Do you think you bought an expensive car insurance policy? Don’t feel bad because many Pittsburgh consumers are in the same pinch.
It’s hard to believe, but about 70% of customers have stayed with the same insurance company for four years or more, and nearly half have never compared rates with other companies. Pittsburgh drivers could save an average of 55% each year by just shopping around, but they just assume it’s a time-consuming process to find cheaper car insurance rates. Many auto insurance companies vie to insure your vehicles, so it can be very hard to choose a company to get the best rate on Lexus NX 200t insurance in Pittsburgh.
You should make it a habit to take a look at other company’s rates on a regular basis because car insurance rates change quite often. Just because you found the lowest rate on Lexus NX 200t insurance in Pittsburgh a few years ago you can probably find a better price now. There is a lot of wrong information about NX 200t insurance online, but we’re going to give you some excellent ideas to reduce your car insurance bill.
If you have a current car insurance policy or just want a better rate, you can use this information to lower your rates and still have adequate protection. Locating the most cost-effective car insurance policy in Pittsburgh is not that difficult as long as you know where to start. Smart shoppers just need to learn the quickest way to get comparison quotes online.
Cheapest Lexus NX 200t insurance quotes in Pittsburgh, PA
The providers in the list below can provide comparison quotes in Pennsylvania. To get cheaper car insurance in Pittsburgh, PA, it’s highly recommended you visit two to three different companies to find the cheapest car insurance rates.
These six discounts can slash Lexus NX 200t insurance rates
Companies don’t always publicize every discount available very clearly, so the following is a list of a few of the more common as well as some of the hidden credits that may apply to you. If you’re not getting every credit possible, you are throwing money away.
- Government Employee Discount – Having worked for a branch of the government may qualify for a discount when you quote Pittsburgh auto insurance but check with your company.
- Seat Belt Usage – Forcing all vehicle occupants to buckle up can save a little off the PIP or medical payment premium.
- Military Discounts – Having an actively deployed family member could trigger a small discount.
- Good Student – Getting good grades can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.
- Theft Deterrent Discount – Cars and trucks optioned with advanced anti-theft systems have a lower chance of being stolen so companies will give you a small discount.
- Own a Home – Owning your own home or condo can get you a discount since home ownership is proof that your finances are in order.
As a footnote on discounts, most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Just because you may think having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don’t profit that way.
If you would like to choose from a list of companies that offer the discounts shown above in Pennsylvania, click this link.
Buying auto insurance from Pittsburgh insurance agencies
Some people just want to go talk to an agent and that is not a bad decision Professional insurance agents can make sure you are properly covered and give you someone to call. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is that you can obtain cheap auto insurance rates and still have a local agent. Supporting local agents is definitely important in Pittsburgh.
For easy comparison, once you complete this quick form, the coverage information is transmitted to companies in Pittsburgh who will return price quotes to get your business. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to leave your computer since rate quotes are delivered to you directly. If you have a need to quote rates from a specific insurance company, don’t hesitate to navigate to their website and give them your coverage information.
If you need to find local Pittsburgh agents, it helps to know the two different types of agents and how they work. Auto insurance agents in Pittsburgh are classified as either exclusive or independent (non-exclusive). Either can sell auto insurance policies, but we need to point out how they differ because it can influence which agent you choose.
Independent Auto Insurance Agencies
Independent agents can quote rates with many companies and that allows them to write policies with many different companies enabling the ability to shop coverage around. To move your coverage to a new company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to switch agencies.
When shopping rates, we recommend you get several quotes from several independent insurance agents to have the most options to choose from.
Listed below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Pittsburgh that may be able to give competitive price quotes.
Liberty Insurance Agency
1910 Cochran Rd #800 – Pittsburgh, PA 15220 – (412) 571-5700 – View Map
Zikos Insurance
Two Chatham Center, Suite 1060, 112 Washington Pl – Pittsburgh, PA 15219 – (412) 391-3464 – View Map
Feeney Insurance Agency
1350 Old Freeport Rd – Pittsburgh, PA 15238 – (412) 963-8850 – View Map
Exclusive Agencies
Exclusive agents can usually just insure with one company such as State Farm or Allstate. They usually cannot provide rate quotes from other companies so they really need to provide good service. Exclusive agents are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them sell insurance even at higher premiums.
Shown below are Pittsburgh exclusive insurance agencies who can help you get rate quotes.
Jack Dumbaugh – State Farm Insurance Agent
1236 Grove Rd – Pittsburgh, PA 15234 – (412) 884-8100 – View Map
Darla Zeli – State Farm Insurance Agent
2513 E Carson St – Pittsburgh, PA 15203 – (412) 431-7166 – View Map
Danielle Howard – State Farm Insurance Agent
1500 Ardmore Blvd Ste 403 – Pittsburgh, PA 15221 – (412) 351-3305 – View Map
Finding a good insurance agency shouldn’t rely on just the quoted price. Some important questions to ask are:
- Which company do they place the most coverage with?
