Finding cheaper insurance for a new or used car in Pennsylvania could be a painful process, but you can learn a few tricks to make it easier.
There are both good and bad ways to compare auto insurance rates and we’ll show you the quickest way to quote coverages for a new or used and locate the best price possible either online or from Pittsburgh insurance agents.
Unbelievable but true, a large majority of drivers in Pennsylvania kept their coverage with the same auto insurance company for at least the last four years, and about 40% of consumers have never quoted rates to find cheap coverage. American consumers can save as much as 47% each year just by shopping around, but they don’t know how much they could save if they just switched companies.
You should make it a habit to take a look at other company’s rates yearly because rates trend upward over time. If you had the best deal on auto insurance a year ago you will most likely find a better price today. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in one of the quickest ways to remove unneeded coverages and save money.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Policy Premium | 6-month Policy Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Colorado LT Crew Cab 2WD | $986 | $493 | $82 |
| Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab Hybrid 4WD | $1,156 | $578 | $96 |
| Dodge Ram Crew Cab Laramie 4WD | $1,224 | $612 | $102 |
| Ford Escape Limited 2WD | $868 | $434 | $72 |
| Ford F-150 FX2 Super Cab 2WD | $950 | $475 | $79 |
| Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $986 | $493 | $82 |
| Honda Accord EX 2-Dr Coupe | $1,130 | $565 | $94 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD | $868 | $434 | $72 |
| Honda Civic LX-S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,042 | $521 | $87 |
| Hyundai Elantra Blue 4-Dr Sedan | $1,042 | $521 | $87 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 4WD 4-Dr | $1,032 | $516 | $86 |
| Kia Optima SX | $1,150 | $575 | $96 |
| Nissan Altima Hybrid 4-Dr Sedan | $1,082 | $541 | $90 |
| Nissan Rogue S AWD | $1,074 | $537 | $90 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | $1,150 | $575 | $96 |
| Toyota Corolla S | $1,062 | $531 | $89 |
| Toyota Prius | $944 | $472 | $79 |
| Volkswagen Jetta S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,006 | $503 | $84 |
| Get Rate Quotes for Your Vehicle Go | |||
Prices based on single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1000 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and homeowner. Rate information does not factor in specific garaging location which can impact rates greatly.
Learn how to lower your insurance prices
Many different elements are used in the calculation when quoting car insurance. Some of the criteria are obvious such as traffic violations, but others are more obscure like where you live or your vehicle rating.
High stress job may mean higher rates – Did you know your career choice can influence rates? Occupations like doctors, airline pilots, and accountants generally have the highest rates because of stressful work requirements and incredibly demanding work hours. On the flip side, occupations like actors, athletes and the unemployed pay the least.
Alarm systems lower premiums – Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention devices such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all help stop car theft.
Safer occupants lowers prices – Safer cars are cheaper to insure. Vehicles built for safety protect occupants better and reduced instances of injuries means your insurance company pays less and lower rates for you. If your vehicle has at least four stars on Safercar.gov it may be receiving lower rates.
Liability coverage – Liability coverage is the protection when you are found to be at fault for an accident. Your liability coverage provides legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability insurance is pretty cheap when compared to the cost of physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
Do you really need the add-on coverages? – There are quite a few extra add-on coverages that sound like a good idea at the time on your policy. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, accident forgiveness, and additional equipment coverage could be just wasting money. The coverages may be enticing when deciding what coverages you need, but your money might be better spent on other coverage so remove them from your policy.
Your spouse saves you money – Having a significant other can get you a discount on your insurance bill. Marriage means you’re more stable financially it has been statistically shown that being married results in fewer claims.
Don’t let your coverage lapse – Driving without insurance coverage in place is against the law and you will pay a penalty because you let your coverage have a gap. And not only will your rates increase, the inability to provide proof of insurance could earn you a license revocation or jail time.
Low credit rating equals high costs – Having a bad credit score is likely to be a major factor in determining your rates. Therefore, if your credit rating is lower than you’d like, you may save money insuring your vehicle by improving your rating. Drivers who have good credit tend to be better risks to insure than drivers who have poor credit.
Don’t give up on cheaper premiums
In this article, we covered a lot of information how to get a better price on auto insurance in Pittsburgh. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. Consumers may even find the lowest car insurance rates come from a lesser-known regional company.
More affordable auto insurance in Pittsburgh can be found both online as well as from insurance agents, and you should compare rates from both to get a complete price analysis. There are still a few companies who may not offer internet price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers prefer to sell through local independent agencies.
Drivers switch companies for a number of reasons such as an unsatisfactory settlement offer, questionable increases in premium, delays in responding to claim requests or unfair underwriting practices. No matter why you want to switch, finding a new auto insurance company can be easier than you think.
Steps to finding affordable car insurance in Pittsburgh
The recommended way to get the cheapest car insurance rates is to start doing an annual price comparison from different companies who sell insurance in Pittsburgh.
- First, take a few minutes and learn about how companies price auto insurance and the things you can change to prevent high rates. Many risk factors that are responsible for high rates such as traffic violations, accidents, and a negative credit rating can be rectified by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
- Second, compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only quote rates from a single company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agencies can provide rate quotes from multiple insurance companies.
- Third, compare the new rates to your existing rates to see if a cheaper rate is available. If you can save some money and make a switch, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
- Fourth, notify your current company to cancel your current policy. Submit the signed application along with the required initial payment to your new carrier. As soon as coverage is bound, place the new certificate of insurance with your vehicle’s registration.
The key thing to know about shopping around is that you’ll want to compare similar coverage information on each quote and and to get rates from as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this enables an accurate price comparison and a better comparison of the market.
Helpful information
- Choosing a Car for Your Teen (State Farm)
- How Much is Auto Insurance for Infrequent Drivers in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance for Active Military in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for a Ford Focus in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Auto Insurance Basics (Insurance Information Institute)
- Get the Right Protection (InsureUonline.org)
- Vehicle Insurance (Wikipedia)