It’s an obvious conclusion that insurance companies don’t want you to look for cheaper rates. People who shop around for better prices will most likely switch to a new company because there is a significant possibility of finding lower prices. A recent study showed that people who regularly compared rates saved as much as $3,500 over four years compared to policyholders who never shopped around.
If finding the cheapest price on car insurance in Pittsburgh is your objective, then knowing how to shop for insurance premiums can make it easier to shop your coverage around.
Truthfully, the best way to find discount Audi SQ5 insurance in Pittsburgh is to begin comparing prices regularly from insurance carriers in Pennsylvania. You can compare prices by following these steps.
- Try to understand the coverage provided by your policy and the changes you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating factors that cause high rates such as at-fault accidents, careless driving, and a low credit score can be rectified by being financially responsible and driving safely.
- Get rate quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only give rate quotes from a single company like Progressive or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can provide price quotes from multiple insurance companies.
- Compare the new quotes to your existing rates to see if you can save by switching companies. If you can save some money and change companies, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
- Give notification to your current company to cancel your current policy. Submit a completed policy application and payment to your new agent or company. When you receive it, safely store the proof of insurance paperwork in a readily accessible location in your vehicle.
The most important part of shopping around is that you’ll want to compare similar limits and deductibles on every quote request and and to get rate quotes from as many different companies as possible. This provides an apples-to-apples comparison and the best price selection.
If you are insured now, you should be able to get lower rates using the techniques presented in this article. Finding the cheapest insurance coverage in Pittsburgh can be much easier if you know how to start. Although Pennsylvania vehicle owners must understand the way insurance companies calculate their prices because it varies considerably.
Reduce your car insurance rates with these ten discounts
Some insurers don’t always list all possible discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we break down both the well known in addition to some of the lesser obvious discounts that you may qualify for. If they aren’t giving you every credit available, you may be paying too high a price.
- Multiple Vehicles – Buying insurance for all your vehicles on the same car insurance policy can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Fewer annual miles on your Audi may allow you to get substantially lower car insurance rates.
- Seat Belts Save more than Lives – Drivers who always wear seat belts and also require passengers to buckle up before driving can save 10% or more off PIP or medical payments premium.
- Anti-theft System – Vehicles with anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- No Claims – Pittsburgh drivers who stay claim-free pay much less in comparison with policyholders that have many claims.
- Smart Student Discounts – Excelling in school can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last up until you turn 25.
- Federal Employees – Employees or retirees of the government may qualify for a discount when you quote Pittsburgh car insurance with certain companies.
- Early Signing – Some insurance companies provide a discount for signing up before your current coverage expires. You can save around 10% with this discount.
- Senior Citizen Discount – Drivers over the age of 55 can possibly qualify for better car insurance rates.
- Driver’s Ed – It’s a good idea to have your young drivers successfully complete driver’s ed class in high school.
Just know that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. Even though the math looks like you can get free auto insurance, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.
Companies that may include some of the above discounts include:
If you need lower rates, check with all companies you are considering what discounts are available to you. Depending on the company, some discounts may not apply to policyholders in Pittsburgh. For a list of companies with discount rates in Pennsylvania, click here to view.
Just keep in mind that comparing all the rates in your area will increase your chances of finding lower pricing. Some regional insurers cannot provide online price quotes, so you also need to get price quotes from them, too.
The providers in the list below offer price comparisons in Pennsylvania. To locate the best auto insurance in Pennsylvania, we recommend you compare several of them in order to find the lowest rates.
Insurance agent or online?
Many drivers would prefer to sit down and talk to an agent and that is not a bad decision One of the benefits of comparing rate quotes online is that you can find cheap auto insurance rates but also keep your business local.
Once you complete this simple form, your insurance coverage information is transmitted to agents in your area that provide free Pittsburgh car insurance quotes for your coverage. There is no reason to do any legwork as quotes are delivered to you instantly. You can most likely find cheaper rates and a licensed agent to work with. If you wish to quote rates from a particular provider, don’t hesitate to go to their quote page and fill out their quote form.
Choosing an company requires more thought than just a low price. These are some valid questions you should ask.
- Are they able to provide referrals?
- How experienced are they in personal risk management?
- Where are claims handled?
- Are they paid to recommend certain coverages?
- If independent agents, which companies do they recommend?
- How many companies do they write for?
- Do they have cheaper tiers of coverage?
- Does the agency provide any after hours assistance?
Not all auto insurance agents are the same
When looking for a good insurance agency, it’s helpful to know the types of insurance agents and how they differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agents in Pittsburgh are either independent or exclusive.
Exclusive Auto Insurance Agents
Agents in the exclusive channel can only provide pricing for a single company such as State Farm, AAA, and Liberty Mutual. They usually cannot provide rate quotes from other companies so it’s a take it or leave it situation. These agents are well schooled on their company’s products and that can be a competitive advantage.
