Seattle Auto Insurance For Less Than You’re Paying Now

Comparing Seattle auto insurance rates online can seem complicated if you are a beginner to online quotes. But relax because comparing prices is actually very simple.

Finding the best rates in Seattle is not rocket science. If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. Washington consumers just need to understand the proper way to shop over the internet.

You have some control over your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

The list below includes a few of the “ingredients” used by your company to calculate premiums.

  • Protect your assets with liability insurance – Liability insurance will protect you when a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. Liability provides you with a defense in court starting from day one. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • Safer cars are cheaper to insure – Cars with high safety ratings get lower rates. These vehicles result in less severe injuries and fewer injuries means lower claim amounts and lower rates for you.
  • Multi-policy discounts can save money – Most companies provide better rates to insureds who consolidate policies with them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can be anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. If you currently are using one company, you may still want to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money.
  • Don’t cancel a policy without a new one in place – Letting your insurance expire is a quick way to increase your auto insurance rates. And not only will insurance be more expensive, failure to provide proof of insurance can result in a revoked license or a big fine.Then you may be required to file a SR-22 with the Washington motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
  • Better credit means lower rates – Credit score is a important factor in determining your rates. Therefore, if your credit is lower than you’d like, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your rating. Drivers who have high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have poor credit.

Lots of discounts mean lots of savings

Companies offering auto insurance do not advertise every discount in an easy-to-find place, so we researched both the well known and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Organization Discounts – Being a member of certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break on auto insurance.
  • Drive Less and Save – Low mileage vehicles could be rewarded with discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
  • Federal Employees – Simply working for the federal government could cut as much as 10% off depending on your company.
  • Multiple Vehicles – Buying insurance for multiple vehicles on the same auto insurance policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Defensive Driving Course – Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could save 5% or more if you qualify.
  • Distant Student – Youth drivers living away from home attending college and do not have a car can receive lower rates.
  • Life Insurance – Select insurance companies reward you with lower rates if you buy life insurance.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. A few only apply to individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So despite the fact that it appears you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.

To choose insurers offering auto insurance discounts in Washington, click here to view.

Neighborhood agents for auto insurance

Some consumers would rather visit with an insurance agent and that is OK! Good agents can point out coverage gaps and help you file claims. The biggest benefit of price shopping on the web is you may find better rates but also keep your business local.

To help locate an agent, after submitting this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is emailed to local insurance agents who will compete for your coverage. There is no need to visit any agencies due to the fact that quote results will go to your email. It doesn’t get any easier!Washington insurance quotes

Choosing an insurance company needs to be determined by more than just the price. Agents should be asked these questions:

  • How are they compensated?
  • Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
  • Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
  • Is working in the agency their full-time job?
  • How long have they worked with personal auto insurance coverage?
  • Are glass claims handled on-site or do you have to take your vehicle to a repair shop?
  • Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
  • Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?

Two types of insurance agencies

When looking for a local agent, there are a couple of types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agencies in Seattle are classified as either captive or independent. Both write coverage properly, but it’s worth learning the difference between them since it may influence your agent selection.

Captive Insurance Agents

These agents are contracted to one company like Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. They are unable to provide prices from multiple companies so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captives receive extensive training in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage. Some people will only buy from captive agents partially due to loyalty to the company and strong financial ratings.

Listed below is a list of captive agents in Seattle that can give you comparison quotes.

  • American Family Life Assurance – 11550 6th Pl NE – Seattle, WA 98125 – (206) 364-2554
  • Allstate Insurance Companies – 13540 Lake City Way NE # 7 – Seattle, WA 98125 – (206) 364-1149
  • Farmers Insurance Group – 8320 5th Ave NE # C – Seattle, WA 98115 – (206) 523-9316
Independent Agents

Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company but rather can write business amongst many companies depending on which coverage is best. If you are not satisfied with one company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you won’t have to switch agencies. When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to include several independent insurance agents to get the best comparison. They often place coverage with smaller regional carriers which can save you money.

Shown below are Seattle independent insurance agencies that can give you price quote information.

  • Greenwood Agency – 8314 Greenwood Ave N – Seattle, WA 98103 – (206) 783-4237
  • Allied Insurance – – Seattle, WA 98188 – (206) 243-5694
  • Fry-Clement Agency Inc – – Seattle, WA 98104 – (206) 236-0212
  • Ellison Agency Inc – 13751 Lake City Way NE # 206 – Seattle, WA 98125 – (206) 528-0992
  • American Insurance Managers – 2101 4th Ave – Seattle, WA 98121 – (206) 441-0268

For a complete listing of auto insurance agents in Seattle, please view this page.

Once you have satisfactory answers to all your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, it’s possible that you found a car insurance agent that meets your needs to properly insure your vehicles.

More information about auto insurance

More detailed Washington auto insurance information is available at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website. Washington drivers can find a variety of consumer forms, find out which companies have the most complaints, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and view a list of available companies.

Washington insurance quotes

Also read more on this resource for Washington auto insurance prices and this link where you can get more info about Seattle auto insurance.

Affordable insurance is out there

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, you should never buy poor coverage just to save money. There are many occasions where an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits to discover at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your goal should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.

Insureds switch companies for many reasons like delays in paying claims, being labeled a high risk driver, policy cancellation and an unsatisfactory settlement offer. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a new company is easier than you think.

We covered many ways to lower your auto insurance rates. It’s most important to understand that the more you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even find the most savings is with the least-expected company.