Scottsdale, AZ Car Insurance Buying Tips You Aren’t Supposed to Know

Finding lower rates for Scottsdale car insurance can seem to be difficult for consumers new to comparison shopping online. Consumers have so many options available that it can quickly become a challenge to locate the lowest price in Scottsdale.

If you have a current car insurance policy or need new coverage, you can use this information to find the best rates and still get good coverage. This article will help educate you on the most effective way to quote insurance and some money-saving tips. Arizona drivers only need to know the proper way to shop for car insurance online.

Scottsdale Car Insurance Prices Online

There are several ways to shop for car insurance, but some are less time-consuming than others. You can spend your afternoon driving to agents in Scottsdale, or you could use the internet to get pricing more quickly.

Many insurance companies participate in an industry program where prospective buyers enter their coverage request one time, and each participating company provides a quote based on that data. This saves time by eliminating quote forms to each company. To use this form to compare rates click here (opens in new window).

The only downside to getting quotes like this is you can’t choose the companies to receive prices from. If you wish to select specific providers to compare, we have a page of companies who write car insurance in Arizona. Click to view list.

It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just make sure you use identical coverage limits on every quote you get. If your comparisons have different limits and deductibles on each one you will not be able to determine the lowest rate in Scottsdale.

These discounts can lower your rates

Car insurance is not cheap, but there could be available discounts to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at quote time, but some may not be applied and must be specifically requested prior to receiving the credit. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

  • Federal Government Employee – Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount with a few car insurance companies.
  • No Accidents – Drivers who don’t have accidents pay less when compared with bad drivers.
  • Payment Method – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time rather than paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.
  • Club Memberships – Participating in certain professional organizations could trigger savings on car insurance.
  • Air Bag Discount – Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts can get savings up to 30%.

Consumers should know that some credits don’t apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, you’re out of luck. But any discount will help reduce your overall premium however.

For a list of insurance companies with the best car insurance discounts in Arizona, click here.

Local Scottsdale agents and car insurance

Some consumers would rather talk to a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Licensed agents can help determine the best coverages and help you file claims. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find better rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying from local agencies is definitely important in Scottsdale.

Once you complete this simple form, your insurance coverage information is instantly submitted to local insurance agents in Scottsdale who will compete for your insurance coverage. You don’t have to drive around as quotes are delivered straight to your inbox. How cool is that?!

Listed below are agents in Scottsdale that are able to give rate quotes.

  • State Farm Insurance – 10575 N 114th St # 111, Scottsdale, AZ 85259 – (480) 391-9390
  • Lofano Insurance – 10830 N 71st Pl, Scottsdale, AZ 85254 – (480) 951-9792
  • Allstate Insurance – 10405 E Mc Dowell Mtn Ranch Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 – (480) 585-2114
  • Liberty Mutual Insurance – 10304 N Hayden Rd # 4, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 – (480) 483-8467
  • American Family Insurance – 7332 E Camelback Rd # A, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 – (480) 945-7621
  • Manny Demiguel Agency – 8124 E Cactus Rd # 420, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 – (480) 860-1745
  • Farmers Insurance Group – 10575 N 114th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85259 – (480) 922-4700

For a complete listing of car insurance agents in Scottsdale, click here to link.

Deciding on an provider should depend on more than just the premium amount. Here are some questions to ask:

  • Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
  • Do they assist clients in filing claims?
  • Do they make recommendations based only on price?
  • Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Arizona?
  • What insurance company do they write the most business with?
  • Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
  • Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
  • Are there any discounts that you might be missing?

Once you have positive feedback to these questions and a good coverage price, chances are good that you have found a company that meets your needs to adequately provide car insurance.

What coverages do I need?

When buying adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn’t really a cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s situation is unique.

For example, these questions may help you determine if your insurance needs could use an agent’s help.

  • Are my friends covered when driving my vehicle?
  • Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Scottsdale?
  • Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
  • Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
  • Are split liability limits better than a combined single limit?
  • How much liability coverage do I need in Arizona?
  • Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
  • Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
  • Is Arizona a no-fault state?

If you can’t answer these questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for car insurance. Understanding what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to lower car insurance prices.

The list below includes some of the factors used by your company to calculate prices.

  • Your location is important – Being located in a rural area can save you money when it comes to car insurance. City drivers tend to have traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Less people living in that area means reduced accidents.
  • Don’t sacrifice liability coverage – Your policy’s liability coverage provides coverage if you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability provides legal defense starting from day one. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
  • Your occupation can affect rates – Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Occupations like real estate brokers, business owners and financial analysts have higher average rates attributed to stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations like actors, engineers and performers get better rates.
  • Don’t get talked into coverage you don’t need – There are quite a few add-on coverages you can purchase on your policy. Things like personal injury protection, better glass coverage and additional equipment coverage may be wasting your money. They may seem good at first, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
  • Never go without insurance – Not having insurance is a misdemeanor and your next policy will cost more because you let your insurance expire. And not only will insurance be more expensive, failure to provide proof of insurance may earn you a license revocation or jail time.Then you may be required to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the Arizona motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.

Do drivers who switch really save $393 a year?

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance by companies like Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. All the ads have a common claim that you can save if you change to them.

How can each company make the same claim? It’s all in the numbers.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. An example of a driver they prefer could possibly be a mature driver, has no prior claims, and has great credit. Any driver who meets those qualifications gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Consumers who don’t qualify for the “perfect” profile will be quoted a higher premium which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is “people who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much money. That is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings.

This emphasizes why you should quote coverage with many companies. It’s impossible to know which car insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

One last thing about your coverage

We’ve covered a lot of information how to reduce car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the best price on car insurance is with a lesser-known regional company.

Discount car insurance is available online and also from your neighborhood Scottsdale agents, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers may not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

Drivers switch companies for any number of reasons including denial of a claim, questionable increases in premium, delays in responding to claim requests or poor customer service. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding the right car insurance provider is actually quite simple.

More consumer information in Arizona

Additional car insurance information is located on the Arizona Department of Insurance website. Click here for link. Arizona drivers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, download brochures, view agent and company licensing information, and report car insurance fraud.