It’s easy to assume that auto insurance companies don’t want you to look at other companies. Consumers who perform rate comparisons will probably buy a new policy because there is a high probability of finding a lower-priced policy. A recent survey discovered that consumers who compared rate quotes regularly saved $70 a month compared to other drivers who never shopped around for cheaper prices.
If finding the lowest rates on insurance in Pittsburgh is your objective, then having a grasp of how to compare insurance coverage can help make the process easier.
If your goal is the lowest price, then the best way to find the cheapest price for Honda Civic insurance in Pittsburgh is to begin comparing prices regularly from insurance carriers who provide auto insurance in Pennsylvania.
Step 1: Spend a few minutes and learn about what coverages are included in your policy and the things you can change to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating criteria that result in higher prices such as at-fault accidents and a bad credit rating can be remedied by making lifestyle changes or driving safer. Keep reading for additional tips to get low prices and earn larger discounts.
Step 2: Quote rates from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive and direct companies can only quote rates from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while agents who are independent can quote prices from multiple sources. View a list of agents
Step 3: Compare the quotes to your existing policy to see if a cheaper price is available in Pittsburgh. If you find a better price, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
A key point to remember is to use identical limits and deductibles on every price quote and and to analyze every company you can. This ensures a level playing field and maximum price selection.
Six Things That Impact Your Insurance Prices
One of the most helpful ways to save on auto insurance is to to have a grasp of the factors that play a part in calculating your auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively determines premiums, this enables you to make decisions that may result in lower rates. Lots of factors are part of the calculation when you get your auto insurance bill. A few of the factors are predictable such as your driving history, but others are not quite as obvious like where you live or how safe your car is.
The list below includes some of the factors auto insurance companies consider when setting prices.
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Bad drivers pay high premiums – Even one driving citation can increase rates substantially. Attentive drivers pay lower auto insurance prices than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who have serious violations like reckless driving or DUI might be required by their state to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state’s licensing department in order to prevent their license from being revoked.
The illustration below highlights how speeding tickets and accidents influence Honda Civic premium costs for different age categories. Data assumes a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.
- Liability insurance is peace of mind – Liability insurance is the coverage that protects you in the event that you are determined to be liable for causing personal injury or damage in an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense starting from day one. Liability is cheap when compared to the cost of physical damage coverage, so drivers should make sure they buy enough to cover all assets.
- Frequent policy claims increase rates – Car insurance companies in Pennsylvania provide cheaper rates to policyholders who file claims infrequently. If you are the type of insured that files lots of claims you can pretty much guarantee increased rates or even have your policy non-renewed. Your insurance policy is meant to be used in the event of the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
- Raise your coverage deductibles for better prices – Protection for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, helps pay for damage to your vehicle. Some instances where coverage would apply are a broken windshield, hitting a deer, or theft. Your deductibles define the amount you are required to pay if a covered claim is submitted. The more of the claim you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
- Get better rates if married – Having a spouse actually saves money on auto insurance. Having a significant other generally demonstrates drivers are more mature and responsible and statistics prove married couples file fewer claims.
- Cars with good safety ratings save money – Vehicles that have high safety ratings tend to have lower insurance rates. Vehicles engineered for safety reduce occupant injuries and lower rates of occupant injuries translates directly to fewer claims and cheaper rates on your policy. If your Honda scored better than an “acceptable” rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website or four stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website it may be receiving lower rates.
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Claims statistics for a Honda Civic – Insurance companies analyze claim trends for every vehicle to help calculate a profitable premium rate. Models that are shown to have increased losses will cost more to insure.
The table shown below demonstrates the collected loss data for Honda Civic vehicles. For each policy coverage, the claim amount for all vehicles, without regard to make or model, is a value of 100. Percentage numbers below 100 are indicative of better than average losses, while values over 100 indicate more frequent claims or an increased chance of a larger loss.
Insurance Loss Ratings for Honda Civic Vehicles Vehicle Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Honda Civic 92 105 68 127 135 121 Honda Civic Hybrid 90 85 106 105 78 Honda Civic Si 126 97 117 124 104 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEEmpty fields indicate not enough data collected
Data Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
When comparison shopping, making a lot of price comparisons helps improve the odds of finding the best price.
