If you are new to online price comparisons, it’s easy to be bewildered by the large number of companies who claim to have the best auto insurance rates.
Auto insurance companies offer many types of discounts
Some companies do not advertise the complete list of policy discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so the list below details some of the more common and also the lesser-known credits that you can use to lower your rates.
- Organization Discounts – Affiliation with a qualifying organization is a simple method to lower premiums on your bill.
- Senior Discount – Drivers that qualify as senior citizens may receive a discount up to 10%.
- Multi-policy Discount – When you have multiple policies with the same company they may give you a discount of approximately 10% to 15%.
- Active Military Service – Being on active deployment in the military could qualify you for better prices.
- Early Payment Discounts – If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
- Fort Pierce Homeowners Pay Less – Owning a home in Fort Pierce may earn you a small savings because owning a home means you have a higher level of financial diligence.
- Seat Belt Discounts – Drivers who require all occupants to buckle their seat belts could save 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
- Waiver for an Accident – This one isn’t a discount, but companies like Geico, State Farm, and Progressive may permit one accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you haven’t had any claims for a specific time period.
As is typical with insurance, most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you aren’t that lucky. But all discounts should help lower your policy cost.
Car insurance companies who may offer these discounts are:
If you need lower rates, check with each company or agent which discounts you qualify for. Some discounts listed above may not apply to policyholders in every state.
Getting a more affordable price on insurance is actually easier than you may think. Drivers just need to invest a little time getting comparison quotes to see which company has . It is quite easy and can be accomplished using one of these methods.
- The most recommended method to compare a lot of rates at once is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This type of form prevents you from having to do repetitive form submissions for every company. A single, simple form will get you price quotes from several companies. Recommended for those who want to invest the least amount of time.
- A less efficient way to find lower rates is to take the time to go to each company’s website and get a separate price quote. For instance, we’ll pretend you want to see prices from Progressive, 21st Century and State Farm. In order to compare rates, you need to take the time to go to each site and repeatedly type in your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker.
For a handy list of car insurance company links in Fort Pierce, click here.
- The final method to shop rates to insurance agents’ offices. Comparing online rate quotes makes this unnecessary unless you have a complicated situation and need the trained guidance of a licensed agent. It is possible with some companies get the lowest quotes online but purchase the actual policy in an agency.
It’s your choice how you get your quotes, but make darn sure you compare the same coverage limits and deductibles for each price quote. If you have different deductibles you can’t possibly truly determine the lowest rate in Fort Pierce.
Why your rate might be higher
One of the most helpful ways to save on auto insurance is to to have a grasp of a few of the rating criteria that go into determining the level of your policy premiums. When you know what positively or negatively positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this helps enable you to make changes that may result in cheaper rates. Multiple criteria are part of the calculation when premium rates are determined. Some factors are common sense like your driving record, but some are more transparent such as your credit history or your commute time.
The items below are a partial list of the pieces used by insurance companies to determine rates.
- What are your deductibles? – Comp and collision deductibles are how much you are required to spend out-of-pocket if a claim is determined to be covered. Coverage for physical damage, also called ‘full coverage’, insures against damage to your car. Some coverage claims are collision with another vehicle, fire damage, or theft of your vehicle. The more expense you’re willing to pay, the less money you will pay for auto insurance.
- Long commutes cost more – Driving a lot of miles in a year’s time the higher your rates will be. A lot of insurance companies calculate rates based on how the vehicle is used. Autos used primarily for pleasure use receive better premium rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Ask your agent if your policy correctly shows the correct usage for each vehicle, because improper ratings can cost you money.
- Obey driving laws and save – Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance as compared to those with violations. Getting just one driving citation could increase your next policy renewal to the point where it’s not affordable. Drivers who have gotten license-revoking violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to prove financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to prevent a license revocation.
- Protect yourself with liability – Liability coverage is the protection in the event that you are found to be at fault for damages caused by your negligence. Your policy’s liability insurance provides legal defense coverage to defend your case. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
- More performance means more cost – The make and model of the vehicle you are buying insurance for makes a big difference in your car insurance bill. The lowest performance passenger vehicles usually have the lowest premiums, but that’s not the only thing that factors into the final price.
- Do you really need roadside assistance? – There are a ton of optional add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your policy. Insurance for vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness, and term life insurance are probably not needed. They may seem good at first, but your needs may have changed so remove them and pocket the money.
- Single drivers may have higher rates – Having a wife or husband helps lower the price on your policy. Having a significant other usually means you are more mature than a single person and statistics prove married drivers tend to file fewer claims.
- Your car’s features help determine rates – Purchasing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft deterrent systems like OnStar, LoJack tracking, and tamper alarms help track and prevent your vehicle from being stolen.
You may need specialized auto insurance coverage
When it comes to choosing adequate coverage, there really is no one size fits all plan. Each situation is unique.
Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight if your insurance needs may require specific advice.
- Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
- Do I get a pro-rated refund if I cancel my policy early?
- I don’t drive much so do I pay less?
- Is my teen driver covered when they drive my company car?
- How much liability coverage do I need in Florida?
- What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in Florida?
- Do I have coverage when pulling a U-Haul trailer?
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.
Compare rates but still have a local Fort Pierce insurance agent
Many drivers would rather talk to an insurance agent and often times that is recommended Good insurance agents can help you choose the best coverages and give you someone to call. The biggest benefit of comparing auto insurance online is that you can obtain better rates and still choose a local agent.
For easy comparison, once you complete this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is immediately sent to companies in Fort Pierce that give free quotes for your insurance coverage. It makes it easy because there is no need to visit any agencies because quoted prices will be sent to the email address you provide. If for some reason you want to get a rate quote from a particular provider, don’t hesitate to navigate to their website and fill out their quote form.
Picking an insurance company requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. These are some questions you should get answers to.
- Can you get a list of referrals?
- Do the agents have professional certifications like CPCU or CIC?
- What is their Better Business Bureau rating?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
Is a captive or independent car insurance agent right for you?
If you are searching for local Fort Pierce agents, it’s helpful to know the different types of agencies and how they can service your needs differently. Agencies in Fort Pierce are considered either independent or captive. Either can do a good job, but we need to point out how they differ since it can impact the selection process.
Captive Insurance Agencies
Agents of this type can only place business with one company such as Farmers Insurance and State Farm. They usually cannot give you multiple price quotes so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captives are well trained on the products they sell and that allows them to sell at a higher price point. Consumers often buy from the same agent for years partially due to the brand rather than having the cheapest rates.
Below is a list of captive insurance agents in Fort Pierce willing to provide price quote information.
- Farm Bureau Insurance – 2100 Sunrise Blvd # A – Fort Pierce, FL 34950 – (772) 465-0440
- Allstate Insurance – 4001 Virginia Ave # B – Fort Pierce, FL 34981 – (772) 461-3969
- State Farm Insurance – 2301 Sunrise Blvd – Fort Pierce, FL 34982 – (772) 461-7900
Independent Auto Insurance Agents
Agents of this type are not restriced to one company so they can quote policies with multiple insurance companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To transfer your coverage to a different company, they can switch companies in-house and you don’t have to switch agencies. When comparison shopping, you will want to get rate quotes from at least one independent agent so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare. They often place coverage with smaller regional carriers which may provide better rates.
Shown below is a list of independent insurance agents in Fort Pierce that can give you price quote information.
- David R Lodge Agency – 6768 Dulce Real – Fort Pierce, FL 34951 – (772) 468-0726
- Prestige Insurance – 5001 S Us Highway 1 – Fort Pierce, FL 34982 – (772) 465-2886
- Kenneth Durham Agency Inc – 850 S 21st St # O – Fort Pierce, FL 34950 – (772) 468-7202
- Harbor Insurance Agency Inc – 2222 Colonial Rd # 100 – Fort Pierce, FL 34950 – (772) 461-6040
- G A Rains Insurance Inc – 2915 S Us Highway 1 – Fort Pierce, FL 34982 – (772) 464-4532
To view more insurance agents in Fort Pierce, see this full listing of Fort Pierce, FL auto insurance agents.
Auto insurance savings promises
Consumers can’t get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance from the likes of 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies make the point that you’ll save big if you just switch to them.
How is it plausible that every one can offer drivers better rates? Here is how they do it.
Auto insurance companies have specific criteria for the driver that earns them the highest profit. For instance, this type of driver could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has a clear driving record, and has a high credit rating. Someone who fits those characteristics will probably get cheap prices and will also save a lot of money.
People who may not quite match the ideal profile will get higher premium rates and ends up with the customer buying from someone else. If you listen to the ad wording, they say “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much money. That’s the way insurance companies can advertise the savings. Because of these techniques, it is so important to do a price quote comparison at every renewal. It is just not possible to predict with any certainty which company will have the best prices at this point in time.
Compare but don’t skimp
Consumers switch companies for any number of reasons including policy cancellation, lack of trust in their agent, being labeled a high risk driver and even not issuing a premium refund. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, choosing a new insurance company can be less work than you think.
More affordable auto insurance can be purchased both online in addition to many Fort Pierce insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies do not provide rates over the internet and usually these smaller providers provide coverage only through independent insurance agents.
We’ve covered some good ideas how to get a better price on auto insurance. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even find the lowest premium rates come from a lesser-known regional company.
More detailed Florida auto insurance information can be read at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website. Consumers can learn about specific coverages, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, report car insurance fraud, and read industry bulletins.
Also read more on BankRate.com’s Car Insurance: When not to Skimp and QuoteClickSave.com.