Learn How to Quote Blacksburg, VA Auto Insurance Like an Expert

Tired of being strong-armed to pay your car insurance bill each month? You are in the same boat as many other Virginia consumers.

Since consumers have many different company options, it’s nearly impossible to locate the cheapest car insurance company.

It is always a good idea to take a look at other company’s rates periodically because insurance rates tend to go up over time. Even if you think you had the best price on your last policy you can probably find a lower rate today. So just ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you’re going to learn the quickest way to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

Locating the lowest cost auto insurance in Blacksburg is simple if you know the tricks. Essentially every vehicle owner who is required by state law to have auto insurance most likely will be able to find better rates. But Virginia vehicle owners must comprehend how insurance companies market on the web because it can help you find the best coverage.

Take advantage of discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but you can get discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be applied when you quote, but a few must be asked about before you will receive the discount.

E-sign – A handful of insurance companies will give a small break for buying your policy over the internet.
Drivers Education – Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll in driver’s education in high school.
Passive Restraints – Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of 20% or more.
Bundle and Save – When you have multiple policies with one company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
Discounts for Safe Drivers – Safe drivers may save up to 50% more than drivers with accidents.
Life Insurance – Larger companies have better rates if you take out a life insurance policy as well.
Anti-theft Discount – Anti-theft and alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
Driver Safety – Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could cut 5% off your bill and easily recoup the cost of the course.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it just doesn’t work that way. But any discount will bring down your overall premium however.

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

Tips to Get Lower Blacksburg Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

Performance level impacts rates – The make and model of the vehicle you own makes a significant difference in the rate you pay. Economy passenger cars receive the most favorable rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
Keep rates low by being claim-free – If you tend to file frequent claims, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Auto insurance companies in Virginia generally give cheaper rates to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Car insurance is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation – Careers like judges, architects and dentists are shown to have the highest average rates due to stressful work requirements and long work days. Other occupations such as scientists, historians and the unemployed pay the least.
Proper usage rating affects rates – The higher the mileage driven in a year’s time the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most companies charge to insure your cars based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Ask your agent if your auto insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the correct usage for each vehicle.
Extra coverages can waste money – There are a ton of extra bells and whistles that you can get tricked into buying if you aren’t careful. Things like rental car reimbursement, accidental death and membership fees may be wasting your money. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but your needs may have changed so remove them from your policy.
High crash test scores lower rates – Vehicles with good safety scores can get you lower premiums. Safe vehicles result in less severe injuries and fewer injuries means lower claim amounts and lower rates for you.
Special features that cut premiums – Purchasing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention devices like GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all aid in stopping auto theft.
Don’t cancel a policy without a new one in place – Allowing your auto insurance policy to lapse is a fast way to pay more for auto insurance. Not only will rates go up, but not being able to provide proof of insurance can result in a revoked license or a big fine.

Quote online but still have a local agent

Some consumers would rather talk to a local agent and that is OK! The best thing about comparing rates online is you may find the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. Supporting local businesses is important especially in Blacksburg.

To make it easy to find an agent, after completing this short form, your coverage information is submitted to local insurance agents in Blacksburg who will battle for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to drive around as quotes are delivered to your email. How’s that for easy! You can find better rates AND a local agent. auto insurance image

Not all auto insurance agents are the same

When searching for a local agent, you must know there are a couple different types of agents to choose from. Blacksburg agents are classified as either independent (non-captive) or captive.

Independent Agents

These agents are not employed by any specific company so they can insure your vehicles with any number of different companies and potentially find a lower price. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you won’t have to switch agencies.

When comparison shopping, it’s a good idea to get quotes from several independent insurance agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.

The following are Blacksburg independent agencies that can give you comparison quotes.

Charles Tilson Insurance – 111 E Roanoke St – Blacksburg, VA 24060 – (540) 552-0841
L L Brown Agency Inc – 100 Hubbard St # A – Blacksburg, VA 24060 – (540) 552-5331
Kent H Dodge Insurance Broker – 506 S Main St – Blacksburg, VA 24060 – (540) 961-0403

Agency Captives

This type of agents have only one company to place business with and examples are AAA, Allstate and State Farm. Captives cannot provide prices from multiple companies so it’s a take it or leave it situation. These agents are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products which can be an advantage.

Listed below are Blacksburg captive agencies willing to provide price quote information.

Allstate Insurance – 2001 S Main St # 104 – Blacksburg, VA 24060 – (540) 953-2722

To view a complete directory of Blacksburg captive insurance agents, visit this site.

Picking a car insurance agent requires more thought than just a low price. Agents should be asked these questions:

Will your rates increase after a single accident?
What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
How long has their agency been open in Blacksburg?
If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
Are they full-time agents?
Do they make recommendations based only on price?
Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?

Upon getting positive responses to all your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, it’s possible that you found an auto insurance agent that will service your policy.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

GEICO, State Farm and Progressive consistently run ads on TV and radio. All the companies have a common claim about savings if you change to their company. How does each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

All companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that is profitable for them. An example of a profitable customer might be profiled as a mature driver, is a homeowner, and has a short commute. A driver who matches those parameters will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save quite a bit of money when switching.

Drivers who do not match these standards will be charged higher prices and ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that kind of money. That’s the way companies can make those claims.

That is why you should get quotes from several different companies. It’s not possible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

For more Virginia auto insurance information

More information is located on the website for the Virginia Bureau of Insurance through this link. Visitors are able to find a variety of consumer forms, read industry bulletins, and learn about insurance regulations.

Smart consumers save more

Cheap auto insurance can be found online and also from your neighborhood Blacksburg agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. A few companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don’t buy less coverage just to save a little money. Too many times, drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford.