Learn How to Lower Your Premiums for Spokane Valley Washington Auto Insurance

No one cherishes buying auto insurance, especially when the price is too high. Online insurance companies like Allstate, Progressive and GEICO continually hit you with catchy ads and it can be hard to ignore the propoganda and take the time to shop coverage around.

It’s a great practice to price shop coverage once or twice a year since insurance rates change regularly. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price on your last policy you may be paying too much now. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you’re about to learn one of the best ways to buy cheaper auto insurance.

Do you qualify for discounts?

Car insurance companies don’t list all their discounts very clearly, so we break down some of the more common and the more hidden auto insurance savings. If you’re not getting every credit available, you are throwing money away.

  • Theft Prevention Discount – Anti-theft and alarm systems can help prevent theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • Drivers Education – Require your teen driver to complete a driver education course if it’s offered in school.
  • One Accident Forgiven – A few companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don’t have any claims prior to the accident.
  • Multiple Vehicles – Insuring multiple vehicles on the same auto insurance policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • Own a Home – Owning a house in Spokane Valley may earn you a small savings because maintaining a house requires personal responsibility.
  • Drive Less and Save – Driving fewer miles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
  • Early Signing – A few companies offer discounts for buying a policy before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
  • Life Insurance – Larger companies have lower rates if you buy auto and life insurance together.
  • Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could cut 10% or more off the personal injury premium cost.

Keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like all those discounts means the company will pay you, companies wouldn’t make money that way.

To choose companies offering auto insurance discounts in Washington, click here.

Comparison of Auto Insurance in Spokane Valley, WA

Getting a lower price on insurance isn’t really that difficult. You just have to invest a little time comparing rates online from several insurance companies. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

  • Probably the best way consumers can make multiple comparisons is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This easy form saves time by eliminating separate quotes for each company. One form will return price quotes .
  • A more time consuming way to compare prices is going to the website for every company you want to comare and request a quote. For sake of this example, we’ll pretend you want comparison quotes from State Farm, Liberty Mutual and American Family. To find out each rate you need to visit each site to enter your coverage information, and that’s why the first method is more popular.

    For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Spokane Valley, click here.

  • The hardest way to get comparison rates is to drive around to different agent offices. Buying insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you have a need for the trained guidance of a licensed agent. Drivers can find lower rates online and get advice from an agent in your area and we’ll talk about that later.

Whichever method you choose, make darn sure you compare exactly the same coverages and limits for every company. If your comparisons have different values for each quote you can’t possibly determine the lowest rate in Spokane Valley.

What impacts Spokane Valley insurance rates?

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that go into determining your auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates enables informed choices that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Car features impact rates – Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft features like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM’s OnStar system can thwart your car from being stolen.
  • Don’t skimp on liability – Your policy’s liability coverage will protect you if a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides for a legal defense starting from day one. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • Small claims can cost you – If you frequently file small claims, you can look forward to either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Auto insurance companies in Washington generally give lower rates to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Your insurance policy is intended for larger claims.
  • How’s your driving record? – Good drivers get better rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Even one ticket can increase rates twenty percent or more. Drivers who get severe violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to submit a SR-22 form with their state motor vehicle department in order to drive a vehicle legally.
  • Your stress level may be raising your rates – Careers like lawyers, executives and accountants tend to pay higher rates than average because of job stress and lengthy work days. On the flip side, occupations such as actors, athletes and retirees have the lowest average rates.
  • Performance level impacts rates – The make and model of the vehicle you are insuring makes a substantial difference in the rate you pay. The lowest rates are for small economy passenger models, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
  • More than one policy can earn a discount – The majority of auto insurance companies give discounts to insureds who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, you still need to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money.
  • Pleasure use saves money – The more you drive in a year the higher your rates will be. The majority of insurers apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Autos left parked in the garage can get a lower rate than those used for commuting. Make sure your auto insurance policy is rated on the correct driver usage, because it can save money.

Is my situation unique?

When it comes to choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions can help discover if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.

  • What are the best liability limits?
  • Is my vehicle covered for smoke damage?
  • What can I do if my company denied a claim?
  • Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
  • Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
  • Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
  • Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in Spokane Valley?
  • Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
  • How much underlying liability do I need for an umbrella policy?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, free and may give you better protection.compare rates in Spokane Valley Washington

Your local neighborhood insurance agent

A small number of people just want to sit down with an agent. Professional agents can answer important questions and give you peace of mind. The best thing about price shopping on the web is you can get better rates and still choose a local agent.

After completing this simple form, the coverage information is immediately sent to companies in Spokane Valley who will return price quotes for your business. You won’t need to drive around since price quotes are sent immediately to your email address. How’s that for easy!

Deciding on an insurance company should depend on more than just the premium amount. Agents should be asked these questions:

  • Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
  • If you have an accident, are you able to get your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice?
  • What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
  • What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
  • How long has their agency been in business in Spokane Valley?

The different types of insurance agents

When looking for a local agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures that you can select. Agencies in Spokane Valley can either be captive or independent. Both types can insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning how they are different because it can impact the type of agent you choose

Captive Agents

Captive agencies are contracted to one company and examples are State Farm, AAA and Liberty Mutual. These agents are not able to compare other company’s rates so always compare other rates. Captive agents are trained well in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage.

The following are captive agents in Spokane Valley who may provide you with price quotes.

Allstate Insurance – 502 S Sullivan Rd # 102 – Spokane Valley, WA 99037 – (509) 926-1777
State Farm Insurance – 101 N Argonne Rd # G – Spokane Valley, WA 99212 – (509) 928-5626
Liberty Mutual Insurance – 11707 E Sprague Ave # 104 – Spokane Valley, WA 99206 – (509) 927-4655
Farmers Insurance Group – 12213 E Broadway Ave – Spokane Valley, WA 99206 – (509) 924-9100

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent insurance agents are not required to write business for one company but instead can place your coverage amongst many companies and potentially find a lower price. To move your coverage to a new company, your agent can switch companies and you won’t have to switch agencies. When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to contact multiple independent agents for maximum quote selection.

Shown below is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Spokane Valley willing to provide price quotes.

compare rates in Washington

Mutual Of Enumclaw Insurance – 1227 N Argonne Rd – Spokane Valley, WA 99212 – (509) 328-9303
Osprey Agency – 11707 E Sprague Ave – Spokane Valley, WA 99206 – (509) 921-5290
Argonne Agency Inc – 324 N Mullan Rd – Spokane Valley, WA 99206 – (509) 921-6809
Allmark Agency – 12810 E Nora Ave # B – Spokane Valley, WA 99216 – (509) 928-8597
Western States Insurance – 505 N Argonne Rd # 3 – Spokane Valley, WA 99212 – (509) 893-9717

For a complete listing of Spokane Valley insurance agents, visit this site.

Upon getting reasonable responses to all your questions as well as a affordable price, you’ve probably found a car insurance agent that will service your policy.

Summing up your auto insurance search

The cheapest auto insurance can be sourced online as well as from independent agents in Spokane Valley, and you should be comparing both so you have a total pricing picture. Some auto insurance companies don’t offer you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

When trying to cut insurance costs, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many instances, an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits and learned later that it was a big mistake. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

You just learned some good ideas how you can lower your auto insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Consumers could even find that the best price on auto insurance is with a smaller regional carrier. They may only write in your state and offer lower rates compared to the large companies like Progressive and GEICO.

Additional detailed information can be read at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website. Consumers can view a list of available companies, find out which companies have the most complaints, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and learn about specific coverages.