Did a good deal turn into overpriced auto insurance? You’re preaching to the choir because many consumers are feeling buyer’s remorse and feel like there’s no way out. Big companies like Geico, Progressive and Allstate all claim big savings with TV and radio ads and it can be hard to see past the geckos and flying pigs and find the best price available.
You should take the time to check auto insurance prices before your policy renews since prices are usually higher with each renewal. If you had the best deal last year you can probably find a better rate quote now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because it’s time to teach you the proper way to save on auto insurance.
Many insurance companies such as Allstate, Geico and Progressive give prices for coverage directly from their websites. Comparing rates online is quite easy as all you need to do is type in the coverages you want as detailed in the form. After you complete the form, the quote system obtains your credit score and driving record and quotes a price based on the information you submitted. This makes it easy to compare insurance prices but having to visit a lot of sites and complete many quote forms is monotonous and tiresome. But it’s absolutely necessary to get many rate quotes if you are searching for the lowest possible prices on auto insurance.
A more efficient way to lower your rates utilizes a single form that obtains quotes from more than one company. The form is fast, helps eliminate reptitive entry, and makes quoting online much easier to do. After sending the form, your coverage is rated with multiple companies and you can pick any of the price quotes you receive. If the quotes result in lower rates, you can click and sign and purchase coverage. The entire process just takes a couple of minutes and can result in significant savings.
In order to find out what other companies charge, click here to open in new window and enter your information. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you type in the limits and deductibles as shown on your current policy. This helps ensure you will have a rate comparison based on identical coverages.
Find hidden discounts to get affordable Virginia auto insurance quotes
Auto insurance companies do not list the complete list of policy discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the below list has both the well known and the harder-to-find credits available to lower your premiums when you .
- Discount for Good Grades – Getting good grades may save you up to 25%. This discount can apply up until you turn 25.
- Defensive Driver Discounts – Successfully completing a driver safety course may get you a small discount if you qualify.
- Save with a New Car – Adding a new car to your policy may earn a small discount since new vehicles have better safety ratings.
- Pay Early and Save – By making one initial payment instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
- Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags can qualify for discounts of 25 to 30%.
Discounts reduce rates, but you should keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. If you do the math and it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.
A list of auto insurance companies and some of their more popular discounts are included below.
- State Farm offers premium reductions for accident-free, good student, Steer Clear safe driver discount, multiple autos, driver’s education, good driver, and student away at school.
- Esurance offers discounts including DriveSense, multi-policy, anti-theft, Switch & Save, and homeowner.
- Progressive policyholders can earn discounts including online signing, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and continuous coverage.
- Liberty Mutual discounts include new graduate, multi-car, new vehicle discount, new move discount, hybrid vehicle, and multi-policy.
- Auto-Owners Insurance may include discounts for safe vehicle, anti-theft, air bags, good student, anti-lock brakes, paid in full, and multiple vehicles.
- Geico may have discounts that include driver training, seat belt use, defensive driver, five-year accident-free, anti-theft, air bags, and good student.
If you need , ask all companies you are considering the best way to save money. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts may not be offered in Norton. To see insurers that provide some of the discounts listed above in Virginia, follow this link.
Are auto insurance agents obsolete?
Many drivers still like to get advice from a local agent and that is OK! The best thing about getting online price quotes is that you can find the best rates but also keep your business local.
For easy comparison, once you complete this quick form, your insurance coverage information is transmitted to agents in your area that provide for your auto insurance coverage. You won’t need to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go to you instantly. You can most likely find cheaper rates AND an agent nearby. If you wish to compare rates from one company in particular, feel free to visit that company’s website and fill out the quote form the provide.
Picking the best insurance company requires more thought than just the price. These are valid questions to ask:
- Are they paid to recommend certain coverages?
- Does the agency have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
- If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
- Is insurance their full-time profession?
- Are they actively involved in the community?
- If independent agents, which companies do they recommend?
When looking for a local Norton insurance agency, there are a couple of different types of agents and how they can write your policy. Auto insurance agents in Norton can be categorized as either captive or independent.
