Insider Methods for the Cheapest Springfield Oregon Car Insurance

Overpriced car insurance can dwindle your personal savings and make it hard to pay other bills. Comparison shopping is free and is an excellent way to cut your insurance bill. Big companies like State Farm, Progressive and GEICO promote their brand names with fancy advertisements and consumers find it hard to ignore the promise of big savings and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It’s a good idea to compare prices at least once a year because rates are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Even if you got the best deal two years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Forget all the misinformation about car insurance because you’re about to find out the right way to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

If you have insurance now or are just looking to switch companies, you can learn to shop for the lowest rates while maintaining coverages. Buying car insurance in Springfield is not rocket science. Oregon drivers just need to learn the proper way to get comparison quotes online.

Lots of discounts mean lots of savings

Companies don’t always advertise all their discounts very clearly, so we researched some of the more common as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.

  • Lower Rates for Military – Being on active duty in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
  • Drivers Ed for Students – Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course if offered at their school.
  • Accident Waiver – A handful of insurance companies will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don’t have any claims prior to the accident.
  • Defensive Driver – Completing a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.
  • Government Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job could cut as much as 10% off with a few car insurance companies.
  • Bundle and Save – When you combine your home and auto insurance with one insurance company you will save at least 10% off all policies.
  • Resident Student – Children who are attending college and don’t have a car can receive lower rates.
  • Payment Method – If paying your policy premium upfront instead of paying each month you can actually save on your bill.
  • Safe Driver Discount – Drivers who avoid accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less than drivers with accident claims.
  • Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Driving fewer miles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you’re out of luck.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.car insurance image

Shown below are some of the items companies use to determine premiums.

  • Claim-free discounts can add up – Auto insurance companies in Oregon award cheaper rates to people who file claims infrequently. If you frequently file small claims, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • The more you drive the more you pay – The more you drive in a year the higher your rate. Almost all companies price each vehicle’s coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates compared to those used for work or business. Ask your agent if your car insurance policy is showing the correct driver usage.
  • Occupation reflects on rates – Did you know your job can affect your rates? Occupations such as judges, architects and accountants tend to have higher rates than average in part from job stress and long work hours. On the flip side, jobs such as scientists, athletes and homemakers receive lower rates.
  • Add-on coverages can add up – There are a lot of additional coverages that can waste your money on your policy. Insurance for rental car reimbursement, accident forgiveness and additional equipment coverage are some examples. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
  • Safer cars are cheaper to insure – Vehicles with good safety scores tend to have better insurance rates. Safer cars have better occupant injury protection and any reduction in injury severity means less money paid by your insurance company passed on to you as lower rates.
  • Liability coverage is cheap – Liability coverage is the protection in the event that you are found liable for damages caused by your negligence. Liability insurance provides legal defense coverage starting from day one. Liability is cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not cut corners here.

Is there truth in advertising?

Oregon drivers constantly see and hear ads for cheaper car insurance from the likes of 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies make an identical promise that you’ll save big if you change your coverage to them.

How can each company say the same thing?

Insurance companies have a certain “appetite” for the type of customer that makes them money. For instance, a driver they prefer could possibly be over the age of 40, insures multiple vehicles, and has a short commute. A customer getting a price quote that hits that “sweet spot” is entitled to the best price and therefore will pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Consumers who do not match this ideal profile must pay a more expensive rate and this can result in the customer not buying. The ads state “customers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save money. That is how insurance companies can state the savings. This illustrates why you need to get as many quotes as possible. It’s impossible to know which company will have the lowest rates.

Additional detailed information is available at the Oregon Insurance Division website. Visitors are able to view a list of available companies, read consumer alerts, read industry bulletins, and get help finding coverage.

Springfield Oregon car insurance

The articles below may also help you learn more about car insurance in Springfield

Affordable insurance is out there

Low-cost car insurance can be found online and with local Springfield insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not offer the ability to get a quote online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

We just presented quite a bit of information on how to save on car insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. Drivers may discover the lowest premiums are with a lesser-known regional company. They may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.