Learn Proven Techniques to Save on Salem Virginia Auto Insurance

Are you a victim of an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me when I say there are a lot of people in Salem just like you who feel imprisoned by their auto insurance policy.

Many auto insurance companies vie for your insurance dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare insurance companies and get the definite best price available.

Compare the Market for Auto Insurance in Salem, VA

All major auto insurance companies give pricing directly from their websites. Getting online quotes is quite simple as you just type in your required coverages as requested by the quote form. Once entered, the company’s rating system requests your driving and credit reports and quotes a price based on these and other factors. Online price quotes simplifies rate comparisons, but the process of having to visit multiple sites and enter the same data into a form is monotonous and tiresome. But it’s absolutely necessary to get many rate quotes in order to get better auto insurance pricing.

The better way to compare rates

A quicker way to lower your auto insurance bill is to use a quote form that obtains quotes from a bunch of companies at once. It saves time, requires much less work on your part, and makes rate comparisons much more enjoyable. After sending your information, it gets priced with multiple companies and you can pick any or none of the pricing results.

If the quotes result in lower rates, you can click and sign and buy the policy. This process can be completed in a matter of minutes and may result in a nice savings.

To find out if lower rates are available, click here to open in a new tab and complete the simple form. If you have coverage now, it’s recommended you input the coverages identical to your current policy. This helps ensure you will have a rate comparison for the exact same coverage.

Cut your premium with discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts to help bring down the price. Some discounts apply automatically when you quote, but a few need to be specially asked for before they will apply.

  • Save over 55 – If you’re over the age of 55, you may be able to get reduced rates.
  • Homeowners Discount – Simply owning a home can help you save on auto insurance because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
  • Use Seat Belts – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
  • Service Members Pay Less – Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower premiums.
  • More Vehicles More Savings – Buying insurance for multiple cars or trucks on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Accident Free – Claim-free drivers pay less as compared to drivers who are more careless.

It’s important to understand that many deductions do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, companies don’t profit that way. Any amount of discount will cut the cost of coverage.

To choose insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Salem, follow this link.save money in Salem VA

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that play a part in calculating your auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

  • Lower rates with optional equipment – Owning a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can help prevent car theft.
  • Lower miles equals lower premium – Driving more miles each year the higher your rate. Almost all companies rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars left parked in the garage qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your auto insurance coverage properly reflects the proper vehicle usage.
  • Older drivers save more – Older drivers are viewed as being more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and get fewer tickets. Young drivers are statistically proven to be more careless behind the wheel therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
  • Add-on coverages can add up – There are a lot of add-on coverages that can waste your money on your policy. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness and membership fees may be costing you every month. They may seem good initially, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
  • What type of vehicle do you drive? – The performance of the car you drive makes a huge difference in determining your rates. The cheapest insurance rates tend to be for lower performance four cylinder passenger cars, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.

Price shop online but buy from a local Salem agent

Some consumers just want to get advice from a local agent. The best thing about comparing rates online is the fact that you can find lower rates but also keep your business local. And providing support for local agencies is definitely important in Salem.

Upon completion of this short form, your information is submitted to insurance agents in Salem who will compete for your business. You never need to even leave your home since price quotes are sent directly to your email. How’s that for easy! You can find the lowest rates without the usual hassles of price shopping.

Pick the best auto insurance agent in Salem for you

If you’re trying to find a reputable insurance agent or broker, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents that you can select. Agencies in Salem are classified as either independent or captive.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

These agents are not locked into one company so they have the ability to put coverage amongst many companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If your agent finds better pricing, the agent simply finds a different carrier and that require little work on your part. When searching for an agent, you should always include price quotes from multiple independent agents for maximum quote selection.

The following is a short list of independent insurance agencies in Salem that are able to give price quotes.

Burgess-De Marco Insurance – 911 S Colorado St – Salem, VA 24153 – (540) 375-3231
Ryan Harris Agency – 603 Apperson Dr – Salem, VA 24153 – (540) 375-9078
Wills Insurance – 158 W 4th St – Salem, VA 24153 – (540) 387-0060

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies can only place business with one company and some examples include Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. They usually cannot place coverage with different providers so they have no alternatives for high prices. These agents are trained well in insurance sales which helps them compete with independent agents.

Below is a short list of captive insurance agencies in Salem that can give you price quote information.

Allstate Insurance – 3431 Choctaw Rd – Salem, VA 24153 – (540) 384-6001
State Farm Insurance – 320 Wildwood Rd – Salem, VA 24153 – (540) 389-1220

To view a complete directory of captive agencies in Salem, please go to this site.

Picking an insurance agency requires more thought than just the premium amount. Agents should be asked these questions:

  • Is vehicle mileage a factor when determining depreciation for repairs?
  • Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
  • Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
  • Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
  • Do they have advanced training designations such as CPCU, AAI, AIC, or CIC?

Upon receiving positive feedback and an acceptable price quote, chances are good that you have found an insurance agency that is a good match to adequately provide auto insurance.

Much more information about auto insurance in Virginia is available on the website for the Virginia Bureau of Insurance. Click here for link. Consumers can find out industry alerts, view a list of available companies, read state legal mandates and laws, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

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Quote more, save more

When trying to cut insurance costs, it’s not a good idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are a lot of situations where an insured dropped liability limits or collision coverage and learned later they didn’t have enough coverage. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price.

We’ve covered a lot of information how to shop for auto insurance online. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers could even find that the lowest premiums are with a smaller regional carrier. These smaller insurers can often provide lower rates in certain areas compared to the large companies like Progressive and GEICO.