How to Know You’re Wasting Money for Auto Insurance in Pasco

Are you a victim of overpriced auto insurance? Believe me, there are many people just like you. With so many choices of insurance companies, it can be diffult for consumers to locate the cheapest provider.

You need to price shop coverage at least once a year because rates are usually higher with each renewal. Just because you had the best price on your last policy you will most likely find a better rate today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we’re going to demonstrate one of the best ways to lower your rates without sacrificing coverage.

Compare Quotes for Pasco Auto Insurance

Most companies such as 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm allow you to get pricing online. Getting quotes is quite simple as you simply enter the coverages you want as detailed in the form. Behind the scenes, their rating system collects your credit score and driving record and generates pricing information. Being able to quote online simplifies rate comparisons, but the work required to visit each company’s website and repetitively complete many quote forms can be a bit repetitive. Unfortunately, it is important to get many rate quotes in order to get lower prices.

Isn’t there an easier way to compare rates?

The easiest way to lower your rates uses one simple form that obtains quotes from multiple companies. This type of form saves time, eliminates repetitive work, and makes online quotes much more enjoyable. After your information is entered, it is quoted and you can select any or none of the resulting price quotes. If a lower price is quoted, you can click and sign and purchase coverage. This process takes less than 15 minutes and you will find out if you’re overpaying now.

To fill out one form to compare multiple rates now, simply click here to open in new window and complete the simple form. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you replicate deductibles and limits as close as possible to your current policy. This helps ensure you will be getting an apples-to-apples comparison based on the exact same insurance coverage.

Policy discounts you shouldn’t miss

Auto insurance companies don’t always advertise every available discount very clearly, so we break down both the well known and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using. If you’re not getting every credit you deserve, you’re paying more than you need to.

• Service Members Pay Less – Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
• Safe Driver Discount – Drivers who avoid accidents can pay as much as 50% less than drivers with accident claims.
• One Accident Forgiven – Certain companies permit an accident before your rates go up so long as you haven’t had any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
• Defensive Driving Course – Successfully completing a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill and easily recoup the cost of the course.
• Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
• College Student – Kids in college who are attending college and do not have a car may qualify for this discount.
• Multiple Cars – Having all your vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
• Air Bag Discount – Cars that have air bags can get savings of more than 20%.

Drivers should understand that most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like it’s possible to get free car insurance, you’re out of luck.

Don’t I need to talk to an agent?

Some people just want to buy from a licensed agent and that is just fine! Licensed agents can help determine the best coverages and help submit paperwork. The best thing about getting online price quotes is that you can obtain the best rates but still work with a licensed agent.

After completing this short form, your insurance coverage information is instantly submitted to agents in your area who will return price quotes for your coverage. You never need to visit any agencies because quoted prices will be sent to the email address you provide. How cool is that?!

Choosing an provider shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. These questions are important to ask:

• Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
• Are they full-time agents?
• Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
• Do they assist clients in filing claims?
• Does the agent have professional designations like CIC, CPCU or AIC?
• What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?

The type of auto insurance agent you choose is important

When researching a local agent, there are a couple of different types of agents from which to choose. Agencies in Pasco can either be captive or independent (non-captive). Either one can write coverage properly, but it’s worth mentioning the differences since it can impact your selection of an agent.

Captive Agents

This type of agents can only place business with one company and examples are Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Allstate and AAA. They generally cannot give you multiple price quotes so keep that in mind. They are trained well on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents.

Shown below is a list of captive agents in Pasco that can give you comparison quotes.

Farmers Insurance Group – 4013 W Court St – Pasco, WA 99301 – (509) 545-4300
State Farm Insurance – 7007 Burden Blvd # 103 – Pasco, WA 99301 – (509) 544-9500
Allstate Insurance – 3330 W Court St # I – Pasco, WA 99301 – (509) 547-1171

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agents do not work for one specific company but instead can place your coverage with many different companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If you are not satisfied with one company, the business is moved internally and you don’t have to find a new agent.

When comparing rates, you should always include price quotes from several independent insurance agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.

Below are Pasco independent agents that are able to give comparison quotes.

Columbia Tri-Cities Insurance – 411 W Clark St – Pasco, WA 99301 – (509) 544-8779
Harvey Monteith Insurance – 3825 W Court St – Pasco, WA 99301 – (509) 543-9744

For a full directory of insurance agents in Pasco, please click here.

Upon getting positive responses to your questions and an acceptable price quote, you have narrowed it down to a car insurance agent that will service your policy.

How much car insurance do I need?

When it comes to buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Every insured’s situation is different so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions could help you determine whether you may require specific advice.

• When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
• Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
• Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
• Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
• Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
• How much liability coverage do I need in Washington?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

Smart Buyers can Save Money

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels enables informed choices that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

• Women pay lower rates – Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn’t necessarily mean that women are better drivers. Men and women have accidents in similar percentages, but the men cause more damage. Men also statistically get more serious tickets such as reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 are several times more likely to be in an accident and thus pay the highest rates.
• Protect your assets with liability insurance – Your policy’s liability coverage is the coverage that protects you if ever a jury decides you are liable for personal injury or accident damage. Liability insurance provides for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive as compared to coverage for physical damage, so buy as much as you can afford.
• Type of vehicle determines base rates – The type of car you are buying insurance for makes a significant difference in determining your rates. Small economy passenger cars receive the most favorable rates, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
• Better credit scores mean better rates – Credit score is a important factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. Consumers who have high credit ratings tend to be less risk to insure than drivers who have lower credit ratings. So if your credit history is low, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your credit score.
• Low deductibles can be expensive – Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are required to spend out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, insures against damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be colliding with a building, vandalism, and burglary. The more expense you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be.
• Lower rates with optional equipment – Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.

One last thing

As you restructure your insurance plan, you should never skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are a lot of situations where consumers will sacrifice full coverage only to regret at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The aim is to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Budget-conscious auto insurance is definitely available on the web and with local Pasco insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who do not offer online quoting and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

More Washington auto insurance resources

More tips and info about auto insurance is available at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website. Washington consumers can learn about specific coverages, file complaints about a company, and view agent and company licensing information.

Other useful links include this page for auto insurance in Washington and this page of insurance agents in Pasco.