Compare Pittsburgh, PA Car Insurance for Less Money With These Tips

Having to pay for overpriced car insurance can overdraw your personal savings and make it impossible to make ends meet. Comparing price quotes is a great way to make sure you’re not throwing money away. Big companies like Progressive, GEICO and Farmers Insurance all claim big savings with advertising and consumers find it hard to see through the deception and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

Take discounts and save

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, buy you may qualify for discounts to cut the cost considerably. Some discounts apply automatically when you get a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked about before you get the savings. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you’re just leaving money on the table.

• Low Mileage – Fewer annual miles can qualify you for better rates on cars that stay parked.
• Early Switch Discount – Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching to them prior to your current policy expiration. It’s a savings of about 10%.
• Senior Discount – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive a discount up to 10%.
• Discount for Life Insurance – Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
• No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents can earn big discounts as compared to accident-prone drivers.
• Drive Safe and Save – Insureds without accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than drivers with accidents.
• Anti-theft Discount – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
• Service Members Pay Less – Being on active duty in the military could mean lower rates.
• Payment Method – By paying your policy upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save up to 5%.
• Passive Restraints – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.

It’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies don’t profit that way. But all discounts will reduce the cost of coverage.

For a list of providers with discount car insurance rates in Pittsburgh, click this link.

Drivers who switch save $442 a year? Really?

Consumers constantly see and hear ads for cheaper car insurance by Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. All the companies say the same thing of big savings if you change to their company.

How can each company make the same claim?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that earns them a profit. A good example of a preferred risk could be between the ages of 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and drives newer vehicles. A driver who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Potential insureds who don’t measure up to this ideal profile must pay a more expensive rate and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that kind of money. That’s why companies can truthfully state the savings.

This illustrates why it is so important to get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict the company that will have the lowest rates.

Additional consumer information websites

Much more information about car insurance in Pennsylvania is located on the website for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department located here. Pennsylvania consumers can read consumer alerts, find a variety of consumer forms, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Quote often and quote early

You just read many ideas to lower your car insurance rates. It’s most important to understand that the more rate comparisons you have, the better your comparison will be. Consumers could even find that the most savings is with some of the lesser-known companies. They can often provide lower rates in certain areas than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.

As you shop your coverage around, it’s very important that you do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In many cases, drivers have reduced full coverage only to regret that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price.