Finding more affordable La Grande auto insurance might be nearly impossible for people new to online insurance quotes. With such a large number of agents and online companies available, it can easily be a difficult mission to locate the lowest premium rates.
Consumers should take time to take a look at other company’s rates every six months because prices are variable and change quite frequently. Just because you had the lowest price two years ago other companies may now be cheaper. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because it’s time to teach you the quickest way to find better rates and still maintain coverage.
Choosing the best insurance company for you in La Grande is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using these tips. Oregon drivers just need to understand the proper methods to compare rates on the web.
Informed drivers can lower your rates
When buying auto insurance it’s important to understand some of the factors that play a part in calculating your auto insurance rates. If you know what determines premiums, this enables you to make decisions that may result in much lower annual insurance costs.
- Higher auto insurance rates for auto insurance lapses – Having a lapse in insurance coverage is a fast way to increase your rates. Not only will you pay more, being ticketed for driving with no insurance can result in a revoked license or a big fine. You will then be forced to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the Oregon motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
- How do annual miles impact rates? – The higher the miles on your car in a year’s time the more it will cost to insure it. Many insurance companies calculate rates based upon how you use the vehicle. Autos left parked in the garage can be on a lower rate level as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your vehicle rating states the correct driver usage.
- Do you really need roadside assistance? – Insurance companies have many extra bells and whistles that you can buy on your policy. Coverages for rental car coverage, better glass coverage, and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. They may seem good initially, but your needs may have changed so get rid of them and save.
- Prices and job – Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for auto insurance? Careers like doctors, social workers and dentists generally pay the highest average rates because of intense work situations and lengthy work days. Conversely, careers like actors, engineers and retirees get better rates.
- High credit means lower rates – An insured’s credit score will be a significant factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. If your credit history is low, you could potentially save money when insuring your vehicle by repairing your credit. People with high credit ratings tend to be more responsible than those with poor credit.
- Protect yourself with liability coverage – Your auto insurance policy’s liability coverage will protect you if ever you are ruled to be at fault for causing personal injury or damage in an accident. Liability insurance provides for a legal defense to defend your case. It is affordable coverage compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so drivers should buy more than the minimum limits required by law.
- Pay more if you have a long commute – Living in less populated areas of the country is a positive aspect if you are looking for the lowest rates. People who live in big cities regularly have more auto accidents and much longer commute distances. Less people living in that area means less chance of accidents in addition to fewer liability claims.
Drivers save money with with these discounts
Companies that sell car insurance do not advertise all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so the below list has both the well known and also the more inconspicuous credits that you can use to lower your rates.
- Accident-Free Discounts – Drivers who don’t have accidents have much lower rates in comparison with frequent claim filers.
- Driver Education Discount – Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to take driver’s ed class if offered at their school.
- Telematics Data – La Grande drivers who agree to allow driving data collection to analyze where and when they drive by using a telematic data system like In-Drive from State Farm and Progressive’s Snapshot could save a few bucks if they exhibit good driving behavior.
- Student Discounts – Being a good student may save as much as 25% on a . Many companies even apply the discount to college students up to age 25.
- Seat Belt Usage – Drivers who require all occupants to wear their seat belts can save up to 15% off the medical payments premium.
One last thing about discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Some only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So despite the fact that it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.
A few popular companies and the discounts they provide are shown below.
- Geico may have discounts that include anti-lock brakes, multi-policy, military active duty, seat belt use, membership and employees, and five-year accident-free.
- SAFECO policyholders can earn discounts including anti-lock brakes, teen safe driver, teen safety rewards, bundle discounts, and safe driver.
- State Farm has discounts for safe vehicle, passive restraint, accident-free, good student, driver’s education, and anti-theft.
- MetLife offers discounts for multi-policy, good student, good driver, claim-free, and defensive driver.
- 21st Century has savings for anti-lock brakes, early bird, student driver, 55 and older, air bags, and homeowners.
- Progressive discounts include good student, online signing, multi-vehicle, homeowner, continuous coverage, and multi-policy.
When getting , it’s a good idea to every company which credits you are entitled to. Savings may not apply to policyholders in your state. To locate companies who offer auto insurance discounts in La Grande, follow this link.
When should I get advice from an agent?
Certain consumers would prefer to buy from a local agent and that can be a great decision Good agents are very good at helping people manage risk and help submit paperwork. One of the great benefits of comparing rate quotes online is you may find better rates and still have an agent to talk to.
