Finding cheaper rates on Newport car insurance is kind of frustrating for drivers new to online comparison shopping. You have so many companies to choose from that it can be a difficult mission to find more affordable prices in Tennessee.
Shopping for cheaper protection in Newport is quite easy. Essentially every driver who is shopping for car insurance will most likely be able to find lower rates. But Tennessee vehicle owners should learn how companies price insurance differently because it can help you find the best coverage.
Performing a rate comparison can be a daunting task if you don’t know the most efficient way. You can waste a lot of time discussing policy coverages with insurance companies in Newport, or you could save time and use online quotes to get the quickest rates.
Many of the larger companies participate in a marketplace where prospective buyers complete one form, and each company then returns a price quote based on that information. This prevents consumers from doing quote requests for every car insurance company. To participate in this free quote system, click here (opens in new window).
The one downside to using this type of form is that consumers can’t choose which insurance companies to receive prices from. So if you prefer to choose specific providers for rate comparison, we put together a list of car insurance companies in Tennessee. Click to view list.
It doesn’t matter which method you choose, just double check that you are using the same coverage limits and deductibles for every company. If your comparisons have unequal deductibles or liability limits then you won’t be able to determine which rate is truly the best in Newport. Quoting even small variations in insurance coverages could throw off the whole comparison. Just keep in mind that more quotes gives you a better chance of getting better pricing.
Save $390 a year. For real?
Well-known car insurance companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm endlessly run television, radio, and online ads. They all seem to convey the message that you’ll save big after switching your car insurance coverage to their company. That’s great but how can every company charge lower premium rates? It’s all in the words they use.
All companies provide the lowest rates for the driver that will add to their bottom line. An example of a desirable risk may need to be a married female, has never had a claim, and drives a car with an anti-theft system. A propective insured who matches those parameters will get a cheap rate quote and as a result will probably pay quite a bit less when switching companies.
Potential customers who are not a match for those criteria will be quoted a more expensive rate and this results in business going elsewhere. If you listen to the ad wording, they say “customers who switch” but not “all drivers who get quotes” save that much money. That’s why insurance companies can make those statements.
This really emphasizes why you need to compare rate quotes every year. Because you cannot predict the company that will have the best premium rates for your profile.
Do you qualify for discount car insurance?
Some companies don’t always advertise all available discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so here is a list both well-publicized and the more hidden discounts that may be available.
- Discount for Swiching Early – Some insurance companies give discounts for switching companies prior to your current policy expiring. It can save you around 10%.
- New Vehicle Savings – Putting coverage on a new car is cheaper because newer vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
- Service Members Pay Less – Being on active duty in the military could mean lower premium rates.
- Sign Online – Many companies give back up to $50 over the internet.
- Own a Home – Just being a homeowner can earn you a little savings because it demonstrates responsibility.
- Driver Education Discount – Reduce the cost of insurance for teen drivers by having them complete a driver education course if offered at their school.
- Senior Discount – Older drivers can possibly qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
- Discounts for Good Drivers – Accident-free drivers may save up to 50% more than less cautious drivers.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles are much safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Discounts reduce rates, but you should keep in mind that some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. Most only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though you would think it’s possible to get free car insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.
If you would like to see a list of providers who offer free car insurance quotes in Tennessee, click here.
Get rate quotes but work with a local Newport insurance agent
A lot of people still prefer to go talk to an agent and that is a smart decision A nice benefit of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find cheap car insurance quotes and also buy local. And providing support for neighborhood agents is important particularly in Newport.
After completing this simple form, your insurance coverage information is immediately sent to participating agents in Newport who can give free rate quotes for your business. You won’t even need to find an agent since price quotes are sent directly to you. You can find the lowest rates AND a local agent. If you want to compare prices from a specific car insurance provider, you can always go to their quote page and submit a quote form there.
When looking for a reliable insurance agency, you must know there are a couple different types of agents and how they function. Agencies in Newport are categorized either independent or captive.
