Car Insurance in Petersburg – 10 Discounts Drivers are Missing

Nobody I know looks forward to paying for car insurance, especially knowing their premiums are through the roof. Online insurance companies like State Farm, Progressive and GEICO continually hit you with fancy advertisements and it is challenging if not impossible to see past the geckos and flying pigs and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It’s smart to price shop coverage yearly because prices are constantly changing. If you had the lowest price two years ago a different company probably has better rates today. So just forget all the misinformation about car insurance because you’re about to learn the right way to remove unneeded coverages and save money.

Finding Car Insurance in Petersburg, Virginia

Lowering your car insurance rates is not rocket science. The only requirement is to take a couple of minutes to get quotes online with multiple companies. This can be accomplished in several different ways.

1. The easiest and least time consuming way to get the best comparison quotes is to use a rate comparison form click to view form in new window. This form eliminates the need for separate quote forms for each company you want a rate for. In just a few minutes this one form will return quotes from all major companies.
2. A less efficient way to compare prices requires a trip to the website for each individual company to complete a price quote. For instance, let’s assume you want comparison quotes from GEICO, Allstate and Progressive. You would have to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular. For a handy list of car insurance company links in Petersburg, click here.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just compare the exact same information for each price quote. If the quotes have different values for each quote you will not be able to determine the lowest rate in Petersburg.

Car insurance myths debunked

Consumers in Virginia can’t ignore all the ads that promise big savings by GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. All the companies make an identical promise that you’ll save big after switching to their company.

But how can every company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that makes them money. An example of a driver they prefer could be between 25 and 40, a clean driving record, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer who meets those qualifications will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Potential customers who fall outside the “perfect” profile will have to pay a higher premium and this can result in the customer not buying. The ad wording is “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. This is how insurance companies can make the claims of big savings.

Because of the profiling, it’s extremely important to compare as many rates as you can. Because you never know which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

Discounts are available to cut your rates

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you can get discounts to help bring down the price. Most are applied when you purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested in order for you to get them. If you don’t get every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

• Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who avoid accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than less cautious drivers.
• Multi-car Discount – Buying coverage for more than one vehicle on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
• Save with a New Car – Insuring a new car can save up to 30% due to better safety requirements for new cars.
• Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems help deter theft and will save you 10% or more.
• Homeowners Savings – Owning a home in Petersburg can save you money because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.
• Resident Student – Youth drivers living away from home attending college and don’t have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
• Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control prevent accidents and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Paperless Signup – Certain companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks just for signing your application over the internet.
• Military Discounts – Having a family member in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
• Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts can receive discounts up to 30%.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. Just because you may think you could get a free car insurance policy, you won’t be that lucky. But all discounts will cut the amount you have to pay.

To choose insurers with discount car insurance rates in Petersburg, click this link.

Everyone needs different coverages

When buying the best car insurance coverage, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions might help in determining whether you might need an agent’s assistance.

• Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
• Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Petersburg?
• Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
• Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
• Should I buy additional glass protection?
• Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?

If you can’t answer these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.

Car insurance coverages 101

Understanding the coverages of your car insurance policy can help you determine the best coverages at the best deductibles and correct limits. The terms used in a policy can be confusing and coverage can change by endorsement. Shown next are the normal coverages available from car insurance companies.

Liability coverages

Liability insurance will cover damage that occurs to other’s property or people by causing an accident. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You might see limits of 25/50/25 that translate to a limit of $25,000 per injured person, a total of $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and property damage coverage for $25,000. Alternatively, you may have one number which is a combined single limit which provides one coverage limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability coverage pays for things like attorney fees, legal defense fees and emergency aid. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is your choice, but buy as large an amount as possible. Virginia state minimum liability requirements are 25,000/50,000/20,000 but drivers should carry better liability coverage.

Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers

Your UM/UIM coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.

Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (25/50/20), their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family. Most of the time these coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Coverage for collisions

Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your vehicle resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.

Collision coverage pays for claims such as backing into a parked car, damaging your car on a curb and scraping a guard rail. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to bump up the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Comprehensive car insurance

This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive can pay for things such as hitting a deer, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and rock chips in glass. The maximum amount you’ll receive from a claim is the actual cash value, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.

Coverage for medical expenses

Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for short-term medical expenses like chiropractic care, surgery, dental work, nursing services and X-ray expenses. They can be utilized in addition to your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover all vehicle occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not available in all states and may carry a deductible

Much more information about car insurance in Virginia is located on the website for the Virginia Bureau of Insurance located here. Visitors are able to view a list of available companies, read consumer alerts, and read state legal mandates and laws.

Smart shoppers get results

When you buy insurance online, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where someone dropped full coverage only to regret at claim time that it was a big mistake. Your focus should be to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price while still protecting your assets.

You just learned a lot of information how to reduce car insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers could even find that the lowest priced car insurance comes from the smaller companies. These companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive or GEICO.

Cheaper car insurance can be bought from both online companies in addition to many Petersburg insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. A few companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these smaller companies work with independent agents.