Car Insurance in Lebanon Pennsylvania – 9 Tips to Better Rates

Are you a victim of overpriced car insurance? Believe me, many consumers are feeling buyer’s remorse and feel like there’s no way out.

With consumers having so many companies and agents to choose from, it’s difficult to locate the most affordable provider.

Finding the best rates in Lebanon is not that difficult. Just about every driver who carries car insurance will most likely be able to find lower rates. But Pennsylvania car owners do need to know how insurance companies determine prices and use this information to your advantage.

How to Get Car Insurance in Lebanon, PA

To find the best car insurance prices, there are several ways to get quotes from car insurance companies in your area. The best way to find competitive insurance rates is to use the internet to compare rates. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in several different ways.

The most efficient way to get the best comparison quotes is to use a rate comparison form click to view form in new window. This easy form keeps you from doing a different quote for each company you want a rate for. One form will return price quotes from multiple companies.

A more difficult way to get comparison quotes consists of going to each company’s website and complete a new quote form. For examples sake, we’ll pretend you want rates from Farmers, State Farm and Allstate. To get each rate you have to go to every website to enter your coverage information, which is why most consumers use the first method.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Lebanon, click here.

The hardest method to compare rates is driving to local Lebanon insurance agencies. Buying insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you prefer the professional advice of a licensed agent. However, consumers can get prices online and get advice from an agent in your area and we’ll cover that in a bit.

Which method you use is up to you, but double check that you are using exactly the same coverages and limits for each price quote. If you have differing limits then you won’t be able to make an equal comparison in Lebanon. Having just a slight variation in insurance coverages could mean much higher rates. And when comparison shopping, quoting more will enable you to find the best offered rates.

Don’t pay full price with these nine discounts

Companies don’t list every discount very clearly, so we researched both well-publicized and the more hidden car insurance savings.

• Save with a New Car – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can save up to 30% due to better safety requirements for new cars.
• Auto/Life Discount – Some companies give lower rates if you buy life insurance from them.
• Resident Student – Youth drivers who attend school more than 100 miles from home and don’t have a car may qualify for this discount.
• Military Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.
• Seat Belts Save – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
• Homeowners Savings – Owning a house in Lebanon may trigger a car insurance policy discount because of the fact that having a home demonstrates responsibility.
• Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
• Braking Control Discount – Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems prevent accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Accident Waiver – Certain companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge if your claims history is clear for a particular time prior to the accident.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won’t be that lucky.

To choose providers with the best car insurance discounts in Lebanon, follow this link.

Price shop online but buy from a local Lebanon agent

A small number of people would prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is just fine! The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is the fact that you can find better rates but also keep your business local.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this simple form, your information is immediately sent to agents in your area who will battle for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to drive around because quoted prices will be sent directly to your email. You can find the lowest rates AND a local agent.

Choosing an provider needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

• Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
• Can they give you a list of client referrals?
• What insurance companies do they work with?
• Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
• Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
• Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
• Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?

Types of insurance agencies in Lebanon

When finding a local agent, there are a couple of different agency structures from which to choose. Insurance agencies in Lebanon are either independent (non-captive) or captive.

Captive Agents

Captive agencies can only write with one company such as Allstate, AAA, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. These agents are unable to give you multiple price quotes so always compare other rates. Captive agents are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage.

The following is a short list of captive insurance agencies in Lebanon that can give you price quotes.

State Farm Insurance – 330 Cumberland St – Lebanon, PA 17042 – (717) 274-3822
Allstate Insurance – 546 S 9th St # 200 – Lebanon, PA 17042 – (717) 272-6062

Independent Insurance Agents

These agents do not work for one specific company but rather can write business with lots of companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To move your coverage to a new company, an independent agent can move your coverage without you having to go to a different agency.

When comparing rates, you should always include multiple independent agents for the best price selection.

Listed below is a short list of independent agencies in Lebanon who can help you get comparison quotes.

Eckenroth Insurance – 11 S 7th St – Lebanon, PA 17042 – (717) 273-8326
Hoffman Agency – 542 Cumberland St – Lebanon, PA 17042 – (717) 272-6461
Ronald N Ensminger Insurance – 860 Kimmerlings Rd – Lebanon, PA 17046 – (717) 272-9877

To view a full list of licensed insurance agents in Lebanon, visit this site.

Once you have received satisfactory answers to all your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, most likely you have located an insurance agency that is a good match to insure your vehicles. Keep in mind you can always cancel coverage whenever you wish so never assume that you’re stuck with any particular company with no way out.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to buying coverage, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Every insured’s situation is different so your insurance should reflect that Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover if your situation may require specific advice.

• How high should my medical payments coverage be?
• Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?
• Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
• Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
• Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
• Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
• How high should my uninsured/underinsured coverage be in Pennsylvania?
• Will my rates increase for filing one claim?
• Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.

Car insurance policy coverages

Learning about specific coverages of a car insurance policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage at the best deductibles and correct limits. Car insurance terms can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Shown next are the usual coverages offered by car insurance companies.

Comprehensive car insurance – This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive insurance covers things such as damage from a tornado or hurricane, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, damage from flooding and hitting a bird. The highest amount a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.

Liability – Liability coverage protects you from injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people 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. As an example, you may have policy limits of 100/300/100 which means a limit of $100,000 per injured person, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage pays for claims such as repair costs for stationary objects, medical services and court costs. How much liability should you purchase? That is up to you, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as large an amount as possible. Pennsylvania requires drivers to carry at least 15,000/30,000/5,000 but you should think about purchasing better liability coverage.

Coverage for medical expenses – Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for bills such as X-ray expenses, dental work, ambulance fees and nursing services. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. It covers all vehicle occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage

Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers – Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your vehicle.

Because many people only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (15/30/5), their liability coverage can quickly be exhausted. So UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.

Collision – This covers damage to your vehicle from colliding with an object or car. You first must pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision insurance covers claims like hitting a mailbox, sideswiping another vehicle, backing into a parked car and driving through your garage door. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from older vehicles. You can also choose a higher deductible to bring the cost down.

One last thing about your coverage

We covered a lot of information how to reduce car insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better your comparison will be. You may even discover the biggest savings come from some of the lesser-known companies. These companies often have lower prices on specific markets than their larger competitors like GEICO and State Farm.

When trying to cut insurance costs, never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many cases, someone dropped liability coverage limits and discovered at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Budget-conscious car insurance is available from both online companies in addition to many Lebanon insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some car insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

Some additional reading

Additional detailed information is located at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department website. Consumers can learn about insurance regulations, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, read consumer alerts, and read industry bulletins.