Learn How to Cut Costs on Grants Pass Oregon Auto Insurance

If you are a novice to online auto insurance shopping, you may be overwhelmed because of the huge number of auto insurance companies offering insurance in Grants Pass.

It is always a good idea to take a look at other company’s rates before your policy renews since rates are adjusted regularly by insurance companies. Just because you found the best rates two years ago you may be paying too much now. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you’re about to find out one of the easiest ways to save money, get proper deductibles and limits, all at the lowest rate.

The purpose of this post is to help you learn the most effective way to quote insurance and some tips to save money. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using these tips. But Oregon consumers do need to know the methods companies use to market insurance on the web and take advantage of how the system works.

These discounts can slash auto insurance rates

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but companies offer discounts to cut the cost considerably. Certain discounts will be applied at the time you complete a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested before being credited.

• Accident Forgiveness – Certain companies will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you haven’t had any claims prior to the accident.
• Resident Student – Kids in college who are attending college without a vehicle on campus can be insured at a reduced rate.
• Homeowners Discount – Simply owning a home may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
• Driver’s Ed – Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course if it’s offered in school.
• Organization Discounts – Participating in a civic or occupational organization may earn a discount when buying auto insurance.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free auto insurance policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous. Any qualifying discounts will reduce your overall premium however.

To choose insurance companies with discount auto insurance rates in Grants Pass, follow this link.

Tips to Get Lower Grants Pass Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

Shown below are some of the factors auto insurance companies consider when setting prices.

• Don’t skimp on liability – The liability section of your policy provides coverage in the event that you are found liable for personal injury or accident damage. Liability insurance provides legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. Liability is cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
• Drive a safer car and pay less – Vehicles with high crash test scores are cheaper to insure. These vehicles have better occupant injury protection and fewer injuries means lower claim amounts and more competitive rates for policyholders.
• Claim-free discounts can add up – If you file claims often, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance companies in Oregon give lower rates to people who file claims infrequently. Auto insurance is intended for larger claims.
• High credit ratings translate to low rates – Credit history is a huge factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. If your credit rating is not that good, you could be paying less to insure your by improving your rating. Drivers who have high credit ratings tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have lower credit scores.
• Bundling policies can get discounts – Some insurance companies will award you with lower prices to insureds who have multiple policies with them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to 10 percent or more. Even though this discount sounds good, you may still want to comparison shop to ensure the best deal.

But I want to work with a local agent

A small number of people prefer to buy from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. One of the best bonuses of comparing rates online is you may find better rates and still choose a local agent. Supporting local businesses is definitely important in Grants Pass.

After filling out this simple form, your coverage information gets sent to local insurance agents in Grants Pass who will return price quotes for your coverage. You don’t have to leave your house since price quotes are sent to your email. How’s that for easy! It’s the lowest rates and an insurance agent to talk to.

Not all auto insurance agents are the same

When looking for a good Grants Pass insurance agent, there are a couple of different types of agents to choose from. Insurance agencies in Grants Pass can either be captive or independent (non-captive).

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

Independent insurance agents are not employed by any specific company but rather can write business with lots of companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. If you are not satisfied with one company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to find a new agent.

When searching for an agent, you should always contact several independent insurance agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.Most can insure with smaller regional carriers which may provide better rates.

Shown below is a list of independent agencies in Grants Pass willing to provide price quotes.

• Stacey Huntington Agency – 942 SW 6th St # H – Grants Pass, OR 97526 – (541) 476-6144
• Steve Hudson Agency – 1470 NE 7th St – Grants Pass, OR 97526 – (541) 956-4989
• Linda Sallman Insurance – 134 NW E St – Grants Pass, OR 97526 – (541) 476-4421
• Paul Garcia Agency – – Grants Pass, OR 97526 – (541) 472-8047
• Sammis Insurance – 1826 Williams Hwy – Grants Pass, OR 97527 – (541) 474-5020

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agencies are contracted to one company and some examples include Allstate, Farmers Insurance or State Farm. They are unable to shop your coverage around so they have to upsell other benefits. They receive extensive training on their company’s products which helps them compete with independent agents. Consumers frequently buy insurance from these agents mainly due to the prominence of the brand and solid financial strength.

The following is a short list of captive insurance agencies in Grants Pass that can give you price quotes.

• American Family Insurance – 304 Agness Ave # B – Grants Pass, OR 97526 – (541) 956-4989
• State Farm Insurance – 1622 Williams Hwy – Grants Pass, OR 97527 – (541) 474-4900
• Allstate Insurance – 824 Rogue River Hwy # B – Grants Pass, OR 97527 – (541) 479-3000

To view a complete directory of captive insurance agents in Grants Pass, please view this page.

Deciding on a car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. These are valid questions to ask:

• If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
• Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
• Do the coverages you’re quoting properly cover your vehicle?
• Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?

After receiving satisfactory answers to your questions in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you may have just found an insurance agency that will provide auto insurance coverage.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Auto insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate and GEICO continually stream ads on TV and radio. They all seem to have a common claim of big savings after switching your policy. How can each company make the same claim? This is how they do it.

Different companies can use profiling for the right customer that earns them a profit. An example of a profitable customer might be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no driving citations, and has excellent credit. Any new insured who matches those parameters will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Drivers who fall outside the requirements will be quoted more money which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads state “drivers who switch” not “people who quote” save that much. That’s the way companies can advertise the way they do.

This emphasizes why you should quote coverage with many companies. Because you never know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Learn more about auto insurance in Oregon

Additional information can be found on the Oregon Insurance Division website found here. Consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read state legal mandates and laws, and view agent and company licensing information.

One last thing

Discount auto insurance is possible online as well as from independent agents in Grants Pass, so you should compare both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies don’t offer online quoting and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

Drivers leave their current company for a variety of reasons including high prices, lack of trust in their agent, extreme rates for teen drivers and denial of a claim. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new insurance company is not as hard as you think.

We’ve covered a lot of information how to save on auto insurance. It’s most important to understand that the more you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the best prices are with some of the smallest insurance companies.