Winchester Auto Insurance For Less Than You’re Paying Now

Are you overwhelmed by the dozens of auto insurance options in Winchester? You have a lot of company. There are so many companies to choose from that it can easily become a ton of work to find the lowest price.

It’s a good idea to compare rates at least once a year because prices are variable and change quite frequently. Even if you got the best price six months ago you can probably find a better price now. Don’t believe everything you read about auto insurance online but we’re going to give you the easiest ways to save money.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Winchester is not that difficult. If you have insurance now or need new coverage, you can use these tips to cut your premiums while maintaining coverages. Kentucky drivers just need to understand the proper methods to shop for auto insurance over the internet.

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

It’s important that you understand the rating factors that help determine auto insurance rates. Understanding what influences your rates enables informed choices that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

• Claim-free discounts can add up – Auto insurance companies in Kentucky award better rates to drivers who are claim-free. If you frequently file small claims, you can look forward to either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for larger claims.
• Don’t buy coverages you don’t need – There are quite a few add-on coverages you can purchase when buying auto insurance. Insurance for vanishing deductibles, better glass coverage and term life insurance may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea at first, but if they’re wasting money eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
• Males pay more for insurance – The statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. That doesn’t necessarily mean that men are WORSE drivers than women. Men and women are in accidents in similar numbers, but the male of the species cause more damage. Men also tend to have more aggressive citations like reckless driving and DUI. Young males tend to get in the most accidents and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
• Pleasure use saves money – The more you drive in a year’s time the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use get more affordable rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Double check that your auto insurance policy properly reflects the correct driver usage.

Do you qualify for discounts?

Companies offering auto insurance do not list 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 are throwing money away.

• Driver Safety – Taking part in a defensive driving course could save 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
• Student in College – Any of your kids who live away from home without a vehicle on campus may qualify for this discount.
• Discounts for Safe Drivers – Drivers who avoid accidents may receive a discount up to 45% less than their less cautious counterparts.
• Clubs and Organizations – Being a member of a civic or occupational organization could qualify you for a break when shopping for auto insurance.
• Government Employees – Being employed by or retired from a federal job can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
• Homeowners Discount – Owning a home in Winchester may earn you a small savings because owning a home shows financial diligence.
• Low Mileage – Fewer annual miles could qualify for a substantially lower rate.
• Military Rewards – Being deployed with a military unit can result in better rates.
• Passive Restraint Discount – Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts can qualify for discounts up to 30%.

It’s important to understand that most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Most only cut individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you’re out of luck.

To see a list of companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Kentucky, click this link.

Local Winchester agents and auto insurance

Certain consumers prefer to get advice from a local agent. Educated insurance agents can help determine the best coverages and help you file claims. One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is you may find better rates and still have an agent to talk to.

To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, your information is sent to local insurance agents who will compete to get your business. You won’t need to leave your house due to the fact that quote results will go straight to your inbox. Now that’s easy!

Picking an provider requires more thought than just a low price. These are valid questions to ask:

• Do they specialize in personal lines coverage?
• Is vehicle damage repaired with OEM or aftermarket parts?
• Is assistance available after office hours?
• Does the agency support the community they serve?
• Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
• If your car is totalled, how to they determine the replacement cost?
• Will you be dealing directly with the agent or with a Custom Service Representative (CSR)?

Two types of Winchester auto insurance agents

When researching a good Winchester insurance agent, you need to know there are two types of agencies to choose from. Insurance agencies in Winchester are classified as either captive or independent. Both types can insure your vehicles, but it’s worth learning the difference between them because it can influence the selection process.

Captive Insurance Agents

Captive agents are contracted to one company and examples are Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. These agents are not able to place coverage with different providers so they have no alternatives for high prices. Captive agents are trained well on their products and sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage. Some people will only choose to use a captive agent partially due to the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.

The following are Winchester captive insurance agencies who may provide you with rate quotes.

• Allstate Insurance – 740 Bypass Rd # 10 – Winchester, KY 40391 – (859) 745-2683
• State Farm Insurance – 814 Bypass Rd – Winchester, KY 40391 – (859) 744-0830
• Shelter Insurance – 301 Runnymeade Dr – Winchester, KY 40391 – (859) 737-9891

Independent Agencies or Brokers

Independent agencies are not locked into one company so they can insure your vehicles with multiple insurance companies and potentially find a lower price. To transfer your coverage to a different company, the agent simply finds a different carrier and you won’t have to switch agencies.

When searching for an agent, it’s a good idea to contact several independent insurance agents for maximum quote selection.Many can place coverage with different regional companies which may provide better rates.

Below are Winchester independent insurance agencies that can give you price quotes.

• Kentucky Insurance Co – 41 S Main St – Winchester, KY 40391 – (859) 744-2200
• Hurst Home Insurance Co Inc – – Winchester, KY 40391 – (859) 744-3530

To view a complete directory of insurance agents in Winchester, visit this site.

After receiving positive feedback in addition to an acceptable price estimate, it’s possible that you found an insurance agency that can adequately provide auto insurance.

Ads can be misleading

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance from companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the ads make the same claim that you can save after switching your policy.

How can each company make the same claim? This is how they do it.

All companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver they prefer to insure. An example of a preferred risk could be between the ages of 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A driver that hits that “sweet spot” will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who don’t qualify for the “perfect” profile must pay more money which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say “people who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. That’s why insurance companies can advertise the way they do. This illustrates why it’s extremely important to get as many quotes as possible. It’s impossible to know which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

More tips and info about auto insurance can be found at the Kentucky Department of Insurance website. Kentucky drivers can get help finding coverage, read industry bulletins, find a variety of consumer forms, and read consumer alerts.

A tidy conclusion

As you shop your coverage around, it’s very important that you do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In too many instances, an insured dropped liability coverage limits only to regret at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford.

We just presented quite a bit of information on how to shop for auto insurance online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the better your comparison will be. You may even discover the lowest priced auto insurance comes from the smaller companies.

Drivers switch companies for any number of reasons including being labeled a high risk driver, denial of a claim, extreme rates for teen drivers or high rates after DUI convictions. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding a new company can be easier than you think.