The companies shown below can provide price comparisons in Pennsylvania. To find cheap auto insurance in Pittsburgh, we recommend you compare several of them to get the most competitive price.
Analysis of coverages
The coverage table displayed next outlines different coverage prices for Honda Civic models. Having a good understanding how car insurance premiums are determined is important for you to make smart choices when buying a policy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civic DX 4-Dr Sedan | $218 | $492 | $398 | $24 | $120 | $1,252 | $104 |
| Civic VP 4-Dr Sedan | $218 | $580 | $398 | $24 | $120 | $1,340 | $112 |
| Civic LX 4-Dr Sedan | $218 | $580 | $398 | $24 | $120 | $1,340 | $112 |
| Civic DX 2-Dr Coupe | $218 | $580 | $498 | $30 | $150 | $1,476 | $123 |
| Civic EX 4-Dr Sedan | $218 | $580 | $398 | $24 | $120 | $1,340 | $112 |
| Civic LX-S 4-Dr Sedan | $218 | $580 | $398 | $24 | $120 | $1,340 | $112 |
| Civic LX 2-Dr Coupe | $218 | $668 | $498 | $30 | $150 | $1,564 | $130 |
| Civic EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $250 | $668 | $398 | $24 | $120 | $1,460 | $122 |
| Civic SI 4-Dr Sedan | $250 | $668 | $398 | $24 | $120 | $1,460 | $122 |
| Civic EX 2-Dr Coupe | $250 | $668 | $498 | $30 | $150 | $1,596 | $133 |
| Civic GX 4-Dr Sedan | $250 | $668 | $398 | $24 | $120 | $1,460 | $122 |
| Civic EX-L 2-Dr Coupe | $250 | $668 | $498 | $30 | $150 | $1,596 | $133 |
| Civic Hybrid 4-Dr Sedan | $282 | $580 | $398 | $24 | $120 | $1,404 | $117 |
| Civic SI 2-Dr Coupe | $282 | $756 | $498 | $30 | $150 | $1,716 | $143 |
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Data assumes single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Price estimates do not factor in Pittsburgh location which can lower or raise premiums greatly.
Insurance deductibles
When buying insurance, a common question is how high or low should comp and collision deductibles be. The rates below illustrate the cost difference when you select higher and lower deductibles. The first rate table uses a $100 deductible for physical damage and the second price chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civic DX 4-Dr Sedan | $246 | $512 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,231 | $103 |
| Civic VP 4-Dr Sedan | $246 | $602 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,321 | $110 |
| Civic LX 4-Dr Sedan | $246 | $602 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,321 | $110 |
| Civic DX 2-Dr Coupe | $246 | $602 | $412 | $24 | $124 | $1,433 | $119 |
| Civic EX 4-Dr Sedan | $246 | $602 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,321 | $110 |
| Civic LX-S 4-Dr Sedan | $246 | $602 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,321 | $110 |
| Civic LX 2-Dr Coupe | $246 | $694 | $412 | $24 | $124 | $1,525 | $127 |
| Civic EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $284 | $694 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,451 | $121 |
| Civic SI 4-Dr Sedan | $284 | $694 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,451 | $121 |
| Civic EX 2-Dr Coupe | $284 | $694 | $412 | $24 | $124 | $1,563 | $130 |
| Civic GX 4-Dr Sedan | $284 | $694 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,451 | $121 |
| Civic EX-L 2-Dr Coupe | $284 | $694 | $412 | $24 | $124 | $1,563 | $130 |
| Civic Hybrid 4-Dr Sedan | $320 | $602 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,395 | $116 |
| Civic SI 2-Dr Coupe | $320 | $786 | $412 | $24 | $124 | $1,691 | $141 |
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| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civic DX 4-Dr Sedan | $136 | $270 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $854 | $71 |
| Civic VP 4-Dr Sedan | $136 | $318 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $902 | $75 |
| Civic LX 4-Dr Sedan | $136 | $318 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $902 | $75 |
| Civic DX 2-Dr Coupe | $136 | $318 | $412 | $24 | $124 | $1,014 | $85 |
| Civic EX 4-Dr Sedan | $136 | $318 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $902 | $75 |
| Civic LX-S 4-Dr Sedan | $136 | $318 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $902 | $75 |
| Civic LX 2-Dr Coupe | $136 | $366 | $412 | $24 | $124 | $1,062 | $89 |
| Civic EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $158 | $366 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $972 | $81 |
| Civic SI 4-Dr Sedan | $158 | $366 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $972 | $81 |
| Civic EX 2-Dr Coupe | $158 | $366 | $412 | $24 | $124 | $1,084 | $90 |
| Civic GX 4-Dr Sedan | $158 | $366 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $972 | $81 |
| Civic EX-L 2-Dr Coupe | $158 | $366 | $412 | $24 | $124 | $1,084 | $90 |
| Civic Hybrid 4-Dr Sedan | $178 | $318 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $944 | $79 |