Captive Insurance Agencies
These type of agents generally can only insure with one company like Allstate and State Farm. They are unable to compare rates from other companies so they have no alternatives for high prices. These agents are usually well trained on sales techniques which helps offset the inability to provide other markets.
Independent Insurance Agents
Agents that elect to be independent do not work for one specific company and that enables them to quote your coverage with a variety of different insurance companies and potentially find a lower price. If they find a lower price, they simply move your policy to a different company which is easy for the insured.<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px" src="https://www.carinsurancediy.com/wp-content/uploads/ci175-27.jpg" alt="Norton insurance quotes” />
When comparing auto insurance rates, you absolutely need to include price quotes from at least one independent agent so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare.
Listed below is a list of independent agents in Norton that are able to give rate quotes.
Brown and Brown Insurance – 618 Market Pl SW – Norton, VA 24273 – (276) 679-0747
Gladeville Insurance – 615 Kentucky Ave SE – Norton, VA 24273 – (276) 679-1673
To view more licensed insurance agents in Norton, link to this list of Norton, VA auto insurance agents.
Your situation helps dictate your coverage
When buying adequate coverage, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Each situation is unique and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For instance, these questions may help highlight if your insurance needs might need an agent’s assistance.
- How do I file an SR-22 for a DUI in Virginia?
- Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
- Is my business laptop covered if it gets stolen from my vehicle?
- Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
- I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
- Does liability extend to a camper or trailer?
- Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
- How much liability coverage do I need in Virginia?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
More detailed Virginia auto insurance information can be found at the Virginia Bureau of Insurance website. Consumers can download brochures, get help finding coverage, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.
More related Norton auto insurance information:
Beware of misleading auto insurance ads
Auto insurance providers like Allstate, Geico and Progressive seem to constantly run television, radio, and online ads. They all state the claim about savings after switching your coverage to them. It sounds good, but how can they all charge you a lower premium?
Different companies offer their best rates for the driver that will generate a profit. For instance, a desirable risk might have to be a mature driver, has no driving citations, and drives a safe vehicle. A propective insured that meets those criteria will get low car insurance rates and will most likely save a lot of money.
Potential customers who don’t qualify for these standards will get higher prices which translates to the prospect going elsewhere. If you listen to the ad wording, they say “customers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much when switching. This is how companies can make it sound like they have such great premium rates. Because of these techniques, you really should do a quote comparison often. It’s just not possible to know which insurance companies will provide the lowest car insurance rates.
Coverage specifics
Knowing the specifics of a auto insurance policy can help you determine the best coverages for your vehicles. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Listed below are typical coverage types found on most auto insurance policies.
Auto collision coverage
This pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision insurance covers things such as scraping a guard rail, sustaining damage from a pot hole, rolling your car, hitting a mailbox and backing into a parked car. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to raise the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage
Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. This coverage pays for injuries to you and your family and damage to your vehicle.
Since many Virginia drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (which is 25/50/20), their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is important protection for you and your family.
Liability
Liability coverage can cover damage or injury you incur to a person or their property. This insurance protects YOU from legal claims by others, and does not provide coverage for damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. Your policy might show limits of 50/100/50 that translate to a limit of $50,000 per injured person, a per accident bodily injury limit of $100,000, and a limit of $50,000 paid for damaged property.
Liability can pay for claims such as emergency aid, structural damage and repair costs for stationary objects. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is up to you, but you should buy higher limits if possible. Virginia state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/20,000 but it’s recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.
Coverage for medical payments
Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for bills like chiropractic care, ambulance fees, EMT expenses and funeral costs. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants in addition to getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Comprehensive coverages
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things like fire damage, theft, damage from getting keyed and hitting a deer. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.
One last thing
While you’re price shopping online, it’s not a good idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are many occasions where an accident victim reduced collision coverage and found out when filing a claim that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage at the best possible price, but do not skimp to save money.
Some insurance providers do not offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these small insurance companies provide coverage only through independent agencies. Cost effective auto insurance can be bought online and with local Norton insurance agents, and you should be comparing both so you have a total pricing picture.