New Strategies for Saving Money on on Virginia Beach Virginia Auto Insurance

No one looks forward to buying auto insurance, in particular when the price is too high. You have so many insurers to purchase coverage from, and even though it’s nice to have multiple companies, it can be more difficult to find the best rates.

Consumers should take time to shop coverage around occasionally since rates change quite often. Even if you think you had the lowest rates a year ago you may be paying too much now. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding auto insurance on the web, but by reading this article, you’re going to learn some great ways to find cheap auto insurance quotes in Virginia Beach, VA.

Decisions you make can impact your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices.

The following are some of the items that factor into prices.

Safer cars cost less to insure – Safer cars get lower rates. Safer cars have better occupant injury protection and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.
Performance level impacts rates – The performance of the car you own makes a huge difference in your rates. The most favorable rates are usually for lower performance four cylinder passenger cars, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
How many coverages with the same company – Many auto insurance companies give discounts to policyholders who buy several policies from them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you’re getting this discount it’s still a good idea to shop around to ensure the best deal.
Men are more aggressive – Statistics have proven women are more cautious behind the wheel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that men are WORSE drivers than women. Both sexes are in accidents at a similar rate, but the men cause more damage. Men also statistically receive more costly citations like DUI and reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are several times more likely to be in an accident and thus pay the highest rates.
Better credit means lower rates – Having a bad credit score is a big factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than those with poor credit. Therefore, if your credit is low, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your rating.
Do you need those extra coverages? – There are quite a few additional coverages that you can buy if you aren’t careful. Insurance for rental car reimbursement, towing coverage and term life insurance may be wasting your money. They may seem like a good idea initially, but if they’re wasting money eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
More miles equals more premium – The more you drive in a year’s time the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Most insurance companies rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Double check that your auto insurance policy is rated on the correct driver usage.

How to Get Cheap Auto Insurance in Virginia Beach, Virginia

Getting better auto insurance pricing is actually quite simple. Just take a few minutes comparing rate quotes from different insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done in several different ways.

The recommended way to find the lowest comparison rates is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This method prevents you from having to do separate quotation requests for every auto insurance company. In just a few minutes this one form will return quotes .

Another way to analyze rates is to manually visit the website of each company to complete a price quote. For instance, we’ll assume you want to compare rates from USAA, 21st Century and Progressive. You would have to take the time to go to each site and enter your information, which is why the first method is more popular.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Virginia Beach, click here.

Whichever way you use, ensure you are comparing exactly the same information for each price quote. If you enter different limits and deductibles on each one then you won’t be able to make an equal comparison in Virginia Beach. save money in Virginia

Can you really save that much by switching?

Virginia drivers can’t get away from ads for car insurance savings from companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. All the ads make the same claim that you can save if you switch your policy.

But how can every company say the same thing?

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that is profitable for them. For instance, a profitable customer might be profiled as a mature driver, owns a home, and has a high credit rating. Any new insured that hits that “sweet spot” is entitled to the best price and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who fall outside this ideal profile will be quoted a more expensive rate and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say “customers that switch” not “people who quote” save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can claim big savings. This emphasizes why it’s extremely important to compare as many rates as you can. You cannot predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

These discounts can slash auto insurance rates

Auto insurance companies do not list every discount in a way that’s easy to find, so we researched both well-publicized and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using. If you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.

Anti-lock Brakes – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
New Vehicle Savings – Insuring a new car is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Early Switch Discount – Some companies give discounts for signing up before your current expiration date. It’s a savings of about 10%.
Own a Home – Simply owning a home can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home requires personal responsibility.
Safe Drivers – Drivers who don’t get into accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less than their less cautious counterparts.
Payment Method – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of paying each month you can actually save on your bill.
Sign Online – Certain companies give back up to $50 for buying your policy digitally online.
Multiple Vehicles – Buying coverage for multiple vehicles on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.

Keep in mind that most discounts do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it doesn’t quite work that way.

When might I need the advice of an agent?

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a best way to insure your cars. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions can aid in determining whether or not you would benefit from an agent’s advice.

Am I getting all the discounts available?
Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
Do no-fault laws apply in Virginia?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
Can I drive in Mexico and have coverage?
Do I qualify for additional discounts?
Is my business laptop covered if it gets stolen from my vehicle?
Is a new car covered when I drive it off the dealer lot?

If you can’t answer these questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It’s fast, free and you can get the answers you need.

Additional detailed information is available at the Virginia Bureau of Insurance website. Virginia drivers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, view a list of available companies, learn about specific coverages, and read industry bulletins.

Other useful links include this page for auto insurance in Virginia and this page for help finding agents in Virginia Beach, VA.

More comparisons equals lower rates

We just showed you quite a bit of information on how to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Drivers may discover the best prices are with a lesser-known regional company. They often have lower prices on specific markets than their larger competitors like State Farm or Progressive.

Cheap auto insurance can be bought on the web in addition to many Virginia Beach insurance agents, so compare prices from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance providers do not provide online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.