For easy comparison, once you complete this quick form, your insurance data is emailed to local insurance agents in La Grande who will gladly provide quotes for your coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to do any legwork because prices are sent directly to your email. If you wish to get a comparison quote from one company in particular, you would need to navigate to their website to submit a rate quote request.
Picking the best insurance company requires you to look at more than just a cheap price. Agents should be asked these questions:
- Can you choose the body shop in case repairs are needed?
- How often do they review policy coverages?
- Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?
- How experiences are they in personal risk management?
- How is replacement cost determined on your vehicle?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
- Is the agency covered by Errors and Omissions coverage?
The type of car insurance agent you choose is important
When finding a local La Grande insurance agency, you must know there are a couple different agency structures and how they operate. Auto insurance agents in La Grande can either be captive agents or independent agents. Either one can sell affordable auto insurance policies, but it’s a good idea to understand the difference in how they write coverage because it may have an impact on buying decisions.<img class="alignright" style="padding-top:15px;" src="https://www.carinsurancediy.com/wp-content/uploads/ci175-92.jpg" alt="Oregon car insurance prices”/>
Captive Auto Insurance Agencies
Captive insurance agents are contracted to one company and some examples include Farmers Insurance, State Farm, Allstate, and AAA. Captives cannot compare other company’s rates so keep that in mind. These agents receive a lot of sales training on their company’s products which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers sometimes purchase coverage from captives mostly because of loyalty to the company and strong financial ratings.
Listed below is a short list of captive agents in La Grande that can give you price quote information.
- American Family Insurance – 2212 Island Ave – La Grande, OR 97850 – (541) 663-8155
- Allstate Insurance – 808 Adams Ave – La Grande, OR 97850 – (541) 962-1505
Independent Auto Insurance Agents
Independent insurance agents are not employed by one company and that allows them to write policies with lots of companies depending on which coverage is best. To move your coverage to a new company, your agent can just switch to a different company and you don’t have to do anything.
If you need lower rates, you definitely need to compare prices from independent agents so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare. Most independent agents also contract with companies that do not advertise much which may have better rates.
The following is a short list of independent agencies in La Grande who can help you get price quotes.
- Horace Mann Insurance Co – 1904 H Ave # E7 – La Grande, OR 97850 – (541) 962-9579
- Local Insurance – 210 Chestnut St – La Grande, OR 97850 – (541) 963-2000
- Mc Adams Agency – 1805 1/2 Adams Ave – La Grande, OR 97850 – (541) 963-1634
To view more La Grande insurance agents, click for a full listing of La Grande, OR auto insurance providers.
Save $469 a year! What?
Oregon drivers can’t escape the ads that claim the cheapest car insurance rates from the likes of Allstate, Geico and Progressive. All the ads convey the message that you’ll save big if you move your policy.
It sounds good, but how can they all claim to save you money? This is the trick they use.
Companies are able to cherry pick for a prospective insured that makes them money. A good example of this type of insured could possibly be over age 30, carries high limits, and has excellent credit. A driver that meets those criteria will get low car insurance rates and will also save some money.
Consumers who are not a match for those standards must pay higher rates which results in the customer buying from someone else. If you listen closely, the ads state “people that switch” but not “everyone who gets a quote” save that much. That’s the way companies can truthfully make those claims. Because of these techniques, you absolutely need to compare often. It is impossible to guess which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest car insurance rates.
Special considerations
When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn’t really a one size fits all plan. Everyone’s situation is a little different.
These are some specific questions might help in determining whether or not you could use an agent’s help.
- Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
- What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
- Exactly who is provided coverage by my policy?
- Do I need motorclub coverage?
- Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
- Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
- What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
- Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
If you’re not sure about those questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and you can get the answers you need.
Additional consumer information websites
More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the Oregon Insurance Division website. Consumers can read state legal mandates and laws, get help finding coverage, view a list of available companies, and report car insurance fraud.
Additional helpful sites include FindNewCarInsurance.com and this page on QuoteClickInsure.com.
Compare but don’t skimp
As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don’t skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage to discover at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. Your goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest cost while still protecting your assets.
You just learned some good ideas how you can lower your auto insurance prices. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding . You may be surprised to find that the best price on auto insurance is with some of the smallest insurance companies.
Insureds change insurance companies for a variety of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, being labeled a high risk driver, policy cancellation or even denial of a claim. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching auto insurance companies is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.