Never Buy Chester Car Insurance Without Knowing These Money Saving Tricks

If you’re new to shopping for car insurance online, it’s easy to get confused by the large number of car insurance companies vying for business in Chester.

Consumers should take time to do rate comparisons occasionally due to the fact that insurance rates are usually higher with each renewal. Even if you think you had the best deal a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because we’re going to demonstrate the proper way to save money, get proper deductibles and limits, all at the lowest rate.

How to Get Chester Car Insurance Comparison Quotes

Getting better car insurance pricing can be relatively painless. Consumers just need to spend a few minutes on the computer comparing rate quotes from different insurance companies. This can be done in a couple of different ways.

The first (and easiest) way to get quotes is an all-inclusive rate comparison (click to open form in new window). This easy form keeps you from doing a different quote for each company you want a rate for. One form gets you coverage quotes . Recommended for those who want to invest the least amount of time.
Another way to get comparison quotes requires a trip to the website for every company you want to comare and fill out their own quote form. For example, let’s assume you want rates from Farmers, Progressive and GEICO. You would have to visit each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is quicker. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Chester, click here.
The hardest way to compare rates is to drive around to and from local Chester insurance agencies. The ability to buy insurance online has reduced the need for local agents unless you want the professional guidance of a local Chester agent. Drivers can compare online quotes and get advice from an agent in your area and you’ll learn how to do that later.

It’s up to you which method you use, but be sure to compare the exact same coverage limits with each company. If you compare differing limits then you won’t be able to make a fair comparison in Chester.

Lower rates by qualifying for discounts

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but there are discounts available that can drop the cost substantially. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at the time of quoting, but some may not be applied and must be requested specifically in order for you to get them. If you’re not getting every credit you qualify for, you’re just leaving money on the table.

Clubs and Organizations – Belonging to a qualifying organization may earn a discount when buying car insurance.
Theft Prevention Discount – Anti-theft and alarm systems help deter theft and will save you 10% or more.
New Vehicle Savings – Insuring a new car can save up to 30% due to better safety requirements for new cars.
Paperwork-free – A few companies may give you up to $50 simply for signing over the internet.
Multiple Cars – Insuring all your vehicles on one policy qualifies for this discount.
Air Bag Discount – Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can get savings of more than 20%.
Defensive Driving Course – Taking part in a defensive driving course could save 5% or more if you qualify.
Safe Driver Discount – Safe drivers may receive a discount up to 45% less than drivers with accident claims.

It’s important to understand that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way. But any discount will bring down your overall premium however.

Tips to Get Lower Chester Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining car insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are a partial list of the pieces used by your company to calculate prices.

Poor driving leads to higher costs – Drivers with clean records receive lower rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Only having one citation may increase your cost by as much as thirty percent. If you have severe violations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may find they need to file a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to drive a vehicle legally.
Do you work long hours in a high stress job? – Did you know your job can affect your rates? Occupations like lawyers, business owners and financial analysts tend to pay higher average rates in part from high stress levels and long work days. Conversely, professions such as pilots, engineers and performers have the lowest average rates.
Discounts for married couples – Having a spouse helps lower the price on your policy. Having a spouse translates into being more mature it has been statistically shown that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Your age impacts your rates – Older drivers are more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel. Young drivers are statistically proven to be careless and easily distracted behind the wheel therefore car insurance rates are much higher.
More claims means more premium – Car insurance companies in Pennsylvania give better rates to insureds who are claim-free. If you frequently file small claims, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for the large, substantial claims.

Are insurance agents obsolete?

Some people prefer to talk to a local agent and that is a personal choice. Good agents can answer important questions and give you peace of mind. The biggest benefit of getting online price quotes is you can get lower rates but also keep your business local. Supporting local agencies is important especially in Chester.

To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, the quote information is submitted to companies in Chester who will return price quotes for your insurance coverage. You never need to even leave your home as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox. Now that’s easy!

Not all auto insurance agents are the same

When researching a good insurance agency, you must know there are a couple types of insurance agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents are categorized either independent or captive. Both properly insure your vehicles, but it’s important to know how they are different because it can impact the type of agent you choose

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agents do not work for one specific company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies and potentially find a lower price. If your agent finds better pricing, they simply move the coverage in-house and you won’t have to switch agencies.

When comparing rates, we recommend you include at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from.Most can insure with different regional companies which can be an advantage. compare rates in Chester

Shown below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Chester who can help you get rate quotes.

Nationwide Insurance – 408 Conchester Hwy – Chester, PA 19014 – (610) 485-5858
Zappala Auto Tag and Insurance – 2712 W 3rd St – Chester, PA 19013 – (610) 485-7060

Agency Captives

Captive insurance agents work for only one company such as American Family, Liberty Mutual and AAA. They usually cannot place coverage with different providers so keep that in mind. They are trained well in insurance sales which can be an advantage. Consumers frequently buy from captive agents primarily because of the prominence of the brand and solid financial strength.

Below is a short list of captive insurance agencies in Chester who can help you get comparison quotes.

Allstate Insurance – 4617 Edgmont Ave – Chester, PA 19015 – (610) 872-6000

To view a complete directory of Chester captive insurance agents, go to this page.

Selecting a car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a low price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

Do they have adequate Errors and Ommissions coverage? This protects you if they make a mistake.
Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
Do they regularly work with personal auto policies?

Once you have reasonable responses and a good coverage price, you’ve probably found an insurance agency that is a good match to properly service your car insurance policy.

Will just any policy work for me?

When buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a best way to insure your cars. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.

These are some specific questions might point out if you would benefit from professional advice.

Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Pennsylvania?
Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
Should I buy only the required Pennsylvania minimum liability coverage?
Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
What are the financial responsibility laws in Pennsylvania?
What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in Pennsylvania?
What discounts do I qualify for?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
When would I need rental car insurance?
Should I sign the liability waiver when renting a car?

If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

Much more information about car insurance in Pennsylvania is located on the Pennsylvania Insurance Department website located here. Pennsylvania consumers can find out industry alerts, download brochures, and learn about specific coverages.

The following articles may also be useful.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Pennsylvania consumers can’t get away from ads for car insurance savings from the likes of State Farm and Allstate. They all make an identical promise that you’ll save big after switching your coverage to them.

How do they all make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer that makes them money. An example of a preferred risk might be a mature driver, a clean driving record, and has a high credit rating. Any new insured that hits that “sweet spot” receives the best rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don’t qualify for these standards will be quoted higher prices which usually ends up with business not being written. The ads say “customers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully state the savings.

This emphasizes why you need to get as many quotes as possible. It’s not possible to predict which car insurance company will have the lowest rates.

Quote often and quote early

The cheapest car insurance can be sourced online in addition to many Chester insurance agents, and you should be comparing both to get a complete price analysis. Some car insurance companies do not provide online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

Consumers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including high prices, questionable increases in premium, denial of a claim or even high rates after DUI convictions. It doesn’t matter what your reason, choosing a new insurance company can be pretty painless.

We just presented quite a bit of information on how to get a better price on car insurance. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Drivers may discover the lowest priced car insurance comes from a smaller regional carrier.