Discover How to Find the Lowest Price on Herndon Virginia Auto Insurance

If online auto insurance comparisons are new to you, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the vast number of auto insurance companies selling insurance in Herndon.

If you have car insurance now, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using this strategy. Finding cheaper auto insurance in Herndon is easy if you know what you’re doing. Nevertheless, Virginia drivers should learn the way companies sell insurance online and use this information to your advantage.

Do you qualify for a discount?

Companies do not advertise all their discounts very well, so the following is a list of both the well known as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using.

  • Payment Discounts – If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can actually save on your bill.
  • Save over 55 – Mature drivers may be able to get reduced rates.
  • Accident Free – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay much less as compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Clubs and Organizations – Belonging to a qualifying organization could trigger savings on your policy.
  • Multi-policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with one company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
  • No Charge for an Accident – A handful of insurance companies permit an accident before raising your premiums if your claims history is clear for a certain period of time.
  • Early Signing – A few companies offer discounts for signing up before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
  • Braking Control Discount – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes prevent accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.

It’s important to understand that many deductions do not apply to the entire cost. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when the math indicates you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won’t be that lucky.

To see a list of providers who offer auto insurance discounts in Virginia, click here.

How to Buy Herndon Auto Insurance Online

Effectively comparing auto insurance prices can be a daunting task if you don’t utilize the most efficient way to do it. You could waste a few hours driving to insurance agencies in Herndon, or you can stay home and use online quotes to accomplish the same thing much quicker.

Many popular insurance companies are enrolled in a marketplace that enables customers to enter their coverage request one time, and every company provides a quote for coverage. This eliminates the need for form submissions for every auto insurance company.

To compare rates now click here to open in new window.

One minor caviat to using this type of form is you are unable to specify which insurance companies you will receive quotes from. So if you prefer to pick individual companies for rate comparison, we put together a list of companies who write auto insurance in Virginia. Click to view list.

Whichever method you choose, make sure you use the exact same coverage limits and deductibles for every quote you compare. If each company quotes unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be impossible to truly determine the lowest rate in Herndon. Quoting even small variations in insurance coverages could mean much higher rates. Just remember that comparing a large number of companies will increase your chances of finding the best offered rates.

How your Herndon rates are determined

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with big savings.

  • Your spouse saves you money – Being married helps lower the price on your policy. Having a spouse usually means you are more mature and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.
  • The more you drive the more you pay – The more miles you rack up on your car every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies charge to insure your cars determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars left parked in the garage receive lower rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Make sure your auto insurance policy is showing how each vehicle is driven, because improper ratings can cost you money.
  • How’s your driving record? – Your driving record has a huge affect on how much you pay. Even a single speeding ticket may increase your cost forty percent or more. Drivers with clean records receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who get dangerous violations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to prevent a license revocation.
  • One company can mean more discounts – The majority of insurers give discounts to insureds who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, you still need to compare rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.
  • What type of vehicle do you drive? – The make and model of the vehicle you are buying insurance for makes a significant difference in the rate you pay. Economy passenger cars generally have the cheapest insurance rates, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
  • Safer cars are cheaper to insure – Vehicles with good safety scores get lower rates. Safe vehicles result in less severe injuries and fewer injuries means lower claim amounts and lower rates for you.
  • Do you need those extra coverages? – There are many add-on coverages that can waste your money if you aren’t careful. Things like rental car reimbursement, accident forgiveness and term life insurance are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but if they’re wasting money remove them from your policy.
  • With age comes lower rates – Teenage drivers in Virginia are known to be more careless when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Parents adding a young driver onto a policy can break the bank. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.

Do I need special coverages?

When buying adequate coverage, there is no best way to insure your cars. Each situation is unique.lower rates in Herndon VA

Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine if you could use an agent’s help.

  • How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in Virginia?
  • When should I drop full coverage on my vehicle?
  • Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?
  • Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
  • What can I do if my company denied a claim?
  • How much liability coverage do I need in Virginia?
  • When should I not file a claim?
  • Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
  • Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form.

Neighborhood agents for auto insurance

Some consumers prefer to sit down with an agent and there is nothing wrong with that. The best thing about price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find the best rates but still work with a licensed agent.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this form (opens in new window), the coverage information is transmitted to local insurance agents who will give you bids for your business. You don’t have to even leave your home as quotes are delivered immediately to your email address. How cool is that?! You can find better rates AND an agent nearby.

Picking an insurer requires more thought than just the premium amount. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

  • Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
  • Are they full-time agents?
  • Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
  • Is assistance available after office hours?
  • Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
  • Does the agency support the community they serve?
  • Do they make recommendations based only on price?

What types of auto insurance agents are in Herndon?

When searching for a good insurance agency, there are two types of agencies from which to choose. Herndon agents are either captive or independent (non-captive).

Agency Captives

Captive agencies are contracted to one company such as Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are unable to shop your coverage around so keep that in mind. These agents are well schooled on their products and sales techniques which helps them compete with independent agents. Consumers frequently buy insurance from these agents mostly because of loyalty to the company and strong financial ratings.

Listed below is a short list of captive agencies in Herndon that can give you rate quotes.

  • Allstate Insurance – 1130 Elden St – Herndon, VA 20170 – (703) 478-0771
  • State Farm Insurance – 464 Herndon Pkwy – Herndon, VA 20170 – (703) 437-6794
  • Liberty Mutual Insurance – 131 Elden St # 100 – Herndon, VA 20170 – (703) 742-8485
Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agents are not employed by any specific company but instead can place your coverage with any number of different companies and potentially find a lower price. To transfer your coverage to a different company, an independent agent can move your coverage without you having to go to a different agency. When comparing rates, you should always get quotes from at a minimum one independent agency to ensure the widest selection of prices. They often place coverage with different regional companies which can save you money.

The following are Herndon independent insurance agents willing to provide price quotes.

  • Liberty Mutual Insurance – 131 Elden St # 100 – Herndon, VA 20170 – (703) 742-8485
  • Griffin-Owens Insurance – 847 Station St – Herndon, VA 20170 – (703) 471-0050

For a complete listing of Herndon insurance agents, simply jump to this page.

Upon receiving positive responses to all your questions as well as a affordable price, you may have just found an auto insurance agent that meets your needs to insure your vehicles.

Don’t believe everything you hear

Companies like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO continually stream ads in print and on television. All the ads have a common claim that you’ll save big after switching your policy. How do they all make the same claim?

lower rates in Herndon VA

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver they prefer to insure. For example, a driver they prefer might be between 25 and 40, a clean driving record, and has a short commute. Any new insured that hits that “sweet spot” gets the lowest rates and most likely will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Potential insureds who do not match these standards will have to pay higher prices which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state “people who switch” not “people who quote” save that kind of money. That’s why insurance companies can confidently state the savings. Because of the profiling, you should quote coverage with many companies. Because you never know the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Best coverage at the best price

You just read some good ideas how you can compare auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better your comparison will be. Consumers could even find that the lowest premiums are with some of the lesser-known companies.

As you shop your coverage around, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage and found out when filing a claim that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Affordable auto insurance is definitely available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Herndon agents, so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection. Some companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

Virginia insurance information

Even more information can be found at the Virginia Bureau of Insurance website. Visitors are able to discover disciplinary actions, read state legal mandates and laws, and learn about specific coverages.