| Civic SI 2-Dr Coupe | $178 | $414 | $412 | $24 | $124 | $1,152 | $96 |
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Prices based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, multi-policy, claim-free, and homeowner. Premium costs do not factor in specific location information which can increase or decrease premium rates substantially.
Based on this data, we can arrive at the conclusion that using a $100 deductible will cost you roughly $37 more each month or $444 a year than requesting the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would pay $900 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to go at least 24 months between claims, you would probably be better off if you elect the higher deductible.
The example below highlights how deductible choice and can impact Honda Civic insurance costs for different ages of insureds. Data assumes a single female driver, full coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Honda Civic full coverage rates compared to liability only
The diagram below compares Honda Civic annual premium costs with and without full coverage. The data is based on no claims, a clean driving record, $500 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are applied.
When to drop comprehensive and collision coverage
There is no set guideline to stop paying for full coverage, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is more than around 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.
For example, let’s pretend your Honda Civic book value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is destroyed, the most you would get paid by your company is $5,000 after the deductible is paid. If you are paying more than $500 annually for comprehensive and collision coverage, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
There are a few situations where dropping physical damage coverage is not financially feasible. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to carry full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not consider dropping full coverage.
Auto insurance is not optional in Pennsylvania
Despite the potentially high cost of Honda Civic insurance, insurance may be required for several reasons.
- Most states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry specific limits of liability insurance coverage if you don’t want to risk a ticket. In Pennsylvania these limits are 15/30/5 which means you must have $15,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of property damage coverage.
- If you took out a loan on your Honda, almost all lenders will make it a condition of the loan that you have full coverage to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If coverage lapses or is canceled, the bank may insure your Honda at a much higher rate and force you to reimburse them for it.
- Auto insurance protects your car and your assets. It will also cover medical bills for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. One policy coverage, liability insurance, also covers all legal expenses up to the policy limit if you are named as a defendant in an auto accident. If you have damage to your Honda as the result of the weather or an accident, your auto insurance policy will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance outweigh the cost, especially with large liability claims. In a recent study of 1,000 drivers, the average customer is currently overpaying as much as $750 every year so it’s very important to do a rate comparison at least once a year to make sure the price is not too high.
Save money on Honda Civic insurance in Pittsburgh with these car insurance discounts
Car insurance companies don’t necessarily list all discounts very well, so the list below details a few of the more common and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using when you buy Pittsburgh car insurance online.
- Low Miles Discount – Driving less may enable drivers to earn slightly better car insurance rates than normal.
- Mature Driver Discount – Mature drivers can possibly qualify for a small discount on rates.
- Pay Upfront and Save – If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying in monthly installments you can avoid monthly service charges.
- Good Grades Discount – This discount could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. This discount can apply until age 25.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Cars with ABS and/or traction control prevent accidents and will save you 10% or more on Civic insurance in Pittsburgh.
- Paperwork-free – Certain larger companies will give a small break shop Pittsburgh car insurance on your computer.
- Club Memberships – Affiliation with qualifying clubs or civic groups can get you a small discount on your policy.