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
- Are they involved in claim handling?
- Is there a 24/7 contact number?
- How will an accident affect your rates?
Once you have answers to your satisfaction for all questions you ask as well as an affordable premium quote, you’ve probably found an insurance agency that meets your needs to properly insure your vehicles.
It may be expensive, but it’s not optional
Despite the high cost of buying insurance for a Lexus NX 200t in Pittsburgh, paying for insurance may be required for several reasons.
First, just about all states have mandatory insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry specific limits of liability coverage if you want to drive legally. 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.
Second, if your car has a loan, almost every bank will force you to have comprehensive coverage to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If the policy lapses, the lender may have to buy a policy to insure your Lexus for a much higher rate and force you to pay for the expensive policy.
Third, insurance protects both your assets and your Lexus. Insurance will pay for many types of medical costs for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. Liability insurance will also pay attorney fees if someone files suit against you as the result of an accident. If mother nature or an accident damages your car, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.
The benefits of carrying enough insurance more than offset the price you pay, specifically if you ever have a liability claim. Unknowingly, the average driver is currently overpaying as much as $869 every year so you should quote your policy with other companies at every policy renewal to be sure current rates are still competitive.
Coverages available on your policy
Learning about specific coverages of your policy aids in choosing the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Insurance terms can be difficult to understand and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. These are typical coverages found on most insurance policies.
Comprehensive coverages
Comprehensive insurance will pay to fix damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like vandalism, damage from flooding, damage from a tornado or hurricane and a broken windshield. The maximum amount your insurance company will pay is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.
Collision protection
Collision coverage pays for damage to your NX 200t caused by collision with another car or object. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage protects against things such as scraping a guard rail, crashing into a ditch, colliding with another moving vehicle and crashing into a building. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. It’s also possible to bump up the deductible on your NX 200t to bring the cost down.
Coverage for medical payments
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for short-term medical expenses like dental work, ambulance fees and pain medications. They are often utilized in addition to your health insurance plan or if you are not covered by health insurance. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants in addition to if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Liability
This coverage provides protection from damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people in an accident. This coverage protects you against other people’s claims, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.
It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see values of 15/30/5 which means a $15,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $30,000, and $5,000 of coverage for damaged property. Alternatively, you may have one number which is a combined single limit that pays claims from the same limit with no separate limits for injury or property damage.
Liability can pay for claims like attorney fees, legal defense fees, medical services and bail bonds. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford. Pennsylvania requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but you should think about purchasing more coverage.
The next chart demonstrates why buying the state minimum limits may not be high enough to adequately cover claims.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. This coverage pays for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as damage to your Lexus NX 200t.
Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (15/30/5 in Pennsylvania), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage should not be overlooked. Usually these coverages are similar to your liability insurance amounts.
Pittsburgh auto insurance company ratings
Picking a highly-rated auto insurance provider can be challenging considering how many companies there are to choose from in Pittsburgh. The ranking data shown next could help you pick which auto insurers you want to consider when shopping your coverage around.
Top 10 Pittsburgh Car Insurance Companies Overall
- The General
- Titan Insurance
- The Hartford
- Progressive
- Travelers
- State Farm
- Farmers Insurance
- Erie Insurance
- Safeco Insurance
- USAA
Cover all your bases
We just presented quite a bit of information on how to compare Lexus NX 200t insurance rates in Pittsburgh. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even be surprised to find that the best rates are with a small local company. They may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like Progressive or GEICO.
As you shop your coverage around, it’s not a good idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage and found out when filing a claim that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The goal is to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest cost.
Steps to buying affordable Lexus NX 200t insurance in Pittsburgh
The preferred way to get budget Lexus NX 200t insurance in Pittsburgh is to compare prices regularly from providers who can sell car insurance in Pennsylvania. This can be done by following these guidelines.
- First, read about how your policy works and the things you can change to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating criteria that are responsible for high rates like speeding tickets, accidents and a negative credit score can be amended by making minor changes in your lifestyle.
- Second, get rate quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can give quotes from one company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can quote prices from multiple insurance companies.
- Third, compare the new rates to your existing rates to see if a cheaper price is available. If you can save some money and switch companies, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
- Fourth, provide proper notification to your current company of your decision to cancel your current coverage. Submit a signed application and payment to your new carrier. Make sure you put the proof of insurance certificate in an easily accessible location in your vehicle.
The key thing to know about shopping around is to use similar limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to look at every company you can. Doing this guarantees a level playing field and a complete price analysis.
More detailed insurance information is located in the articles below:
- State Laws for Cellphones and Texting (iihs.org)
- Who Has the Cheapest Pittsburgh Auto Insurance for Nurses? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance for Seniors in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Understanding Limits and Deductibles (Allstate)
- Dangers of fake or stolen airbags (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Reducing Your Risks in a Car Crash Video (iihs.org)
- Teen Driving Statistics (GEICO)