Thornton, CO Auto Insurance Buying Tips You Aren’t Supposed to Know

Searching for the lowest cost Thornton auto insurance online is impossible for consumers new to buying insurance online. With such a large number of insurers to choose from, how can Thornton drivers possibly compare every one to find the best pricing?

It’s a good habit to check auto insurance prices once or twice a year because rates trend upward over time. Even if you think you had the best price a few years ago there may be better deals available now. There is a lot of wrong information about auto insurance on the web, but by reading this article, you’re going to learn some proven techniques to slash your auto insurance rates.

The purpose of this post is to introduce you to the best way to quote coverages and some tricks to saving. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to save some money using this information. But Colorado drivers must comprehend how insurance companies sell insurance online.

Take discounts and save

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but companies offer discounts to help offset the cost. Some trigger automatically when you purchase, but a few need to be specially asked for before being credited.

• Multiple Cars – Buying insurance for all your vehicles on the same auto insurance policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
• 55 and Retired – If you’re over the age of 55, you may be able to get reduced rates.
• Seat Belts Save – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt could save 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
• College Student – Children who are attending college without a vehicle on campus may qualify for this discount.
• Pay Upfront and Save – If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.
• New Vehicle Savings – Buying coverage on a new vehicle can be considerably cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
• Low Mileage Discounts – Fewer annual miles could be rewarded with discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
• Bundle and Save – If you have multiple policies with one insurance company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
• Good Student – A discount for being a good student can earn a discount of 20% or more. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
• Early Switch Discount – Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. It’s a savings of about 10%.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it doesn’t quite work that way. But any discount will bring down your overall premium however.

To see a list of insurance companies with discount auto insurance rates in Colorado, click here to view.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

It’s important that you understand the factors that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

The following are a partial list of the pieces used by your company to calculate your rates.

• High performance equals high price – The make and model of the vehicle you are insuring makes a big difference in the rate you pay. Economy passenger cars receive the most favorable rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
• Save money with special equipment – Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder auto theft.
• Your spouse saves you money – Getting married can get you a discount on auto insurance. Having a significant other translates into being more mature and it’s statistically proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
• Pleasure use saves money – The more you drive in a year the more you’ll pay to insure your vehicle. Most companies apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Autos that are left in the garage can get a lower rate compared to those used for work or business. Verify your auto insurance policy is rated on the correct driver usage, because it can save money.
• Little extras can really add up – There are many extra coverages that can waste your money on your policy. Coverages like personal injury protection, accident forgiveness and additional equipment coverage are examples of these. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so get rid of them and save.

Misconceptions in auto insurance advertisements

Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads on TV and radio. All the companies make the same claim that you can save if you move to their company. How does each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that is profitable for them. A good example of a desirable insured could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no tickets, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A driver that hits that “sweet spot” is entitled to the best price and therefore will save a lot of money.

Drivers who don’t qualify for the “perfect” profile will be charged higher premiums and this can result in the customer not buying. Company advertisements say “drivers who switch” not “everyone that quotes” save that much money. That’s the way companies can state the savings.

That is why you should get as many quotes as possible. Because you never know which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional auto insurance information can be found on the Colorado DORA Division of Insurance website found here. Consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, find disaster information, view a list of available companies, and download brochures.

Other useful links include this site for auto insurance rates in Colorado and see this list of insurance agents in Thornton.

Best coverage at the best price

Cheaper auto insurance is possible both online in addition to many Thornton insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best selection. A few companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these smaller companies work with independent agents.

Insureds switch companies for a variety of reasons including being labeled a high risk driver, high prices, extreme rates for teen drivers and even not issuing a premium refund. Whatever your reason, switching companies is not as hard as you think.

We covered some good ideas how to shop for auto insurance online. It’s most important to understand that the more providers you compare, the better chance you’ll have of finding lower rates. You may even find the lowest premiums are with some of the smallest insurance companies.