Never Shop For Bristol Virginia Auto Insurance Without Knowing These Money Saving Methods

Searching for low-cost Bristol auto insurance on the web can seem to be difficult for people who are new to comparing rates online. When there are so many insurance companies available, how can Bristol drivers effectively compare the different rates to find the lowest price available?

Finding Auto Insurance in Bristol, Virginia

Shopping for lower auto insurance rates is a ton of work if you aren’t aware of the most efficient way. You could waste time talking about coverages with agents in Bristol, or you can utilize the web to maximize your effort.

Many popular insurance companies enroll in a system that enables customers to enter their coverage request one time, and at least one company can provide price quotes based on the submitted data. This saves time by eliminating quote forms to each company. To use this form to compare rates click here to open in new window.

The only drawback to pricing coverage this way is that consumers can’t choose which providers you want to price. If you prefer to choose individual companies to compare, we put together a list of the cheapest auto insurance companies in Virginia. View list of Virginia insurance companies.

It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just be sure to compare the exact same quote information on every quote you get. If you enter different deductibles it will be next to impossible to decipher which rate is best in Bristol.

Do you qualify for a discount?

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not even be aware of. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time of purchase, but some must be inquired about in order for you to get them. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

Life Insurance Discount – Companies who offer life insurance give a break if you buy auto and life insurance together.
No Claims – Claim-free drivers pay much less when compared with drivers who are more careless.
Drivers Ed for Students – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
Anti-theft Discount – Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Lower Rates for Military – Having a deployed family member can result in better rates.
Good Student – This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.
More Vehicles More Savings – Buying insurance for multiple cars or trucks with the same company could earn a price break for each car.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn’t work that way. But all discounts will bring down your overall premium however.

To choose providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Virginia, click this link. save money in Bristol VA

Tips to Get Lower Bristol Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

Where you live is a factor – Choosing to live in a rural area is a positive aspect when it comes to auto insurance. Fewer people translates into fewer accidents. Drivers in populated Virginia areas have to deal with more traffic problems and longer commute times. More time on the road can result in more accidents.
Performance level impacts rates – The performance of the vehicle you are buying insurance for makes a big difference in how high your rates are. The lowest rates tend to be for lower performance four cylinder passenger vehicles, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
Equipment add-ons that lower auto insurance rates – Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention devices such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder auto theft.
Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? – The majority of companies give discounts to policyholders who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you’re getting this discount it’s still a good idea to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money.
Traffic violations increase rates – Your driving citation history has a huge affect on how much you pay. Drivers with clean records tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Just one speeding ticket may increase your cost forty percent or more. Drivers who have serious citations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
Your stress level may be raising your rates – Occupations such as doctors, executives and dentists tend to have the highest average rates in part from job stress and long work days. Other professions such as pilots, historians and retirees receive lower rates.
Women pay lower rates – Statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, don’t assume that men are worse drivers. They both have accidents in similar percentages, but the men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also statistically have more aggressive citations such as DWI and reckless driving.
Claim-free discounts can add up – Auto insurance companies in Virginia give cheaper rates to policyholders who file claims infrequently. If you frequently file small claims, you can expect higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

Consumers can’t get away from ads for car insurance savings from companies such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the ads make an identical promise of big savings if you switch your policy.

How can each company make the same claim? This is how they do it.

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that is profitable for them. An example of a preferred risk might be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no prior claims, and has a high credit rating. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential insureds who do not match these standards must pay higher prices which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much money. That’s why insurance companies can state the savings.

This illustrates why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It’s just too difficult to predict which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates.

Buy online or local, you save

When trying to cut insurance costs, do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits and found out when filing a claim that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your goal should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Affordable auto insurance can be found from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Bristol agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

Drivers who switch companies do it for many reasons like lack of trust in their agent, not issuing a premium refund, extreme rates for teen drivers or denial of a claim. Regardless of your reason, switching auto insurance companies can be pretty painless.

Additional resources for Virginia consumers

Additional auto insurance information can be read on the Virginia Bureau of Insurance website through this link. Virginia consumers can find out industry alerts, view a list of available companies, read state legal mandates and laws, and read industry bulletins.

The following articles may also be useful.