It’s a fact that auto insurance companies don’t want their customers to go rate shopping. People who compare rates at least once a year are inclined to switch to a new company because the odds are good of finding a more affordable policy. A study discovered that people who made a habit of comparing rates saved $72 a month compared to those who never compared rates.
If finding budget-friendly Saturn Astra insurance in Pittsburgh is your intention, then having some knowledge of how to shop for insurance rates can help you be more efficient.
It takes a few minutes, but the best way to find cheaper prices for Saturn Astra insurance is to start doing an annual price comparison from insurers in Pittsburgh.
- Step 1: Get an understanding of how companies set rates and the things you can change to prevent expensive coverage. Many things that result in higher prices such as high-risk driving behaviors and an imperfect credit rating can be rectified by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
- Step 2: Obtain price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can only give rate quotes from a single company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agencies can provide rate quotes for many different companies.
- Step 3: Compare the new rate quotes to your current policy to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you find a better price and decide to switch, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
A crucial key to this process is that you use the same liability limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to compare as many auto insurance providers as possible. This ensures an accurate price comparison and a complete rate analysis.
Insurance discounts help lower rates for Saturn Astra insurance in Pittsburgh
Some insurers do not list every discount they offer in a way that’s easy to find, so the list below contains some of the more common and also the more inconspicuous credits available to you.
- Full Payment Discount – If you pay your bill all at once rather than spreading payments over time you may have a lower total premium amount.
- Own a Home – Just being a homeowner can get you a discount because of the fact that having a home demonstrates responsibility.
- Driver Education Discount – Have your child successfully complete driver’s ed class as it can save substantially.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Vehicles equipped with air bags can get savings of up to 25% or more.
- No Claim Discounts – Claim-free drivers pay much less when compared with policyholders that have many claims.
- Save over 55 – Seniors may qualify for reduced rates.
- Anti-lock Brake Discount – Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can reduce accidents and the ABS can save up to 10%.
- More Vehicles More Savings – Buying a policy with primary and secondary vehicles with the same insurance company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
- Seat Belts Save – Drivers who require all vehicle occupants to wear their seat belts can save up to 10 percent (depending on the company) off PIP or medical payments premium.
Policy discounts save money, but most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, insurance companies aren’t that generous.
Auto insurance companies that may include some of the above discounts include:
When quoting, ask each company what discounts are available to you. Some discounts listed above may not be available in Pittsburgh.
Auto insurance coverages explained
Having a good grasp of your policy can be of help when determining the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage – Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Saturn Astra.
Due to the fact that many Pennsylvania drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (15/30/5), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea.
Collision coverage – Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage from colliding with an object or car. A deductible applies and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage pays for claims such as rolling your car, crashing into a ditch and colliding with a tree. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from lower value vehicles. Another option is to choose a higher deductible on your Astra to save money on collision insurance.
Medical payments coverage and PIP – Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for short-term medical expenses for pain medications, prosthetic devices and rehabilitation expenses. They are used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. Medical payments and PIP cover you and your occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP is not an option in every state but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Comprehensive coverage – This covers damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like hitting a bird, hitting a deer, theft and rock chips in glass. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Liability coverages – This provides protection from damage that occurs to other’s property or people in an accident. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover damage to your own property or vehicle.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see policy limits of 15/30/5 which stand for a $15,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $30,000 in injury protection per accident, and $5,000 of coverage for damaged property.
Liability insurance covers things such as repair bills for other people’s vehicles, legal defense fees, court costs and repair costs for stationary objects. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but buy higher limits if possible. Pennsylvania state minimum liability requirements are 15/30/5 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.
The illustration below demonstrates why low liability limits may not provide adequate coverage.
Don’t give up on affordable coverage
People who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including lack of trust in their agent, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, denial of a claim and even policy cancellation. Regardless of your reason, finding a new company is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.
We just showed you some good ideas how to find cheap Saturn Astra insurance in Pittsburgh. It’s most important to understand that the more times you quote, the higher your chance of finding low cost Pittsburgh car insurance quotes. You may even discover the lowest car insurance rates come from some of the lesser-known companies.
Affordable Saturn Astra insurance in Pittsburgh can be bought from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Pittsburgh, and you should compare rates from both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies may not provide rates over the internet and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent insurance agents.
To read more, feel free to browse the articles below:
- Auto Insurance for Teen Drivers (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance Rates for College Students in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for a Jeep Wrangler in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- What Does No-Fault Insurance Cover? (Allstate)
- Winter Driving (Insurance Information Institute)