Follow These Tested Methods for Paying Less for Youngstown Ohio Auto Insurance

Shopping for the cheapest Youngstown auto insurance on the internet may be intimidating for beginners to buying insurance on the web. With so many choices of online companies, how can anyone even start to compare them all to find the best available rates?

It’s a good idea to shop coverage around occasionally because insurance rates are variable and change quite frequently. Just because you found the lowest rates last year the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. There is a lot of bad advice regarding auto insurance on the internet, so I’m going to show you the best ways to stop overpaying for insurance.

Compare Youngstown Auto Insurance Costs

When shopping for auto insurance there are multiple ways of comparing price quotes from auto insurance companies in your area. The quickest method to find the cheapest insurance rates consists of obtaining rate quotes online. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

Probably the best way to compare a lot of rates at once is a comparison rater form click here to open form in new window. This form prevents you from having to do repetitive form entry for each company you want a rate for. Filling out one form will return quotes from multiple companies. Just one form and you’re done.

Another way to find lower rates is going to each company website to request a price quote. For instance, let’s assume you want to compare rates from Allstate, Safeco and GMAC. To get rate quotes you would need to take the time to go to each site and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is more popular. For a handy list of car insurance company links in Youngstown, click here.

The hardest way of comparing rate quotes is driving around to different agent offices. Buying insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you want the professional advice only provided by licensed agents. However, consumers can find lower rates online and get advice from an agent in your area.

It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but make absolute certain that you use exactly the same information on every quote. If you use higher or lower deductibles you will not be able to make an equal comparison in Youngstown. Quoting even small variations in limits can make a big difference in price. And when comparison shopping, obtaining a wide range of quotes gives you a better chance of getting a lower rate.

Save $468 a year? Really?

Companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads on TV and radio. All the ads say the same thing of big savings if you move to them. But how can every company make the same claim?

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that is profitable for them. A good example of a desirable insured could possibly be between 25 and 40, has no tickets, and has excellent credit. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Drivers who are not a match for the “perfect” profile will be quoted more money which leads to the customer not buying. Company advertisements say “drivers who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much money. That’s the way insurance companies can make the claims of big savings.

This emphasizes why you need to compare many company’s rates. Because you never know which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Verify you’re getting all your discounts

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but you can get discounts that many people don’t even know exist. Some trigger automatically at quote time, but a few need to be specifically requested prior to receiving the credit.

Drivers Education – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver’s ed class if offered at their school.
Homeowners Savings – Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings because maintaining a house shows financial diligence.
Seat Belt Usage – Requiring all passengers to use their safety belts can save up to 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
Military Discounts – Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
Payment Method – By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
Sign Online – Some insurance companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.
Air Bag Discount – Factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts up to 30%.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you’re out of luck. Any amount of discount will help reduce your overall premium however.<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px;" src="https://www.findnewcarinsurance.com/wp-content/uploads/ci175-109.jpg" alt="Ohio car insurance prices”/>

Can’t I compare rates from local Youngstown agents?

Some consumers would rather buy from a licensed agent and that is just fine! One of the best bonuses of getting online price quotes is you can get the best rates but still work with a licensed agent. And providing support for local businesses is especially important in Youngstown.

After filling out this simple form, the coverage information is submitted to agents in your area who will battle for your business. You don’t have to drive around as quotes are delivered immediately to your email address. How’s that for easy! You can find better rates AND a local agent.

How to choose the best insurance agency in Youngstown

If you’re trying to find a local agent, there are a couple of types of insurance agents from which to choose. Youngstown agents can either be independent (non-captive) or captive.

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company so they can insure your vehicles with many different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To transfer your coverage to a different company, an independent agent can move your coverage without you having to go to a different agency.

When searching for an agent, we recommend you include price quotes from multiple independent agents to ensure the widest selection of prices. Most have the option of insuring with different regional companies who may have lower rates.

The following are Youngstown independent agencies who can help you get pricing information.

Austin Agency – 110 Javit Ct # A – Youngstown, OH 44515 – (330) 792-7651
Alan Murray Agency Inc – 837 Boardman Canfield Rd – Youngstown, OH 44512 – (330) 726-7263
Mc Camon Hunt Insurance – 8150 Market St – Youngstown, OH 44512 – (330) 726-4868
L L and D Insurance – 70 W Mckinley Way # 24 – Youngstown, OH 44514 – (330) 757-4319
First Place Insurance Agency – 1275 Boardman Poland Rd – Youngstown, OH 44514 – (330) 726-4636

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies can only write with one company and examples are American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They usually cannot place coverage with different providers so always compare other rates. These agents are well schooled in insurance sales which can be an advantage. Some people will only buy from captive agents partially due to the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

Listed below are Youngstown captive agents willing to provide rate quotes.

State Farm Insurance – 3530 Belmont Ave – Youngstown, OH 44505 – (330) 759-9809
American Family Insurance – 374 Boardman Poland Rd – Youngstown, OH 44512 – (330) 758-5753
Allstate Insurance – 8162 Market St # E – Youngstown, OH 44512 – (330) 726-0504

To view a complete directory of captive insurance agents in Youngstown, please view this page.

Deciding on an auto insurance agent shouldn’t rely on just the bottom line cost. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

Are they full-time agents?
Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?
Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?

After receiving satisfactory answers and an acceptable price quote, chances are good that you have found a car insurance agent that will provide auto insurance coverage.

When should I talk to an agent?

When it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Each situation is unique.

These are some specific questions may help highlight whether your personal situation will benefit from professional help.

Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
Do I need higher deductibles?
What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
Will I lose any money if I cancel my policy before it expires?
What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
Are my friends covered when driving my vehicle?

If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.

Much more information about auto insurance in Ohio can be found on the Ohio Department of Insurance website located here. Visitors are able to get help finding coverage, view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and find out industry alerts.

Other informative sites include this site for Ohio auto insurance information and this page of Youngstown insurance agents.

A little work can save a LOT of money

In this article, we covered some good ideas how you can reduce auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Drivers may discover the most savings is with a smaller regional carrier.

Affordable auto insurance can be found online in addition to many Youngstown insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

People switch companies for a number of reasons such as unfair underwriting practices, high prices, being labeled a high risk driver and even extreme rates for teen drivers. It doesn’t matter what your reason, choosing a new insurance company is not as hard as you think.