Learn How to Compare Butler, PA Car Insurance Like an Expert

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy high-priced car insurance? Believe me, you are not the only one feeling buyer’s remorse. Because you have many insurance providers from which to choose, it can be challenging to find the lowest price car insurance company.

Consumers need to compare rates before your policy renews because rates change frequently. Despite the fact that you may have had the best deal six months ago you can probably find a lower rate today. So just forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in the best way to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

The purpose of this article is to introduce you to the most effective way to quote insurance and some tips to save money. If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using these methods. Pennsylvania consumers only need an understanding of the most effective way to buy car insurance on the web.

Don’t miss these discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but there are discounts available to cut the cost considerably. Some discounts apply automatically when you purchase, but a few need to be manually applied prior to getting the savings. If you aren’t receiving every discount possible, you are throwing money away.

• Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more.
• Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts of 20% or more.
• Paperwork-free – A handful of insurance companies will give a small break for buying your policy on their website.
• Drivers Education – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
• Early Signing – A few companies offer discounts for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.

As a disclaimer on discounts, many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don’t profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down your overall premium however.

For a list of providers who offer car insurance discounts in Pennsylvania, click here to view.

Compare Butler Car Insurance Costs

Most major insurance companies like State Farm, GEICO and Progressive allow you to get price estimates on their websites. Getting online quotes doesn’t take much effort as you just type in your coverage information as detailed in the form. Once you submit the form, their rating system gets your driving record and credit report and returns a price quote. Being able to quote online streamlines rate comparisons, but the time required to go to multiple sites and type in the same information can be a bit tiresome and repetitive. Unfortunately, it is important to get many rate quotes in order to get lower prices.

An easier way to lower your rates is to use a quote form to return rates from many companies. It saves time, helps eliminate reptitive entry, and makes online shopping much more enjoyable and efficient. As soon as you send your information, it is quoted and you can choose any or none of the returned quotes.

If a lower price is quoted, you can click and sign and purchase the new policy. It takes 15 minutes at the most and could lower your rates considerably.

To save time and find out how much you can save on car insurance, click here to open in new window and submit the form. If you have your current policy handy, we recommend you enter the limits and deductibles as shown on your current policy. Doing this assures you will have a price comparison for exact coverage.

How insurance companies determine rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that help determine your car insurance rates. Knowing what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that could result in lower car insurance prices.

The following are some of the items car insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

• Too many car insurance claims drive up costs – Auto insurance companies in Pennsylvania award discounts to policyholders who are claim-free. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can pretty much guarantee either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for larger claims.
• Type of vehicle determines base rates – The make and model of the vehicle you drive makes a substantial difference in the rate you pay. The lowest base rates tend to be for small economy passenger cars, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
• Drive less and save money – The more miles you rack up on your car in a year the higher your rates will be. Most companies charge to insure your cars based on their usage. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting receive lower rates than those used for commuting. Ask your agent if your car insurance policy is rated on how each vehicle is driven, because improper ratings can cost you money.
• Your stress level may be raising your rates – Did you know your car insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Occupations such as doctors, social workers and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates due to job stress and lengthy work days. Conversely, professions such as scientists, engineers and performers receive lower rates.

When might I need help?

When it comes to buying the best car insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Everyone’s situation is unique so this has to be addressed. These are some specific questions might point out whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.

• What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
• Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
• Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
• When would I need rental car insurance?
• Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
• Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
• Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
• At what point should I drop full coverage?
• Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
• Will my rates increase for filing one claim?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking 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, doesn’t cost anything and you can get the answers you need.

Don’t be fooled by advertising claims

Consumers in Pennsylvania get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance by State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all make an identical promise that you can save if you move to their company.

How do they all claim to save you money?

Different companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer they prefer to insure. For example, a driver they prefer might be profiled as between 25 and 40, is a homeowner, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A driver that hits that “sweet spot” will get very good rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who do not match these standards must pay higher prices which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say “drivers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much. This is how companies can make the claims of big savings.

This illustrates why you absolutely need to get quotes from several different companies. Because you never know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

One last thing about your coverage

As you prepare to switch companies, never sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are too many instances where an insured dropped liability limits or collision coverage and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Cheap car insurance is possible from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Butler, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some car insurance companies don’t offer online price quotes and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.

In this article, we presented a lot of tips how to lower your car insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more price quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest priced car insurance comes from the least-expected company. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as Progressive or GEICO.

For more Pennsylvania car insurance information

Additional car insurance information is located on the website for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department through this link. Consumers can download brochures, view a list of available companies, and read consumer alerts.