A recent survey discovered that most drivers in Pennsylvania renewed their policy with the same company for well over three years, and 38% of customers have never even shopped around for lower-cost coverage. With the average car insurance premium being $1,847, American drivers could cut their rates by roughly $850 a year, but they just don’t understand the amount of money they would save if they just switched companies.
The recommended way to find low-cost auto insurance rates is to annually compare prices from different companies in Pittsburgh.
- Step 1: Read and learn about how car insurance works and the modifications you can make to drop your rates. Many factors that result in higher prices like traffic citations and a negative credit history can be controlled by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes. Read the full article for tips to help reduce prices and get additional discounts.
- Step 2: Compare price quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can give quotes from a single company like Progressive or State Farm, while independent agencies can provide price quotes for a wide range of companies.
- Step 3: Compare the price quotes to the price on your current policy to determine if switching companies saves money. If you can save some money and switch companies, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
- Step 4: Give proper notification to your current agent or company of your decision to cancel your current car insurance policy. Submit a down payment along with a completed application to the new company. Once the paperwork is finalized, place the new certificate verifying coverage with your registration paperwork.
The most important part of shopping around is to make sure you’re comparing similar limits and deductibles on every quote and and to look at every insurance company. This helps ensure a fair rate comparison and a thorough selection of prices.
The quickest method we recommend to get policy rate comparisons for Pontiac Grand Prix insurance in Pittsburgh is to understand almost all companies pay for the opportunity to provide you with free rate quotes. To start a quote, the only thing you need to do is provide information including the make and model of your vehicles, if you are currently licensed, whether you are single or married, and how much education you have. Your rating data is instantly submitted to many different companies and they return rate quotes immediately.
To find the cheapest Pontiac Grand Prix insurance rates, click here and see if a lower rate is available in Pittsburgh.
The providers in the list below can provide price comparisons in Pittsburgh, PA. To find cheap auto insurance in Pittsburgh, we recommend you visit as many as you can to get the cheapest price.
Auto insurance does more than just repair your car
Despite the potentially high cost of Pontiac Grand Prix insurance, paying for auto insurance serves several important purposes.
- Just about all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means the state requires a specific minimum amount of liability insurance in order to be legal. 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 have a lien on your vehicle, more than likely the lender will stipulate that you have comprehensive coverage to guarantee loan repayment. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your Pontiac at a more expensive rate and force you to reimburse them the higher premium.
- Insurance protects both your vehicle and your personal assets. It will also reimburse you for medical bills that are the result of an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance will also pay for a defense attorney if anyone sues you for causing an accident. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will cover the damage repairs after a deductible is paid.
The benefits of having auto insurance greatly outweigh the cost, especially when you need to use it. According to a survey of 1,000 drivers, the average driver overpays more than $865 each year so we recommend shopping around at every policy renewal to help ensure money is not being wasted.
These ten discounts can lower your auto insurance rates
Car insurance companies don’t always list every available discount in an easy-to-find place, so we break down some of the best known as well as some of the hidden ways to save on auto insurance.
- No Charge for an Accident – This one isn’t a discount, but a few companies such as Progressive, State Farm and GEICO may permit one accident before raising your premiums as long as you don’t have any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
- Government Employee Discount – Having worked for a branch of the government can save as much as 8% but check with your company.
- ABS and Traction Control Discounts – Cars with anti-lock braking systems have fewer accidents and the ABS can save up to 10%.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Fewer annual miles on your Pontiac may enable drivers to earn slightly better premium rates than normal.
- Theft Deterrent Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems have a lower chance of being stolen and can earn a small discount on your policy.
- Policy Bundle Discount – If you can combine your homeowners and auto policy with one company you could save up to 20% and get you cheap Grand Prix insurance.
- New Vehicle Savings – Adding a new car to your policy can get you a discount because newer models keep occupants safer.
- Save over 55 – If you’re over the age of 55, you could receive a discount up to 10%.
- Air Bag Discount – Factory options such as air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may get savings of 25 to 30%.
- Early Switch Discount – Some auto insurance companies give discounts for buying a policy before your current Grand Prix insurance policy expires. This discount can save up to 10%.
One thing to note about discounts is that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the whole policy. Most only cut specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. If you do the math and it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, it just doesn’t work that way.
Some companies who may offer some of the discounts shown above include:
Check with each company or agent to give you their best rates. Some discounts listed above may not apply to policyholders everywhere.
Do I need an insurance agency?
Some consumers would rather buy from a licensed agent and that is OK! Licensed agents can help you choose the best coverages and help file insurance claims. An additional benefit of comparing rates online is you can get better rates and still buy from a local agent.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, the coverage information is emailed to agents in your area who will return price quotes for your auto insurance coverage. There is no reason to contact any agents due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to your email address. In the event you want to get a price quote for a specific company, you can always search and find their rate quote page to submit a rate quote request.