Policy discounts save money, but some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn’t quite work that way.
The example below illustrates the difference between Honda Civic insurance rates with and without discounts. The data assumes a male driver, no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, Pennsylvania state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, marriage, claim-free, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-car discounts applied.
A few popular companies and some of the premium reductions they offer can be read below.
- 21st Century policyholders can earn discounts including student driver, good student, automatic seat belts, teen driver, anti-lock brakes, and 55 and older.
- State Farm may have discounts that include driver’s education, Steer Clear safe driver discount, defensive driving training, Drive Safe & Save, good driver, and good student.
- AAA may include discounts for anti-theft, education and occupation, multi-policy, good student, multi-car, and pay-in-full.
- Liberty Mutual may offer discounts for multi-car, teen driver discount, new move discount, new vehicle discount, new graduate, and hybrid vehicle.
- Progressive offers discounts including homeowner, continuous coverage, online signing, good student, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy.
If you are trying to find affordable Honda Civic insurance quotes, ask every insurance company to give you their best rates. A few discounts may not apply to policies everywhere. For a list of insurers with the best discounts in Pittsburgh, click here.
Exclusive or independent insurance agents
Certain consumers still like to sit down and talk to an agent and that is just fine! An additional benefit of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that drivers can get lower rates and still have a local agent.
After filling out this quick form, your insurance data is emailed to agents in your area who can give free rate quotes to get your business. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to leave your computer because quoted prices will be sent to you directly. You can get cheaper car insurance rates and a licensed agent to talk to. If you want to get a price quote for a specific company, just visit that company’s website and submit a quote form there.
Selecting a insurer is decision based upon more than just the price. Here are some questions you might want to ask.
- Is there any savings for paying the full premium?
- Did they already check your driving record and credit reports?
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
- Are they primarily personal or commercial lines agents in Pittsburgh?
- Are you getting all the discounts the company offers?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- Do they assist clients in filing claims?
Upon receiving reasonable responses for all questions you ask as well as an affordable premium quote, most likely you have located an provider that is reliable enough to properly insure your vehicles.
Pennsylvania car insurance companies
Picking the best car insurance provider is difficult considering how many different insurance companies sell coverage in Pittsburgh. The company ratings listed below can help you pick which insurers to look at comparing rate quotes with.
Top 10 Pittsburgh Car Insurance Companies by A.M. Best Rank
- USAA – A++
- GEICO – A++
- Travelers – A++
- State Farm – A++
- Allstate – A+
- Nationwide – A+
- Esurance – A+
- Erie Insurance – A+
- Progressive – A+
- Titan Insurance – A+
Top 10 Pittsburgh Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Claims Service
- Progressive
- USAA
- Liberty Mutual
- State Farm
- GEICO
- Titan Insurance
- Nationwide
- Allstate
- The General
- 21st Century
You are unique and your insurance should be too
When quoting and comparing your policy, there is no cookie cutter policy. Every insured’s situation is different.
These are some specific questions can help discover whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent’s advice.
- What is an adequate liability insurance limit?
- At what point should I drop full coverage?
- Do I need an umbrella policy?
- Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
- At what point should I drop full coverage?
- Can I afford to pay high deductible claims out of pocket?
If you can’t answer these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.
One last thing about your coverage
When shopping online for auto insurance, you should never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are many occasions where drivers have reduced collision coverage only to find out that the savings was not a smart move. Your objective should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the lowest possible cost but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
Some insurance companies do not offer rates over the internet and many times these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents. Budget-conscious Honda Civic insurance is available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Pittsburgh agents, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture.
You just learned many tips how you can find affordable Honda Civic insurance in Pittsburgh. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better likelihood of getting inexpensive Pittsburgh car insurance quotes. Consumers could even find that the lowest prices come from the least-expected company.
Helpful information
- Insurance losses by make and model (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Rates for College Graduates in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Quotes for Good Students in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Pittsburgh Car Insurance for a Nissan Versa? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for a Learners Permit in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Airbag FAQ (iihs.org)
- New vehicle ratings focus on headlights (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Vehicle Insurance (Wikipedia)