Insider Techniques for Cheaper Bogalusa, LA Auto Insurance

Finding lower premiums on Bogalusa auto insurance is challenging for people who are new to shopping for insurance online. Drivers have so many choices that it can be a real challenge to find lower rates in Bogalusa.

If you have a policy now or are just looking to switch companies, you can follow these tips to shop for the lowest rates and still get good coverage. This information will instruct you on how car insurance quotes work and some money-saving tips. Louisiana vehicle owners just need to learn the proper way to buy auto insurance on the web.

Compare the Market for Auto Insurance in Bogalusa, LA

Finding cheaper auto insurance prices doesn’t have to be difficult. You just have to take a couple of minutes comparing rate quotes from different insurance companies. This can be accomplished in a couple of different ways.

Probably the best way to find low rates is a comparison rater form (click to open form in new window). This method prevents you from having to do repetitive form entry for every auto insurance company. Just one form will get you price quotes from all major companies. This is by far the quickest method.
A more difficult way to obtain and compare quotes online is to take the time to go to each company’s website and fill out their own quote form. For example, let’s say you want to compare rates from Liberty Mutual, GEICO and Travelers. You would have to go to every website to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is quicker.
For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Bogalusa, click here.
The least efficient method to get comparison rates is to spend time driving to insurance agents’ offices. Buying insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you want the trained guidance of a licensed agent. Drivers can get prices online but buy from a local insurance agent and you’ll learn how to do that later.

Whichever method you choose, ensure you’re using exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits for every company. If the quotes have different deductibles it will be next to impossible to make an equal comparison in Bogalusa.

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

Listed below are some of the factors companies use to determine premiums.

Having a spouse can save you money – Having a spouse actually saves money on your auto insurance policy. It is viewed as being more mature and statistics show married couples file fewer claims.
Clean credit earns discounts – Having a bad credit score is a huge factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. So if your credit history is lower than you’d like, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your credit score. People with high credit ratings tend to be more responsible than drivers with poor credit.
More than one policy can earn a discount – Some auto insurance companies will give a discount to people who have multiple policies with them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can add up to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even though this discount sounds good, you still need to comparison shop to ensure the best deal. Drivers may still find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.
Your auto insurance rates can be influenced by your job – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Careers like judges, executives and dentists have the highest average rates due to high stress levels and lengthy work days. Other occupations like farmers, historians and homemakers get better rates.
Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance – Cars with high safety ratings are cheaper to insure. Safer cars reduce injuries and fewer injuries means less money paid by your insurance company passed on to you as lower rates.
Little extras can really add up – There are a lot of extra bells and whistles that you can buy on your policy. Coverages for rental car reimbursement, towing coverage and motor club memberships may be wasting your money. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but if you don’t need them eliminate them to save money.
More people means more accidents – Being located in less populated areas has it’s advantages when insuring your vehicles. City drivers regularly have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Fewer people means reduced accidents and a lower car theft rate.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies that sell car insurance don’t always list all available discounts very clearly, so we break down both well-publicized and the harder-to-find ways to save on auto insurance. If you’re not getting every credit available, you are throwing money away.

Air Bag Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags or automatic seat belts may earn rate discounts of more than 20%.
No Charge for an Accident – Certain companies allow you one accident without raising rates so long as you haven’t had any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
Theft Prevention System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems help deter theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Multiple Policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance with one company you may save up to 20% off your total premium.
Sign Early and Save – Some companies give discounts for switching to them prior to your current policy expiration. It can save you around 10%.
Discounts for Safe Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than less cautious drivers.
Defensive Driver – Taking a driver safety course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if you qualify.
Senior Discount – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for reduced rates.
Discount for Life Insurance – Some companies give better rates if you take out life insurance.
Distant Student – Youth drivers who attend school more than 100 miles from home and don’t have a car may qualify for this discount.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.

To see a list of insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in Louisiana, click here. save money image

Your local neighborhood insurance agent

A small number of people prefer to visit with an insurance agent and that is just fine! Insurance agents can answer important questions and give you peace of mind. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain the lowest rates but also keep your business local.

Once you complete this short form, the coverage information is submitted to participating agents in Bogalusa who will return price quotes for your coverage. You won’t need to even leave your home as quotes are delivered immediately to your email address. Now that’s easy!

Picking an insurer should depend on more than just a low price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
Does the agency support the community they serve?
Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?
Are they full-time agents?

Different types of car insurance agents in Bogalusa

If you’re trying to find a good insurance agency, you must know there are a couple types of agencies to choose from. Agencies in Bogalusa are categorized either independent or captive. While both can write coverage properly, but it’s worth learning the difference between them because it can influence your selection of an agent.

Captive Insurance Agents

This type of agents can only place business with one company like Farmers Insurance or State Farm. These agents are not able to compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. Captive agents are trained well in insurance sales which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers frequently choose to use a captive agent mostly because of the brand legacy and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

The following are Bogalusa captive agencies who may provide you with price quote information.

Farm Bureau Insurance – 205 Austin St – Bogalusa, LA 70427 – (985) 735-6939
Allstate Insurance – 704 Louisiana Ave – Bogalusa, LA 70427 – (985) 732-4103
State Farm Insurance – 333 Huron Ave – Bogalusa, LA 70427 – (985) 735-9314

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agencies are not locked into one company but rather can write business with lots of companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent. When shopping rates, we recommend you include several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from. They often place coverage with smaller regional carriers which can be an advantage.

Shown below are Bogalusa independent insurance agencies who can help you get price quote information.

ARM Insurance Of Bogalusa – 116 Alabama Ave – Bogalusa, LA 70427 – (985) 732-4552
Moore and Jenkins Insurance – 420 Avenue B – Bogalusa, LA 70427 – (985) 732-7164

For a full directory of Bogalusa insurance agents, please view this page.

Once you have answers to your satisfaction and an acceptable price quote, it’s possible that you found an auto insurance agent that is a good match to properly service your auto insurance policy.

Buy online or local, you save

Affordable auto insurance is attainable both online and with local Bogalusa insurance agents, so you should compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who do not offer online price quotes and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.

When buying insurance coverage, do not skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are many occasions where consumers will sacrifice uninsured motorist or liability limits only to discover later they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your goal should be to buy enough coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

Insureds leave their current company for any number of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, lack of trust in their agent, extreme rates for teen drivers and questionable increases in premium. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new company can be easy and end up saving you some money.

Even more information can be found at the Louisiana Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to report car insurance fraud, find disaster information, and get help finding coverage.