Learn How to Shop For Johnson City, TN Auto Insurance Like a Professional

Purchasing the cheapest Johnson City auto insurance over the internet may be impossible for consumers not familiar with comparing rates online. With so many insurers available, how can anyone effectively compare them all to find the best available price?

Auto Insurance Comparison Rates in Johnson City, Tennessee

Most major insurance companies such as Progressive, Allstate and GEICO quote price estimates on the web. Getting online quotes is fairly straightforward as you just enter your required coverages into a form. After you submit the form the company’s rating system sends out for your driving and credit reports and generates pricing information.

Quoting online simplifies rate comparisons, but the process of having to visit many different websites and enter the same data into a form can be a bit repetitive. But it’s absolutely necessary to do this in order to get a lower rate.

There is an easier way!

The quickest way to compare rates utilizes a single form that gets price quotes from a bunch of companies at once. This type of form saves time, reduces the work, and makes online shopping much easier. After sending your information, it is quoted and you are able to buy any or none of the quotes returned.

If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, you can click and sign and buy the new coverage. This process only takes a few minutes and could lower your rates considerably.

To quickly compare rates using this form now, click here and begin entering your coverage information. To compare your current rates, we recommend you input just like they are on your policy. This makes sure you are getting rate quotes based on similar coverages.

Don’t believe everything you hear

Tennessee consumers get pounded daily by advertisements that promise big savings from companies such as Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. They all say the same thing about savings if you switch your policy.

But how can every company make almost identical claims? It’s all in the numbers.

All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. An example of a driver they prefer could possibly be over the age of 50, insures multiple vehicles, and chooses high deductibles. A driver who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential insureds who don’t measure up to the “perfect” profile will have to pay a more expensive rate and ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say “people who switch” but not “drivers who get quotes” save that much money. That’s why companies can truthfully advertise the savings.

Because of the profiling, it’s extremely important to get a wide range of price quotes. Because you never know which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Lower your Johnson City Auto Insurance Rates

It’s important that you understand the different types of things that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs. save money concept

Teen drivers pay high rates – Teen drivers in Tennessee have a tendency to be more careless when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Parents adding a teenage driver onto your auto insurance can be quite pricey. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and get fewer tickets.
What type of vehicle do you drive? – The performance of the car you own makes a substantial difference in how high your rates are. The most favorable rates are usually for lower performance four cylinder passenger cars, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
Poor credit can mean higher rates – Your credit rating is a huge factor in your rate calculation. Consumers who have good credit tend to be less risk to insure than those with lower credit scores. If your credit history can use some improvement, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your rating.
Your spouse saves you money – Getting married helps lower the price on your policy. It translates into being more mature and responsible and it’s proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
Consolidate policies to earn discounts – Most insurance companies will give a discount to people who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, it’s still a good idea to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
A lapse in coverage is a bad thing – Driving with no insurance is illegal and you will pay a penalty because you let your insurance lapse. Not only will rates go up, but not being able to provide proof of insurance can result in a revoked license or a big fine.
Safer occupants lowers premiums – Safer cars tend to have better insurance rates. Safer cars have better occupant injury protection and better occupant protection means less money paid by your insurance company and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Traffic citations inflate rates – Whether or not you get tickets has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Good drivers get better rates than bad drivers. Even one citation can increase rates forty percent or more. Drivers with serious tickets like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions are required to submit a SR-22 form with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.

More discounts equal less premium

Car insurance is not cheap, but there could be available discounts to help offset the cost. Most are applied at the time of purchase, but less common discounts must be asked for before you will receive the discount. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you’re paying more than you need to.

Good Student – Getting good grades can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you up to age 25.
Discount for New Cars – Insuring a new car can save up to 30% compared to insuring an older model.
Pay Now and Pay Less – By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you could save up to 5%.
55 and Retired – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive better auto insurance rates.
Air Bag Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of more than 20%.
Auto/Home Discount – When you have multiple policies with one insurance company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
Seat Belts Save – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt could save 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.

It’s important to note that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most cut specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn’t make money that way. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce your premiums.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to buying coverage for your vehicles, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Each situation is unique.

These are some specific questions might help in determining if your insurance needs might need professional guidance.

Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?
Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
What if I total my vehicle and owe more than it’s worth?
Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
Is my vehicle covered for flood damage?
Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?

If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, you might consider talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Price shop online but buy from a local Johnson City agent

Some consumers would prefer to buy from a licensed agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Licensed agents can help determine the best coverages and give you peace of mind. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is you may find the best rates and still choose a local agent. Supporting local businesses is definitely important in Johnson City.

After filling out this short form, your coverage information is transmitted to insurance agents in Johnson City who will return price quotes to get your business. You never need to drive around as quotes are delivered immediately to your email address. It doesn’t get any easier!

Best insurance agent in Johnson City

When researching a good insurance agency, there are a couple of different types of agents to choose from. Insurance agencies in Johnson City can either be independent (non-captive) or captive. While both can do a good job, but it’s good to learn how they are different since it may influence your selection of an agent.

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agents are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage with any number of different companies and potentially find a lower price. If your agent finds better pricing, your agent can switch companies and you don’t have to find a new agent.

When comparison shopping, you should always include several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.Many can place coverage with lesser-known insurance companies who may have lower rates.

Below are independent insurance agents in Johnson City that may be able to provide rate quotes.

Hilltop Insurance Svc – 117 Hillmont Dr – Johnson City, TN 37601 – (423) 928-4797
Direct General Ins Agency – 3020 Bristol Hwy – Johnson City, TN 37601 – (423) 282-8877
Direct General Ins Agency – 3018 Bristol Hwy – Johnson City, TN 37601 – (423) 282-8877
Mc Kinney Insurance – 505 E Watauga Ave – Johnson City, TN 37601 – (423) 928-7406
Nat D Shoun Agency – 202 E Main St # 203 – Johnson City, TN 37604 – (423) 926-8032

Captive Insurance Agents

These agents can only place business with one company and examples are Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Allstate and AAA. These agents are not able to place coverage with different providers so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Captive agents are trained well in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents. Some consumers prefer to choose to use a captive agent primarily because of loyalty to the company and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

Below are Johnson City captive agents that are able to give comparison quotes.

Farmers Insurance Group – 1080 Charter Row – Johnson City, TN 37604 – (423) 232-0121
State Farm Insurance – 701 N State Of Franklin Rd – Johnson City, TN 37604 – (423) 926-7193
Farm Bureau Insurance – 503 Princeton Rd # A – Johnson City, TN 37601 – (423) 283-4780
Allstate Insurance Co – 1701 W Market St – Johnson City, TN 37604 – (423) 929-0181

To view a full list of captive agents in Johnson City, please go to this site.

Deciding on a car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:

Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
Are there any discounts that you might be missing?
How are they compensated?
If you have an accident, will your rates go up?
Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?

After getting good answers for all questions you ask as well as a affordable price, you may have just found a car insurance agent that can service your policy.

More effort can pay off

We’ve covered many ideas to get a better price on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the better your comparison will be. You may even discover the most savings is with an unexpected company.

People switch companies for many reasons like not issuing a premium refund, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, being labeled a high risk driver and denial of a claim. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new company is not as difficult as it may seem.

Discount auto insurance can be purchased from both online companies in addition to many Johnson City insurance agents, so compare prices from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some auto insurance companies do not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

Additional resources for Tennessee consumers

Additional auto insurance information is available on the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance website. Click here for link. Consumers can find out industry alerts, view agent and company licensing information, and learn about insurance regulations.