Independent Agents
Independent agents are not required to write business for one company so they can write business with any number of different companies and find the cheapest rate. If they find a lower price, they simply move your policy to a different company and you stay with the same agent. When searching for an agent, you should always include rate quotes from several independent agencies for maximum quote selection. A lot of them also have access to small regional insurance companies that may provide cheaper car insurance rates.
Shown below is a small list of independent agencies in Newport who can help you get price quotes.
- B A Trent Insurance – 262 E Main St – Newport, TN 37821 – (423) 623-5241
- Hodge-Hardy Agency – 529 Cosby Hwy – Newport, TN 37821 – (423) 623-5412
- Direct General Ins Agency – 640 Cosby Hwy – Newport, TN 37821 – (423) 625-3329
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agencies work for only one company and some examples include State Farm or Allstate. Captive agents are unable to provide rate quotes from other companies so they have to upsell other benefits. They are very knowledgeable on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage. A lot of people choose to use a captive agent mainly due to the brand legacy rather than having low rates.
The following is a short list of captive agencies in Newport willing to provide price quote information.
- Farm Bureau Insurance – 250 Heritage Blvd – Newport, TN 37821 – (423) 623-9071
To locate agents near you, visit this complete selection of insurance agents in Newport, TN.
Deciding on an insurance agent should include more criteria than just a cheap price quote. These are some valid questions you should ask.
- Is working in the agency their full-time job?
- Can you choose the body shop in case repairs are needed?
- Do they see any coverage gaps in your plan?
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
- Are they primarily personal or commercial lines agents?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- Is there a 24/7 contact number?
After receiving answers to your satisfaction to any questions you have and quotes, you may have just found an auto insurance agent that can adequately provide car insurance. Just remember it’s your policy and you can cancel coverage at any point so never feel you’re contractually obligated to any specific agency with no way to switch.
Different people need different car insurance coverages
When choosing proper insurance coverage, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Every insured’s situation is different.
Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight if your situation may require specific advice.
- Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
- Do I need motorclub coverage?
- Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
- Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
- Should I buy more coverage than the required Tennessee minimum liability coverage?
- Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
- What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
- Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
- Am I covered when driving someone else’s vehicle?
- Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form.
More information is available on the through this link. Visitors are able to read state legal mandates and laws, discover disciplinary actions, and find a variety of consumer forms.
The following articles may also be useful.
- Tips to Finding the Right Auto Insurance Agent in Newport News, VA
- Free Guide to Searching Online for a Newport News Car Insurance Agent
The coverage is in the details
Learning about specific coverages of your policy aids in choosing appropriate coverage and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Liability insurance – This coverage will cover damage that occurs to people or other property that is your fault. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see limits of 25/50/25 that translate to a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and a total limit of $25,000 for damage to vehicles and property. Another option is a combined limit which combines the three limits into one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability can pay for claims such as pain and suffering, emergency aid and repair costs for stationary objects. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but consider buying as much as you can afford. Tennessee requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/15,000 but you should think about purchasing better liability coverage.
Collision – Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with another car or object. You will need to pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for things such as driving through your garage door, backing into a parked car and crashing into a ditch. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from older vehicles. Another option is to bump up the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance – Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.
Since many Tennessee drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (25/50/15 in Tennessee), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Usually the UM/UIM limits are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision) – Comprehensive insurance covers damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as hitting a bird, a broken windshield and theft. The highest amount you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Insurance for medical payments – Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for short-term medical expenses for things like doctor visits, rehabilitation expenses, nursing services and funeral costs. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Quote often and quote early
Lower-priced car insurance is possible from both online companies in addition to local insurance agencies, so you need to with both to have the best selection. Some car insurance companies do not offer internet price quotes and many times these small insurance companies provide coverage only through independent agents.
When shopping online for car insurance, you should never buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many cases where someone sacrificed physical damage coverage only to regret that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage for the lowest price and still be able to protect your assets.
You just read many tips how you can save on car insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers could even find that the lowest premium rates come from a lesser-known regional company.