Choosing an company shouldn’t rely on just a cheap price. Here are some questions you might want to ask.
- Are there any extra charges for paying monthly?
- Do they offer claims assistance after hours?
- Does the agency have a current Errors and Omissions policy?
- Do they specialize in personal lines coverage in Pittsburgh?
- How much experience to they have in personal lines coverages?
- Does the company have a solid financial rating?
Two different types of auto insurance agents
If you are searching for a reliable agent, it helps to know the two types of agencies to choose from. Auto insurance agents are considered either independent or exclusive. Either one can write policy coverage, but we need to point out why they differ because it can impact the selection process.
Exclusive Auto Insurance Agents
Agents that choose to be exclusive have only one company to place business with and some examples include AAA, Allstate, State Farm, or Farmers Insurance. Exclusive agents cannot place coverage with different providers so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Exclusive agencies receive extensive training on their company’s products which can be an advantage.
Below are Pittsburgh exclusive agencies that can give you price quotes.
John Cosey – State Farm Insurance Agent
5869 Forbes Ave – Pittsburgh, PA 15217 – (412) 521-7070 – View Map
Lindsay Brown – State Farm Insurance Agent
300 Cedar Blvd #205 – Pittsburgh, PA 15228 – (412) 344-3030 – View Map
Danielle Howard – State Farm Insurance Agent
1500 Ardmore Blvd Ste 403 – Pittsburgh, PA 15221 – (412) 351-3305 – View Map
Independent Agents
Independent agents often have many company appointments and that enables them to quote your coverage with an assortment of companies and get you the best rates possible. If you want to switch companies, your agent can just switch to a different company and you don’t have to switch agencies. When comparison shopping, you should always get insurance quotes from independent agents in order to compare the most rates.
The following are Pittsburgh independent insurance agencies who can help you get rate quotes.
Kelly Insurance Group
700 River Ave # 433 – Pittsburgh, PA 15212 – (412) 325-1650 – View Map
Zikos Insurance
Two Chatham Center, Suite 1060, 112 Washington Pl – Pittsburgh, PA 15219 – (412) 391-3464 – View Map
Dowd Insurance Agency Inc
998, Greensburg Pike – East Pittsburgh, PA 15112 – (412) 271-5477 – View Map
Once you have positive feedback to all your questions as well as a price you’re happy with, chances are good that you have found an auto insurance agent that can adequately provide auto insurance.
Insurance coverage specifics
Knowing the specifics of a insurance policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. Insurance terms can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are typical coverage types found on most insurance policies.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for short-term medical expenses such as surgery, EMT expenses, funeral costs and rehabilitation expenses. They are often used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. It covers not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Liability car insurance
This can cover damage that occurs to a person or their property that is your fault. It protects YOU from claims by other people, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. Your policy might show values of 15/30/5 which means $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 of coverage for damaged property.
Liability coverage protects against things like bail bonds, structural damage, pain and suffering and legal defense fees. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but consider buying higher limits if possible. Pennsylvania requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but it’s recommended drivers buy more liability than the minimum.
The illustration below demonstrates why the minimum limit may not provide you with enough coverage.
Collision protection
Collision insurance covers damage to your Grand Prix from colliding with another car or object. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage protects against claims like driving through your garage door, backing into a parked car, hitting a parking meter and colliding with a tree. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so analyze the benefit of dropping coverage from vehicles that are older. It’s also possible to raise the deductible on your Grand Prix to get cheaper collision coverage.
Comprehensive insurance
This pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.
Comprehensive insurance covers things such as hail damage, falling objects, damage from getting keyed, theft and fire damage. The most you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
This gives you protection from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries and also any damage incurred to your Pontiac Grand Prix.
Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits (15/30/5), their limits can quickly be used up. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea.
You can lower your auto insurance rates
In this article, we covered many tips how you can shop for Pontiac Grand Prix insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest premium rates come from an unexpected company. These companies often have lower prices on specific markets compared to the large companies like GEICO and State Farm.
Some companies don’t offer rates over the internet and many times these smaller companies prefer to sell through local independent agencies. Budget-conscious Pontiac Grand Prix insurance is definitely available from both online companies and from local insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to get a complete price analysis.
When buying insurance coverage, you should never sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced physical damage coverage only to regret that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your objective should be to find the BEST coverage at the best cost and still be able to protect your assets.
More detailed auto insurance information is available at these sites:
- Young Drivers: The High Risk Years Video (iihs.org)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for a Jeep Wrangler in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Pittsburgh Auto Insurance for Welfare Recipients? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Drivers Under 21 in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Can I Drive Legally without Insurance? (Insurance Information Institute)
- New vehicle ratings focus on headlights (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)