Insider Methods to Lower Lafayette Auto Insurance

No one in their right mind likes having to buy auto insurance, in particular when their premiums are too high. You have multiple insurers to choose from, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, it makes it harder to adequately compare rates.

Consumers should take time to take a look at other company’s rates occasionally because prices are usually higher with each renewal. Even if you think you had the best deal a few years ago you will most likely find a better rate today. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance on the internet, so I’m going to show you some good information on how to put money back in your pocket.

Buying the lowest cost coverage in Lafayette is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you have a current auto insurance policy or need new coverage, you can use these tips to reduce the price you pay and still get good coverage. Louisiana drivers only need an understanding of the proper way to get comparison rates online.

Comprehensive Lafayette Auto Insurance Comparison

Finding a better price on auto insurance is a fairly straight forward process. All you need to do is spend a few minutes getting comparison quotes online with multiple companies. This is very easy and can be done in a couple of different ways.

The best way to get the best comparison quotes would be an industry-wide quote request form click here to open form in new window. This form saves time by eliminating repetitive form submissions for each company. One form will get you price quotes from many national carriers.
A less efficient way to compare prices is to take the time to go to each company’s website to request a price quote. For example, we’ll assume you want to compare rates from USAA, Liberty Mutual and GEICO. To get each rate you have to spend time on each company’s site to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Lafayette, click here.
The most time-consuming method to compare rates to different Lafayette agent offices. The ability to buy insurance online can eliminate the need for a local agent unless you require the professional advice of a local Lafayette agent. Drivers can price shop your coverage online and still use a local agent.

However you get your quotes, make absolute certain that you use apples-to-apples coverages and limits with each company. If you use different values for each quote it will be next to impossible to truly determine the lowest rate in Lafayette.

Cut your auto insurance rates with discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but discounts can save money and there are some available that can drop the cost substantially. A few discounts will automatically apply at quote time, but some must be requested specifically prior to getting the savings. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

Defensive Driver – Completing a driver safety course can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
Theft Prevention Discount – Anti-theft and alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Life Insurance Discount – Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Accident Waiver – Certain companies permit an accident without raising rates as long as you don’t have any claims for a certain period of time.
Good Student – This discount can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last until age 25.
Seat Belts Save – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who don’t get into accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less than drivers with accidents.

Drivers should understand that many deductions do not apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. Just because you may think you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won’t be that lucky. But all discounts will cut your overall premium however.

What if I want to buy from a local Lafayette agent?

Some consumers would prefer to buy from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Educated insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help file insurance claims. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is you can get better rates but still work with a licensed agent. And supporting local agencies is important particularly in Lafayette.

By using this short form, the coverage information is emailed to companies in Lafayette who will compete to get your business. You never need to drive around as quotes are delivered immediately to your email address. How’s that for easy!

Insurance agent types

When finding an insurance agent, you must know there are a couple different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agencies in Lafayette are categorized either independent (non-captive) or captive. While both can do a good job, but it’s important to know how they differ since it can impact buying decisions.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

These agents are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage with any number of different companies depending on which coverage is best. To transfer your coverage to a different company, your agent can switch companies and you won’t have to switch agencies. When searching for an agent, you should always contact several independent insurance agents for maximum quote selection. car insurance image

Shown below is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Lafayette that may be able to provide price quote information.

United Insurance Group – 3639 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy – Lafayette, LA 70503 – (337) 984-2313
Herman Venable Insurance Inc – 1027 Johnston St – Lafayette, LA 70501 – (337) 235-3000
Direct General Ins Agency – 2037 NW Evangeline Trwy – Lafayette, LA 70501 – (337) 235-5838
Yeoman’s Agency – 1800 W Pinhook Rd – Lafayette, LA 70508 – (337) 234-3509
Direct General Ins Agency – 2014 Johnston St – Lafayette, LA 70503 – (337) 269-0600

Agency Captives

This type of agents write business for a single company such as Allstate, AAA, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. These agents are unable to shop your coverage around so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captives are trained well on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage.

Shown below are captive insurance agents in Lafayette who can help you get price quote information.

State Farm Insurance – 4414 Johnston St # A – Lafayette, LA 70503 – (337) 984-2990
Shelter Insurance – 2727 Kaliste Saloom Rd # 500 – Lafayette, LA 70508 – (337) 988-3565
Farmers Insurance Group – 103 Songbird Ln – Lafayette, LA 70506 – (337) 989-2335
Allstate Insurance – 4490 Moss St # C – Lafayette, LA 70507 – (337) 237-9566
Farm Bureau Insurance – 3112 W Pinhook Rd # B – Lafayette, LA 70508 – (337) 234-9994

To view a full list of auto insurance agents in Lafayette, visit this link.

Deciding on an insurance agency shouldn’t rely on just the price. Any agent should have no problem answering these questions:

Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
Do they make recommendations based only on price?
Can glass repairs be made at your home?
If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?

Upon getting positive feedback to your questions as well as a affordable price, it’s possible that you found an insurance agent that meets your needs to properly insure your vehicles.

Informed Drivers can Cut Their Rates

It’s important that you understand some of the elements that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

High numbers of claims are not good – Companies in Louisiana provide discounts to people who file claims infrequently. If you frequently file small claims, you can pretty much guarantee either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for larger claims.
How credit affects auto insurance rates – Credit score is a big factor in your rate calculation. If your credit is lower than you’d like, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your credit score. Drivers who have good credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have poor credit.
Your location affects your rates – Choosing to live in a rural area is a positive aspect when insuring your vehicles. Fewer people means a lower chance of having an accident and a lower car theft rate. Drivers in populated Louisiana areas regularly have more traffic problems and much longer commute distances. Higher commute times means more change of being in an accident.
Pay less after the wedding – Having a spouse helps lower the price on auto insurance. It translates into being more mature than a single person it has been statistically shown that married couples file fewer claims.
Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance – Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles reduce injuries and lower injury rates translates into savings for insurance companies and thus lower rates.
Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? – Some insurance companies will award you with lower prices to customers who have multiple policies with them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to 10 percent or more. Even if you’re getting this discount it’s in your best interest to compare rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. Drivers may still find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
More miles equals more premium – The more you drive every year the higher your rates will be. Most companies rate vehicles based on their usage. Autos used primarily for pleasure use can get a lower rate as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Double check that your auto insurance policy properly reflects the correct driver usage, because it can save money.

Don’t believe everything you hear

Consumers can’t get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like State Farm and Allstate. They all make the same claim about savings if you change to them.

How do they all make the same claim? This is how they do it.

Different companies can use profiling for the driver that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer might be profiled as a mature driver, a clean driving record, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any new insured who fits that profile receives the best rates and as a result will probably pay quite a bit less when switching companies.

Consumers who don’t qualify for the “perfect” profile will have to pay higher prices which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say “drivers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much money. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings.

Because of the profiling, you need to quote coverage with many companies. It’s impossible to know which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Online plus local equals savings

When buying insurance coverage, it’s very important that you do not buy less coverage just to save a little money. In many cases, an insured cut physical damage coverage and learned later they didn’t have enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford.

Lower-priced auto insurance can be bought both online as well as from independent agents in Lafayette, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some auto insurance companies don’t offer online price quotes and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

More Louisiana auto insurance resources

More information can be read on the website for the Louisiana Department of Insurance located here. Louisiana drivers can read consumer alerts, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and file complaints about a company.

Additional helpful sites include this site for auto insurance rates in Louisiana and this page of Lafayette insurance agents.