Tightwads Guide for Saving on Parkersburg, WV Auto Insurance

Overwhelmed by the dozens of auto insurance company choices in Parkersburg? Many other drivers are as well. You have so many choices that it can turn into a big hassle to find the perfect company for you.

If you are insured now or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to find the best rates while maximizing coverage. The purpose of this article is to help educate you on how to get online quotes and some money-saving tips. West Virginia vehicle owners only need to know the most efficient way to get comparison rates over the internet.

Fast and Easy Parkersburg Auto Insurance Quotes

Getting better auto insurance pricing is not rocket science. Drivers just need to spend a few minutes to get quotes online from several insurance companies. This is very easy and can be done in several different ways.

• The recommended way to get quotes is to use a rate comparison form click to view form in new window. This type of form eliminates the need for separate quotation requests to each individual auto insurance company. Taking the time to complete one form will get you rate comparisons from all major companies. Recommended for those who want to invest the least amount of time.
• A different way to compare rate quotes is going to the website of each company to complete their respective quote request forms. For example, we’ll pretend you want to compare rates from Allstate, Esurance and American Family. To get each rate you have to spend time on each company’s site to input your insurance information, which is why the first method is quicker.

  To view a list of companies in Parkersburg, click here.

However you get your quotes, make darn sure you compare apples-to-apples coverages and limits for each price quote. If you enter different deductibles then you won’t be able to decipher which rate is best in Parkersburg.

Don’t miss out on these money-saving discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don’t list every discount very clearly, so the following is a list of some of the best known and the harder-to-find auto insurance savings. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

• Own a Home – Being a homeowner can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
• Low Mileage – Driving fewer miles could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
• Safety Course Discount – Completing a driver safety course can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
• Payment Method – By paying your policy upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
• Drive Safe and Save – Drivers who avoid accidents can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates than drivers with accidents.
• E-sign – Some insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying your policy online.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So when it seems like you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn’t work that way.

For a list of insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Parkersburg, click this link.

Factors that affect insurance rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

The following are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine your rates.

• Bad driving skills means higher rates – Even one ticket can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers who don’t get tickets tend to pay less for car insurance than people who have multiple driving citations. If you have severe violations such as DUI or reckless driving may find they need to file a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to drive a vehicle legally.
• How your age affects price – Young drivers in West Virginia tend to be careless and easily distracted in a vehicle so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Mature drivers are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel.
• Liability coverage protects you – Liability coverage provides coverage if you are found to be at fault for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It will provide for a legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so drivers should carry high limits.
• Performance makes a difference – The make and model of the car you drive makes a substantial difference in how high your rates are. Low performance passenger cars generally receive the lowest base rates, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.

Do I need special coverages?

When it comes to choosing the best auto insurance coverage, there isn’t really a “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s needs are different.

Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight if you will benefit from professional help.

• Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
• What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
• Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
• Does coverage extend to a rental car in a foreign country?
• Do I get a pro-rated refund if I cancel my policy early?
• Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?

If you’re not sure about those questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form. It’s fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

More tips and info about auto insurance can be found at the West Virginia Insurance Commission website. West Virginia consumers can view agent and company licensing information, report car insurance fraud, and read industry bulletins.

Other useful links include BankRate.com’s Car Insurance: When not to Skimp and this list of insurance agents in Parkersburg, WV.

Auto insurance myths debunked

Consumers in West Virginia get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings by companies like State Farm and Allstate. All the companies have a common claim that you can save if you change to them.

How do they all claim to save you money?

All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. A good example of a desirable insured could possibly be over the age of 50, has no driving citations, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who do not match the “perfect” profile will be charged higher premiums which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say “people who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save money. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. That is why drivers should compare as many rates as you can. You cannot predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

More quotes mean more savings

Consumers who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as extreme rates for teen drivers, delays in responding to claim requests, policy cancellation and even lack of trust in their agent. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, finding the right auto insurance provider is not as hard as you think.

Cost effective auto insurance can be found online as well as from independent agents in Parkersburg, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture. A few companies don’t offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

We just showed you quite a bit of information on how to lower your auto insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the best prices are with a lesser-known regional company.