Ultimate Strategies for Cheap Erie Auto Insurance

I can’t think of a single person who enjoys paying for auto insurance, in particular when they are paying too much.

You have so many car insurance companies to purchase coverage from, and even though it’s nice to be able to choose, so many choices can make it hard to find the best rates.

You should take the time to check auto insurance prices occasionally due to the fact that insurance rates are variable and change quite frequently. Just because you had the best rates six months ago you may be paying too much now. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to how to use the internet to find the best coverage while lowering your premiums.

Buying car insurance in Erie is easy if you know what you’re doing. Basically, every driver who buys auto insurance should be able to reduce their rates. But Pennsylvania car owners need to have an understanding of how big insurance companies determine prices and apply this information to your search.

Cheap Erie Auto Insurance Comparisons

All major auto insurance companies provide price estimates directly from their websites. The process is fairly straightforward as you just enter the amount of coverage you want into a form. After you complete the form, the company’s rating system requests credit information and your driving record and provides a quote based on these factors. Online quotes simplifies rate comparisons, but the time it takes to visit a lot of sites and type in the same information is not the best way to spend an afternoon. Unfortunately, it is important to compare as many rates as possible if you are searching for better prices.

Compare rates the easy way

A more efficient way to get multiple rate quotes requires only one form to obtain quotes from several different companies. The form is fast, helps eliminate reptitive entry, and makes comparison shopping a lot less work. Once the form is submitted, your coverage is rated with multiple companies and you can pick any one of the quotes returned. If a lower price is quoted, you can simply submit the application and buy the policy. This process only takes a few minutes and you will find out if you’re overpaying now.

If you want to get comparison pricing now, click here and submit your coverage information. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you complete the form with the limits and deductibles as close as possible to your current policy. This helps ensure you will get a rate comparison for similar insurance coverage.

Don’t miss these discounts

Auto insurance companies do not list every discount very well, so the following is a list of both the well known as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using.

New Car Discount – Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
College Student – Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home and don’t have a car may be able to be covered for less.
Sign Online – A handful of insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying your policy online.
Military Rewards – Being on active duty in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
Discount for Life Insurance – Some companies give a break if you buy life insurance.
Payment Discounts – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time rather than paying monthly you could save 5% or more.
Driver Safety – Taking a course teaching defensive driving skills could save 5% or more if you qualify.

It’s important to note that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. Just because you may think you could get a free auto insurance policy, you won’t be that lucky. save money in Erie PA

What happened to insurance agents?

Some consumers would prefer to buy from a licensed agent and that is a personal choice. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find lower rates and still choose a local agent.

Upon completion of this simple form, the quote information is immediately sent to participating agents in Erie who will compete for your coverage. You won’t need to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent to your email. How’s that for easy! Get lower rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.

Choosing an insurance company should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. Some important questions to ask are:

Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
Are they able to influence company decisions when a claim is filed?
Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?

Captive or Independent: There is a difference

When searching for local Erie agents, you need to know there are two types of agencies that you can select. Erie agents can either be independent or captive.

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive insurance agents have only one company to place business with and some examples include State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. They usually cannot provide prices from multiple companies so always compare other rates. Captive agencies are usually quite knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents.

The following are captive agencies in Erie who can help you get comparison quotes.

State Farm Insurance – 2712 Parade St – Erie, PA 16504 – (814) 452-4609
Allstate Insurance – 4108 Main St – Erie, PA 16511 – (814) 897-1442

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agents are not required to write business for one company but instead can place your coverage amongst many companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your agent finds better pricing, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent. When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to include price quotes from at least one independent agent to ensure the widest selection of prices.

Listed below are independent insurance agents in Erie who can help you get price quotes.

Tom Allen Agency – 4108 Main St – Erie, PA 16511 – (814) 897-0111
Northcoast Brokerage Agency – 1600 Peninsula Dr # A – Erie, PA 16505 – (814) 835-4811
David Cronk Insurance – 2930 Peach St – Erie, PA 16508 – (814) 456-7501
Historic Square Agency – 3731 W 26th St – Erie, PA 16506 – (814) 835-3743
Lake Erie Insurance Svc – 1600 Peninsula Dr # E – Erie, PA 16505 – (814) 838-7555

To view a complete directory of licensed insurance agents in Erie, visit this site.

Upon getting answers to your satisfaction to your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, most likely you have located an auto insurance agent that is a good match to provide auto insurance coverage.

Situations that might require an agent

When it comes to choosing adequate coverage, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s needs are different so your insurance needs to address that. For instance, these questions might help in determining if you will benefit from professional help.

What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
Do I qualify for additional discounts?
When would I need rental car insurance?
Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?

If you can’t answer these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Why you might pay higher rates in Erie

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that go into determining auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that can help you get big savings.

Lower rates with optional equipment – Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart auto theft.
Do men or women drive better? – Statistics have proven that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, don’t assume that men are worse drivers. Both sexes cause accidents in similar numbers, but the male of the species cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also tend to get more serious tickets like DUI and reckless driving.
Protect your assets with liability insurance – Your policy’s liability coverage is the protection if ever you are found to be at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. This coverage is very inexpensive as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not cut corners here.
Pleasure use saves money – The more you drive each year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Most companies apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy is showing the correct driver usage.
Policy add-ons can waste money – There are a lot of additional coverages that you can buy if you aren’t careful. Coverages for rental car reimbursement, towing coverage and term life insurance are examples of these. They may seem good at first, but if they’re wasting money eliminate them to save money.
A clean driving record saves money – Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Just one citation can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Careful drivers receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to file a SR-22 with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.

Summing up your auto insurance search

When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, someone sacrificed uninsured motorist or liability limits to discover at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your goal should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Throughout this article, we presented many tips how you can get a better price on auto insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from some of the smallest insurance companies. Regional companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm and Allstate.

Pennsylvania insurance information

Even more information can be found at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department website. Pennsylvania consumers can learn about insurance regulations, read industry bulletins, read state legal mandates and laws, and find a variety of consumer forms.