Harrisburg Pennsylvania Auto Insurance Buying Tips You Aren’t Supposed to Know

Are you overwhelmed by the sheer number of auto insurance company choices in Harrisburg? Lot’s of other consumers are too. Consumers have so many choices that it can quickly become a challenge to find the lowest price.

It is always a good idea to compare prices at least once a year since rates fluctuate regularly. Just because you had the best rates a year ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding auto insurance online, so we’re going to give you some proven techniques to slash your auto insurance rates.

Compare the Market for Auto Insurance in Harrisburg, PA

There are several ways to compare auto insurance prices but there is one way that is easier and takes less work. You can waste a lot of time talking to insurance agencies in Harrisburg, or you can stay home and use online quotes for quick rates.

Most car insurance companies participate in an industry program where insurance shoppers enter their policy data once, and each participating company then gives them pricing based on that information. This system prevents you from having to do quotation requests to each company.

To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now click here to start a free quote.

The one downside to using this type of form is that you can’t choose which companies to receive prices from. If you would rather choose specific insurance companies to compare rates, we have a listing of companies who write auto insurance in Pennsylvania. Click to view list.

It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just double check that you are using apples-to-apples coverage limits and deductibles on every quote you get. If each company quotes different liability limits it will be very difficult to make an equal comparison in Harrisburg. Slightly different coverages may result in a large different in cost. And when quoting auto insurance, remember that having more price comparisons provides better odds of finding a better price.

Don’t overlook these discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but companies offer discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Most are applied when you purchase, but a few must be specifically requested before being credited.

  • Organization Discounts – Participating in a civic or occupational organization could trigger savings when shopping for auto insurance.
  • Air Bag Discount – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
  • Paperless Signup – Certain companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy on their website.
  • Homeowners Savings – Owning a house in Harrisburg may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.
  • Early Switch Discount – Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. It’s a savings of about 10%.
  • Defensive Driving Course – Taking part in a driver safety course can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
  • Bundle and Save – If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.
  • Student Driver Training – Require your teen driver to complete a driver education course in school.

Keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So when the math indicates adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won’t be that lucky. But any discount will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

To choose insurance companies with discount auto insurance rates in Pennsylvania, click here to view.

Shop online but buy locally

Some people would prefer to buy from a local agent and that is a personal choice. The best thing about comparing rates online is you can get the best rates but still work with a licensed agent. Supporting local insurance agencies is important especially in Harrisburg.

Upon completion of this simple form, your insurance data is instantly submitted to companies in Harrisburg who will battle for your business. You don’t have to leave your computer since price quotes are sent straight to your inbox. Now that’s easy! You’ll get the best rates AND an agent nearby.

Harrisburg auto insurance agents come in two flavors

When searching for a good insurance agency, there are two types of insurance agents that you can select. Agents can either be independent (non-captive) or captive.

Independent Agents

Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company but instead can place your coverage with multiple insurance companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and that require little work on your part.

When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to include several independent insurance agents for the best price selection. They also have the ability to place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies which can be an advantage.

The following is a short list of independent agencies in Harrisburg willing to provide pricing information.

  • Baldwin Insurance Group Inc – – Harrisburg, PA 17112 – (717) 657-5459
  • Insurance Federation Penna Inc – 500 N 3rd St # 3 – Harrisburg, PA 17101 – (717) 236-2301
  • Dennis Walpole Agency – 1030 Maclay St – Harrisburg, PA 17103 – (717) 230-9306
  • Joseph Mattus Agency Inc – 3820 Union Deposit Rd # A – Harrisburg, PA 17109 – (717) 545-2626
  • Professional Liability Agency – 2213 Forest Hills Dr # 3 – Harrisburg, PA 17112 – (717) 526-8420
Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agents have only one company to place business with and some examples include AAA, Allstate and State Farm. They generally cannot provide prices from multiple companies so they have to upsell other benefits. These agents are trained well on their company’s products which can be an advantage. Consumers often buy insurance from these agents partially due to the brand legacy and solid financial strength.

Shown below is a short list of captive insurance agents in Harrisburg that can give you rate quotes.

  • Allstate Insurance – 5821 Linglestown Rd – Harrisburg, PA 17112 – (717) 526-2122
  • Hugh Dorsey State Farm Ins – 504 Hamilton St – Harrisburg, PA 17102 – (717) 724-0069

For a full directory of Harrisburg captive insurance agencies, go to this page.

Choosing a car insurance agent requires more thought than just a cheap price. These questions are important to ask:

  • If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
  • Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
  • Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
  • Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
  • If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
  • Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Pennsylvania?
  • Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?

Once you have reasonable responses for all questions you ask and an affordable coverage quote, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agent that meets your needs to properly insure your vehicles.

There’s no such thing as the perfect policy

When it comes to choosing the best auto insurance coverage, there is no perfect coverage plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.

For instance, these questions could help you determine whether or not you might need professional guidance.

  • What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
  • Are my friends covered when driving my vehicle?
  • Is Pennsylvania a no-fault state?
  • Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
  • When would I need rental car insurance?
  • Do I qualify for additional discounts?
  • Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
  • Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
  • What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else’s vehicle?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form.

Get Cheaper Rates by Understanding Pricing

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that help determine your auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

The following are some of the factors that factor into premiums.

  • Do you know your deductibles? – Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are collision with another vehicle, collision with an animal, and burglary. Deductibles for physical damage are how much you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be.
  • Sex matters – Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. Now that doesn’t mean women are better drivers. Both sexes have accidents in similar numbers, but men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also receive more costly citations like DUI and reckless driving.
  • Do you work long hours in a high stress job? – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations such as real estate brokers, social workers and financial analysts have higher average rates due to high stress and lots of time spent at work. Conversely, professions such as farmers, engineers and homemakers get better rates.
  • Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? – Most insurers will give a discount to insureds who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can amount to five, ten or even twenty percent. Even with this discount, you still need to compare other company rates to ensure the best deal.
  • Allowing your policy to lapse raises rates – Allowing your coverage to lapse will be a guaranteed way to pay more for auto insurance. Not only will you pay more, but not being able to provide proof of insurance might get you a revoked license or a big fine.

Quote more, save more

Drivers change insurance companies for many reasons like poor customer service, questionable increases in premium, high rates after DUI convictions and policy cancellation. Regardless of your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is actually quite simple.

As you prepare to switch companies, it’s not a good idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced liability coverage limits to discover at claim time that it was a big mistake. The aim is to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Lower-priced auto insurance can be found both online and also from your neighborhood Harrisburg agents, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some auto insurance companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

Learn more today

Much more information about auto insurance in Pennsylvania can be read on the Pennsylvania Insurance Department website through this link. Pennsylvania drivers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, view a list of available companies, view agent and company licensing information, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.