Auto Insurance in Gainesville - 5 Discounts Drivers are Forgetting

Have you fallen victim to an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me, many Gainesville consumers feel financially strained by their auto insurance policy. Having so many insurance providers from which to choose, it is very difficult to locate the lowest cost insurance company.

It’s a good idea to do rate comparisons occasionally since rates trend upward over time. Even if you think you had the lowest price two years ago you can probably find a lower rate today. There is too much inaccurate information about auto insurance on the web, but we’re going to give you some tested techniques to stop overpaying for insurance.

Buying car insurance in Gainesville is not rocket science. If you have a policy now or need new coverage, you can use these tips to get lower rates while maintaining coverages. Florida drivers just need to know the most efficient way to compare price quotes on the web.

Cut your premium with these 5 discounts

Auto insurance companies don’t always advertise every discount very well, so we break down some of the more common and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings. If you don’t get every credit possible, you’re paying more than you need to.

Homeowners Pay Less – Simply owning a home can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home requires personal responsibility.
Payment Discounts – By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
Multi-car Discount – Buying coverage for more than one vehicle on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
Student in College – Children living away from home attending college and do not have a car may qualify for this discount.
Sign Early and Save – Some insurance companies reward drivers for signing up before your current expiration date. It can save you around 10%.

It’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.

To see a list of insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Florida, follow this link.

Different people need different coverages

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is a little different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For example, these questions could help you determine whether or not you will benefit from professional help.

What is high-risk coverage and where do I buy it?
Do I need roadside assistance coverage?
How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
Will my vehicle be repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
What are Florida no-fault laws?
How many claims can I have before being cancelled?
Is business property covered if stolen from my car?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
Do I qualify for additional discounts?

If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It only takes a few minutes and can provide invaluable advice.

Quote online but work with a neighborhood agent

Some consumers prefer to talk to a local agent and that is OK! Good agents can point out coverage gaps and give you someone to call. One of the great benefits of comparing rates online is the fact that you can find better rates but also keep your business local.

Once you complete this form (opens in new window), your coverage information is transmitted to insurance agents in Gainesville who will compete for your insurance coverage. You never need to even leave your home due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address.

Selecting an insurance company requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. Agents should be asked these questions:

Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
Are claims handled at the agent’s location?
Which members of your family are coverage by the policy?
How much can you save by raising your physical damage deductibles?

Different types of Gainesville auto insurance agents

When searching for a local agent, there are two different types of agents that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents are either independent or captive. Both properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning the difference between them since it may influence buying decisions.

Captive Insurance Agents

These agents can only write with one company and some examples include Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. These agents are not able to compare other company’s rates so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captive agencies are usually quite knowledgeable in insurance sales and that can be a competitive advantage.

Shown below is a list of captive agencies in Gainesville who may provide you with comparison quotes. Gainesville Florida insurance prices

Allstate Insurance – 4004 NW 13th St – Gainesville, FL 32609 – (352) 371-2204
State Farm Insurance – 2801 SW Archer Rd – Gainesville, FL 32608 – (352) 336-3551
Farm Bureau Insurance – 4432 NW 23rd Ave # 3 – Gainesville, FL 32606 – (352) 378-1389

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agencies are not locked into one company but rather can write business with multiple insurance companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. To move your coverage to a new company, an independent agent can move your coverage and that require little work on your part. When comparison shopping, you should always get quotes from multiple independent agents for the best price selection.

Shown below are independent insurance agencies in Gainesville that are able to give price quotes.

Sherouse Agency – – Gainesville, FL 32601 – (352) 377-4389
Nathan Williams Agency – 4908 NW 34th St # 4 – Gainesville, FL 32605 – (352) 384-9826
Cotton’s-All Lines Insurance – 1222 NW 16th Ave – Gainesville, FL 32601 – (352) 338-1222
Steve Taber Agency – 5310 NW 8th Ave # 1 – Gainesville, FL 32605 – (352) 377-9819
Love Insurance – 2216 SW Archer Rd – Gainesville, FL 32608 – (352) 376-4357

For a full directory of licensed insurance agents in Gainesville, view this link.

Once you have positive feedback to all your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you may have just found an auto insurance agent that is a good match to service your policy. Just keep in mind policyholders can terminate coverage any time you want so never assume that you’re stuck with any specific agency for the entire policy term.

Is there deception in advertising?

Consumers in Florida can’t get away from ads for car insurance savings by Allstate and Progressive. All the ads say the same thing of big savings after switching to their company.

How does each company claim to save you money? It’s all in the numbers.

All companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer they prefer to insure. A good example of a profitable customer might be over the age of 40, a clean driving record, and drives newer vehicles. Any new insured who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Consumers who are not a match for this ideal profile will be charged a more expensive rate which usually ends up with business not being written. The ads say “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save money. That is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings. That is why it is so important to compare many company’s rates. It’s not possible to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

Additional detailed information can be found at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website. Consumers can learn about specific coverages, get help finding coverage, learn about insurance regulations, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

The following information may also be useful.

Auto insurance coverages explained

Understanding the coverages of your auto insurance policy can be of help when determining which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Below you’ll find the normal coverages found on the average auto insurance policy.

Liability coverages – This will cover damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people in an accident. It consists of three limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see liability limits of 100/300/100 that translate to a limit of $100,000 per injured person, a total of $300,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $100,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability can pay for claims like attorney fees, loss of income, repair costs for stationary objects, pain and suffering and medical services. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but buy as large an amount as possible. Florida state minimum liability requirements are 10,000/20,000/10,000 but drivers should carry better liability coverage.

Collision coverages – This pays for damage to your vehicle from colliding with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.

Collision can pay for things such as crashing into a building, colliding with another moving vehicle, hitting a mailbox and hitting a parking meter. This coverage can be expensive, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. It’s also possible to choose a higher deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Since many Florida drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (which is 10/20/10), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked.

Medical payments and PIP coverage – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for immediate expenses like X-ray expenses, dental work and ambulance fees. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. They cover you and your occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. PIP is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage

Comprehensive auto coverage – This pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first have to pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as rock chips in glass, theft, hitting a deer, damage from flooding and fire damage. The highest amount a auto insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.

More effort can pay off

Cheaper auto insurance is attainable online and with local Gainesville insurance agents, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers do not offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.

When buying insurance coverage, it’s a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. In too many instances, consumers will sacrifice liability coverage limits only to find out that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The aim is to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.

Auto Insurance in Gainesville – 5 Discounts Drivers are Forgetting