5 Must-Know Techniques When Comparing Huntsville, AL Car Insurance

Are you overwhelmed by the wide range of car insurance company choices in Huntsville? You have a lot of company. Consumers have so many choices that it can turn into a lot of work to find lower rates.

How to Compare Huntsville Car Insurance Rates

There are multiple methods to shop for car insurance, but one way is less time-consuming than others. You could waste time driving to insurance agencies in Huntsville, or you can stay home and use online quoting to quickly compare rates.

Most major companies take part in a program that enables customers to enter their policy data once, and every company can give them a price based on that data. This prevents consumers from doing quotation requests to each company.

To use this form to compare rates click here to open in new window.

The one disadvantage to using this type of system is you don’t know exactly which providers you will receive quotes from. So if you prefer to choose specific insurance companies to request quotes from, we have a page of the cheapest car insurance companies in Alabama. Click to view list.

It’s up to you how you get prices quotes, just make absolute certain that you use identical coverage limits and deductibles on every quote you get. If your comparisons have mixed coverages it’s impossible to decipher which rate is best in Huntsville. Slightly different coverage limits may result in large price differences. It’s important to know that comparing a large number of companies will improve the odds of getting the best offered rates.

Do you qualify for discounts?

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but you may find discounts to help offset the cost. Some discounts apply automatically at the time of quoting, but some may not be applied and must be asked about prior to getting the savings.

• Resident Student – Kids in college who live away from home without a vehicle on campus may be able to be covered for less.
• Drive Safe and Save – Safe drivers may save up to 50% more than less cautious drivers.
• Good Student Discount – This discount can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last up to age 25.
• Senior Discount – If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for a discount up to 10%.
• Drive Less and Save – Low mileage vehicles can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
• Theft Prevention System – Anti-theft and alarm systems help deter theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.

It’s important to note that some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. Most only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won’t be that lucky. Any amount of discount will bring down the cost of coverage.

But I want to work with a local agent

Some people would rather sit down with an agent and that is a personal choice. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find the lowest rates but also keep your business local. And supporting small agencies is important especially in Huntsville.

After completing this form (opens in new window), your insurance coverage information is submitted to local insurance agents in Huntsville who will give you bids to get your business. You won’t need to visit any agencies because quoted prices will be sent immediately to your email address. How cool is that?! You’ll get the best rates AND a local agent.

Multiple types of insurance agencies in Huntsville

When finding a good insurance agency, you need to know there are two different agency structures to choose from. Insurance agencies in Huntsville are categorized either captive or independent.

Independent Insurance Agents

Independent agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with many different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To move your coverage to a new company, the agent simply finds a different carrier without you having to go to a different agency.

When comparing rates, it’s a good idea to get quotes from several independent insurance agents for maximum quote selection. Many write coverage with different regional companies who may have lower rates.

Listed below is a list of independent agents in Huntsville who can help you get price quotes.

• Senior Planning Agency – 7501 Memorial Pkwy SW # 209 – Huntsville, AL 35802 – (256) 880-0659
• American Insurance – 3013 Bob Wallace Ave SW – Huntsville, AL 35805 – (256) 532-0668
• Community Insurance Group – 401 Holmes Ave NE – Huntsville, AL 35801 – (256) 533-5600
• Weston Agency Inc – 401 Holmes Ave NE – Huntsville, AL 35801 – (256) 536-0398
• Bob Moore Agency – 8106 Memorial Pkwy SW – Huntsville, AL 35802 – (256) 880-6431

Captive Agents

These agents write business for a single company such as State Farm, AAA and Liberty Mutual. They are unable to give you multiple price quotes so keep that in mind. Captive agents are very knowledgeable on the products they sell which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums. Consumers sometimes buy insurance from these agents partially due to high brand loyalty and strong financial ratings.

Shown below are captive agents in Huntsville who can help you get comparison quotes.

• Allstate Insurance – 10300 Bailey Cove Rd SE # 6 – Huntsville, AL 35803 – (256) 881-1100
• State Farm Insurance – 3311 Bob Wallace Ave SW # 105 – Huntsville, AL 35805 – (256) 533-6868
• Farmers Insurance Group – 1429 Weatherly Rd SE # F – Huntsville, AL 35803 – (256) 883-1437
• Liberty Mutual Insurance – 1500 Perimeter Pkwy NW # 115 – Huntsville, AL 35806 – (256) 837-9200

To view a complete directory of captive agencies in Huntsville, simply jump to this page.

Selecting an auto insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a low price. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
• What insurance companies do they work with?
• Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
• Will your rates increase after a single accident?
• How many years of experience in personal lines insurance coverages do they have?

Upon getting satisfactory answers for all questions you ask and an affordable coverage quote, it’s possible that you found a car insurance agent that meets your needs to insure your vehicles.

Smart Consumers Save More

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the factors that help determine the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what determines base rates enables informed choices that could result in big savings.

The following are some of the items car insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

• Poor credit can mean higher rates – A driver’s credit score is a large factor in determining what you pay for car insurance. People with good credit tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with poor credit. Therefore, if your credit score is low, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your rating.
• Cautious drivers pay less – Your driving citation history impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Just one moving violation can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers who don’t get tickets receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations like DUI or reckless driving may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.
• Pay less after the wedding – Having a wife or husband actually saves money on your car insurance policy. It is viewed as being more mature than a single person and it’s statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
• Older drivers pay less – Older insureds are viewed as being more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers. Teenage drivers are statistically proven to be careless and easily distracted when behind the wheel and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher.

Compare but don’t skimp

We covered a lot of tips how to shop for car insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the best price on car insurance is with a small mutual company.

Budget-conscious car insurance is available both online and with local Huntsville insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies do not offer online quoting and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

Consumers who switch companies do it for many reasons like an unsatisfactory settlement offer, policy non-renewal, policy cancellation and delays in paying claims. Whatever your reason, finding a new car insurance company is easier than you think.

Additional car insurance information is available on the Alabama Department of Insurance website found here. Alabama drivers can learn about specific coverages, read state legal mandates and laws, find disaster information, and view agent and company licensing information.