Insider Techniques to Lower Bremerton, WA Auto Insurance

Have you fallen victim to overpriced auto insurance? Trust us when we tell you there are lots of people in the same boat. Companies like GEICO and Progressive increase brand awareness with TV and radio ads and it is challenging if not impossible to ignore the propoganda and find the best price available.

You need to compare rates yearly due to the fact that insurance rates change quite often. Just because you had the lowest rates a couple years back there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because I’m going to teach you the best methods to find lower rates on auto insurance.

If you are insured now or need a new policy, you can use these techniques to reduce the price you pay while maintaining coverages. Buying car insurance in Bremerton is not rocket science. Washington drivers only need to know the proper way to find the lowest price online.

Why you might pay higher rates in Bremerton

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that play a part in calculating your auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices.

• Adjust deductibles and save – Physical damage deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before your auto insurance pays a claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered would be colliding with a building, damage from fire, or theft. The more expense the insured has to pay upfront, the bigger discount you will receive.
• Battle of the sexes – Statistics have proven women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are better drivers. They both cause accidents at a similar rate, but the men have costlier accidents. Men also statistically get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving. Young males are most likely to cause an accident and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
• Multi-policy discounts can save money – Many companies will award you with lower prices to people who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can add up to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even though this discount sounds good, you may still want to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal.
• Extra add-on coverages are wasting money – There are many extra coverages that can waste your money on your policy. Coverages for rental car reimbursement, accident forgiveness and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. These coverages may sound good at first, but now you might not need them so eliminate them to save money.
• Never allow your policy to lapse – Driving your car without having proper coverage is illegal and as a result your rates will increase for letting your coverage lapse. Not only will rates go up, getting caught without coverage will get you a steep fine or even jail time.
• Lower rates come with age – Young drivers in Washington tend to be less responsible behind the wheel so auto insurance rates are higher. If you’ve ever had to add a youthful driver onto a policy can really hurt. Older drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations.
• What type of vehicle do you drive? – The performance level of the car you are buying insurance for makes a huge difference in how high your rates are. Economy passenger models usually have the lowest rates, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
• Clean credit earns discounts – Your credit rating is a large factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers with lower credit scores. So if your credit history can use some improvement, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your credit score.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies offering auto insurance don’t necessarily list every available discount in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list some of the best known as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

• Defensive Driver – Completing a driver safety course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
• Club Memberships – Belonging to a qualifying organization may earn a discount on auto insurance.
• Anti-theft System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
• Sign Early and Save – Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching to them prior to your current policy expiring. It can save you around 10%.
• Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags can receive discounts up to 30%.
• Seat Belt Usage – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
• No Accidents – Good drivers with no accidents pay much less as compared to bad drivers.
• Homeowners Pay Less – Owning a home in Bremerton may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because of the fact that having a home demonstrates responsibility.

As a disclaimer on discounts, many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, you won’t be that lucky.

For a list of insurers offering auto insurance discounts in Bremerton, click here to view.

Advertising myths

Washington consumers can’t get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like State Farm and Allstate. All the companies have a common claim that you’ll save big after switching to them.

How do they all make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

All the different companies can use profiling for the driver that is profitable for them. A good example of a preferred risk might be profiled as between 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has excellent credit. A propective insured that hits that “sweet spot” will get very good rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who don’t qualify for the requirements will be quoted more money which leads to business going elsewhere. The ads state “customers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much money. That’s why companies can advertise the savings. This emphasizes why drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. Because you never know which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates.

Tailor your coverage to you

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a one size fits all plan. Every situation is different so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions can aid in determining whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.

• Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
• Do I need PIP coverage since I have good health insurance?
• Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
• Does my policy pay for OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
• Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
• Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Additional detailed information is located at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website. Consumers can view agent and company licensing information, download brochures, find a variety of consumer forms, and read state legal mandates and laws.

Additional helpful sites include QuoteClickInsure.com and this link which helps you find a Bremerton agent.

One last thing about your coverage

Throughout this article, we presented many ideas to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may even discover the most savings is with some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive or GEICO.

When you buy insurance online, it’s very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. Too many times, drivers have reduced collision coverage only to regret they didn’t have enough coverage. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.