I can’t think of a single person who enjoys paying for auto insurance, especially when their premiums are too high. With consumers having so many companies and agents to choose from, it is hard for the average consumer to locate the lowest price provider.
Finding the best auto insurance in Melbourne is easy if you know what you’re doing. If you have a policy now or are shopping for new coverage, you can follow these tips to find the best rates while maximizing coverage. Florida consumers just need to know the best way to get comparison rates on the web.
Finding Auto Insurance in Melbourne, Florida
Shopping for lower auto insurance rates can be challenging if you don’t understand the fastest way to get free quotes. You could waste time driving to agents in Melbourne, or you could use the internet to get pricing more quickly.
Most of the larger companies participate in an industry program where prospective buyers enter their coverage request one time, and at least one company provides a quote based on that information. This eliminates the need for quote forms for every auto insurance company.
To find out how much you’re overpaying now click here (opens in new window).
The one downside to doing it this way is you are unable to specify the providers you want pricing from. So if you prefer to pick from a list of companies to request quotes from, we have assembled a list of the cheapest auto insurance companies in Florida. Click here for list of insurance companies in Florida.
Whichever method you choose, ensure you’re using the exact same coverages on every quote. If you compare different liability limits it will be next to impossible to find the best deal in Melbourne.
Do drivers who switch really save $462 a year?
Consumers in Florida can’t ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by State Farm and Allstate. They all seem to say the same thing that you can save if you change to their company.
But how can every company claim to save you money?
Different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that makes them money. An example of a driver they prefer could possibly be between 30 and 50, has no tickets, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A propective insured who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.
Drivers who don’t meet these standards will be charged higher premiums and ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say “customers that switch” not “people who quote” save that much money. That’s the way insurance companies can state the savings.
That is why you should compare as many rates as you can. You cannot predict which auto insurance company will give you the biggest savings.
Make smart decisions and save
It’s important that you understand the different types of things that help determine auto insurance rates. Knowing what influences your rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get big savings.
- Low deductibles can be expensive – The deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. Coverage for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply are colliding with a building, damage from fire, and windstorm damage. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
- Men fork out a little more – Statistics have proven women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are better drivers. Women and men have accidents in similar numbers, but men have costlier accidents. Men also get more serious tickets such as reckless driving. Teenage male drivers tend to get in the most accidents and therefore are the most expensive to insure.
- More than one policy can earn a discount – The majority of companies provide better rates to insureds who buy several policies from them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, it’s still a good idea to compare rates to ensure the best deal.
- Keep rates low by being claim-free – Insurance companies in Florida award lower rates to drivers who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can look forward to either higher rates or even cancellation. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
- Mature drivers pay less – More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations. Youthful drivers are known to be less responsible when driving and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
Don’t miss these discounts
Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but you can get discounts that you may not know about. Most are applied at the time of quoting, but a few must be specially asked for prior to receiving the credit. If they aren’t giving you every credit you deserve, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Drive Less and Save – Keeping the miles down can earn a substantially lower rate.
- Sign Early and Save – Select companies give a discount for switching policies before your current expiration date. It can save you around 10%.
- Distant Student – Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
- Driver’s Ed – Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course in high school.
- Drive Safe and Save – Insureds without accidents may save up to 50% more than less cautious drivers.
Keep in mind that most discounts do not apply the the whole policy. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though it sounds like it’s possible to get free car insurance, you’re out of luck. Any amount of discount will cut the cost of coverage.
For a list of providers who offer auto insurance discounts in Melbourne, follow this link.
When might I need help?
When it comes to choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s needs are different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions might help in determining whether you might need an agent’s assistance.
- What vehicles should carry emergency assistance coverage?
- Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Florida?
- Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
- When should I not file a claim?
- Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?
- Is pleasure use cheaper than using my vehicle to commute?
- Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
- Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
- When would I need additional glass coverage?
- When would I need rental car insurance?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and can help protect your family.
Quote often and quote early
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s very important that you do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where an insured cut collision coverage and found out when filing a claim that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to purchase plenty of coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.
Low-cost auto insurance can be found from both online companies and with local Melbourne insurance agents, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.
For more reading
Additional auto insurance information can be read on the website for the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Click here for link. Florida consumers can find a variety of consumer forms, report car insurance fraud, and learn about insurance regulations.
Also read more on QuoteClickInsure.com and this page for help finding agents in Melbourne, FL.