Insurance companies offer a range of services that most folks simply don’t understand. Each of these juggernauts is competing for your business, offering a wide range of policies ‘tailored’ to your needs and preferences. This makes it difficult to compare options between providers. While some companies have the distinct honour of being regarded as low-cost providers of insurance, this may not hold true with all plans and options provided by that company. It is important to use insurance aggregator sites to compare the product and service offerings of auto insurance providers.
Be advised that the high-profile insurance companies typically advertise heavily. The reason they have such a huge budget for marketing and advertising purposes is that they are making money hand over fist. The payment you make and the benefits you receive will vary widely from one company to the next. The fact of the matter is that no single auto insurance broker has the distinct honour of being a market leader in low price insurance. You will need to shop around to get the best deals from insurance companies for your automobile insurance needs.
A practice which several insurance companies have engaged in is price optimization. This modelling process is used when insurance providers know that you are unlikely to switch from one insurance company to another, regardless of pricing structures. This practice is now banned in several states across the US. Many folks tend to stick to high profile insurance companies – the giants of the industry when shopping around for the best value insurance premiums. This practice may or may not be beneficial to you, depending on the services offered by local and regional insurance companies.
The biggest insurance companies in the United States include State Farm, Allstate, Progressive, and Geico. These insurance giants totally dominate the industry, with an estimated market share of 50% of all insurance coverage. However, there are smaller insurance operators that generate extremely high customer satisfaction ratings with their clientele, and they may be worth considering if you’re looking for lower insurance premiums. Comparison-shopping is required in all cases; you simply cannot accept one rate as the best rate for your auto insurance needs until you have evaluated your options accordingly.
Tips to Lower Your Insurance Premiums
You will likely find it easy to lower your rates if you decide to bundle your auto insurance with your homeowners’ insurance. If there are several car owners in your family, one policy can insure multiple vehicles. Another cost-effective way to maintain auto insurance coverage is to make the full 6-month payment upfront, or pay your annual fees in one fell swoop. There are various tech devices that allow you to reduce your auto insurance premiums, by monitoring your driving behaviour, hard braking habits, number of miles you drive, etc. The better you fare, the lower your premiums.
You may find it beneficial to complete advanced driving courses, or join professional organizations that will help you to lower your monthly premiums. Additionally, enhanced safety and protection devices on your car (anti-hijacking systems, alarms, immobilizes, gear locks etc.) can also reduce your premiums accordingly. Insurance companies may operate in a similar fashion, but the premiums they charge their clients will vary widely. It is always sensible to negotiate with agents to see if there is anything they can do to assist you with your insurance premium.
As always, you will want to make sure that you make timely payments on your bills, and a great way to get the best rate is to ensure that your credit profile is squeaky clean. Every time you pay your bills, you reduce your debts and you bolster your credit rating. Insurance companies assert that clients who pay their bills on time and have a respectable credit score are less likely to make claims against them.
When you’re in the market for insurance coverage, it’s important to factor in the type of vehicle, and the model that you’re purchasing vis-à-vis insurance coverage. Certain makes of cars cost a lot more to insure every year than others. For example, Forbes Magazine listed the top 5 most expensive vehicles, all of which are Mercedes-Benz models. The least expensive cars to insure include Buick, Honda, Mazda, Subaru and Ford.
