.

Comprehensive Huntsville Auto Insurance Comparison Quotes

All major auto insurance companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive allow you to get prices directly from their websites. Getting online quotes is pretty painless as you just type in as requested by the quote form. After you submit the form their rating system will order information on your driving record and credit history and returns pricing information.

This makes it a lot easier to compare rates but the time it takes to visit several different sites and enter the same data into a form is not the best way to spend an afternoon. But it is imperative to do this if you are searching for the lowest possible prices on auto insurance.

The better way to compare rates

A more efficient way to find better auto insurance pricing uses one form that gets price quotes from a lot of companies. The form is fast, requires much less work on your part, and makes online price comparison much simpler. After sending your information, it gets priced with multiple companies and you can pick any or none of the resulting price quotes. If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, it’s easy to complete the application and buy the policy. The whole process can be completed in a matter of minutes and can result in significant savings.

To save time and use this form to compare rates, click here to open in new window and fill out the form. To compare your current rates, we recommend you input the limits and deductibles exactly as they are listed on your policy. This way, you will get a fair comparison based on identical coverages.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Consumers in Alabama can’t get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance from companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to make an identical promise that you can save if you change your policy. But how can every company offering car insurance quotes in Huntsville make the same claim?

All companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer that is profitable for them. A good example of a driver they prefer might be profiled as between 25 and 40, has no tickets, and has great credit. A customer that hits that “sweet spot” is entitled to the best price and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who are not a match for the “perfect” profile must pay more money which leads to business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much. That’s why insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. This illustrates why you absolutely need to get as many comparisons as possible. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

Verify you’re getting all your discounts

Car insurance companies don’t always publicize all their discounts very clearly, so we break down both the well known and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

• Multiple Vehicles – Having multiple vehicles with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
• Defensive Driving Course – Taking part in a course in driver safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
• Good Student – A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up until you turn 25.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Low mileage vehicles can earn discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
• Accident Waiver – Some insurance companies will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.
• Discounts for Safe Drivers – Safe drivers may save up to 50% more than their less cautious counterparts.

Drivers should understand that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, it just doesn’t work that way.

For a list of insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Huntsville, follow this link.

You may need specialized coverage

When choosing coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is a little different.

These are some specific questions may help you determine whether you could use an agent’s help.

• Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
• What can I do if my company denied a claim?
• How much liability coverage do I need in Alabama?
• Can I afford low physical damage deductibles?
• Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
• Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
• When should I drop full coverage on my vehicle?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can help protect your family.

Quote online but still have a local agent

Some people would prefer to get advice from a local agent. Good agents can answer important questions and help file insurance claims. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find lower rates but also keep your business local.

To find an agent, once you fill out this form (opens in new window), your information is sent to insurance agents in Huntsville who will give you bids to get your business. You never need to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go straight to your inbox.

Deciding on an insurer shouldn’t rely on just the price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

• Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
• If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
• Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
• Who are their largest clients?
• How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?
• Is working in the agency their full-time job?

Shown below are Huntsville insurers that may be able to provide price quotes.

• Allstate Insurance – 10300 Bailey Cove Rd SE # 6, Huntsville, AL 35803 – (256) 881-1100
• Farmers Insurance Group – 7500 S Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville, AL 35803 – (256) 885-1885
• Metropolitan Insurance – 4717 University Dr NW, Huntsville, AL 35816 – (256) 830-8238
• State Farm Insurance – 333 Whitesport Dr SW # 102, Huntsville, AL 35801 – (256) 883-8803
• Liberty Mutual Insurance – 1500 Perimeter Pkwy NW # 115, Huntsville, AL 35806 – (256) 837-9200
• Booker T Washington Insurance – , Huntsville, AL 35810 – (256) 851-0607
• Bob Moore Agency – 8106 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville, AL 35802 – (256) 880-6431

For a complete listing of auto insurance agents in Huntsville, visit this site.

Once you have satisfactory answers for all questions you ask and an affordable coverage quote, chances are good that you have found an provider that will service your policy. Just keep in mind policyholders can cancel coverage any time you want so don’t assume you’re contractually obligated to any specific agency with no way out.

Coverage specifics

Knowing the specifics of auto insurance can be of help when determining appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. The coverage terms in a policy can be impossible to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Liability coverages – This protects you from damage that occurs to people or other property by causing an accident. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 50/100/50 that translate to a $50,000 limit per person for injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and a total limit of $50,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability coverage protects against things like bail bonds, structural damage, funeral expenses, medical expenses and loss of income. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but consider buying higher limits if possible. Alabama state minimum liability requirements are 25,000/50,000/25,000 but drivers should carry more coverage.

Collision coverages – This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage pays for things like sideswiping another vehicle, colliding with a tree and damaging your car on a curb. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to increase the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance reimburse you for immediate expenses for things like rehabilitation expenses, funeral costs, chiropractic care, dental work and ambulance fees. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover both the driver and occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.

Since a lot of drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (25/50/25), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is important protection for you and your family.

Comprehensive insurance – Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as vandalism, damage from getting keyed and theft. The maximum payout your auto insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.

A little work can save a LOT of money

Insureds leave their current company for a number of reasons such as high prices, being labeled a high risk driver, questionable increases in premium or delays in responding to claim requests. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding a new auto insurance company is actually quite simple.

When buying insurance coverage, it’s very important that you do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. There are a lot of situations where consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage to discover at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your focus should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price while still protecting your assets.

Low-cost auto insurance can be found online and also from your neighborhood Huntsville agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

Informative consumer insurance sites

Even more information can be found at the Alabama Department of Insurance website. Alabama drivers can read state legal mandates and laws, get help finding coverage, and view a list of available companies.

Other useful links include Auto Insurance 101 and this page where you can also get Huntsville auto insurance quotes.