The following is a list of exclusive insurance agencies in Pittsburgh who can help you get comparison quotes.
Jack Dumbaugh – State Farm Insurance Agent
1236 Grove Rd – Pittsburgh, PA 15234 – (412) 884-8100 – View Map
George O’Korn – State Farm Insurance Agent
4486 Steubenville Pike – Pittsburgh, PA 15205 – (412) 921-1182 – View Map
Mike Dudenas – State Farm Insurance Agent
901 Castle Shannon Blvd – Pittsburgh, PA 15234 – (412) 561-5012 – View Map
Independent Auto Insurance Agencies
Agents in the independent channel do not sell for just one brand so as a result can place your coverage with many different companies and find you cheaper rates. If your agent finds better pricing, the business is moved internally which makes it simple for you. If you are comparing rate quotes, we recommend you contact a few independent agents to maximize your price options.
Below are independent agencies in Pittsburgh who can help you get price quote information.
A For the People Insurance Agency, Inc.
2514 Wylie Ave – Pittsburgh, PA 15219 – (412) 621-5581 – View Map
Joe Vojtas Agency – ERIE Insurance
9800B McKnight Rd #226 – Pittsburgh, PA 15237 – (412) 847-3743 – View Map
Kartsonas Agency, Inc.
421 Cochran Rd – Pittsburgh, PA 15228 – (412) 563-5900 – View Map
Once you have answers to your satisfaction for all questions you ask in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you may have just found an insurance agency that is a good match to properly insure your vehicles. But keep in mind you are entitled to cancel coverage when you choose so don’t feel you’re contractually obligated to any specific agency for any length of time.
Why you need to buy car insurance
Despite the potentially high cost of Audi SQ5 insurance, insuring your vehicle serves a purpose in several ways.
- Most states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require a specific minimum amount of liability coverage if you drive a vehicle. 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 your SQ5 has a loan, almost all lenders will require you to have insurance to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If the policy lapses, the bank will be required to insure your Audi for a lot more money and make you pay for the much more expensive policy.
- Insurance protects not only your Audi SQ5 but also your assets. It will also reimburse you for medical bills for both you and anyone you injure as the result of an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, also pays for attorney fees and expenses if you are sued as the result of an accident. If your Audi gets damaged, comprehensive and/or collision insurance will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of insuring your SQ5 outweigh the cost, specifically if you ever have a liability claim. In a recent study of 1,000 drivers, the average customer is overpaying more than $865 each year so compare rates at every renewal to make sure the price is not too high.
Coverages available on your policy
Having a good grasp of your car insurance policy can be of help when determining the right coverages for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be confusing and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are typical coverage types found on the average car insurance policy.
Collision protection
Collision insurance pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with another car or object. You have to pay a deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.
Collision coverage pays for things such as sideswiping another vehicle, hitting a mailbox and rolling your car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to raise the deductible on your SQ5 in order to get cheaper collision rates.
Liability insurance
Liability coverage will cover damage or injury you incur to people or other property in an accident. It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. As an example, you may have limits of 15/30/5 which stand for a $15,000 limit per person for injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $30,000, and property damage coverage for $5,000.
Liability coverage protects against claims like court costs, medical services and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much liability coverage do you need? That is your choice, but buy as large an amount as possible. Pennsylvania requires drivers to carry at least 15/30/5 but you should consider buying more coverage.
The chart below demonstrates why buying the state minimum limits may not be high enough to adequately cover claims.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
This gives you protection when the “other guys” either have no liability insurance or not enough. It can pay for injuries to you and your family as well as damage to your Audi SQ5.
Since many Pennsylvania drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (which is 15/30/5), their limits can quickly be used up. So UM/UIM coverage is very important.
Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Med pay and PIP coverage reimburse you for expenses for things like funeral costs, hospital visits and rehabilitation expenses. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to both the driver and occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. PIP is not available in all states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay
Comprehensive insurance
This will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You need to pay your deductible first and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays for things such as fire damage, damage from flooding, hail damage and falling objects. The maximum amount your car insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Best car insurance in Pennsylvania
Insuring your vehicle with a high-quality insurer is difficult considering how many companies sell coverage in Pittsburgh. The information displayed below can help you decide which car insurance companies to look at when comparing rates.
Top 10 Pittsburgh Car Insurance Companies Overall
- The General
- Titan Insurance
- The Hartford
- Progressive
- Travelers
- State Farm
- Farmers Insurance
- Erie Insurance
- Safeco Insurance
- USAA
Affordable auto insurance is out there
We covered a lot of tips how to get a better price on Audi SQ5 insurance in Pittsburgh. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better your chances of lowering your prices. You may even be surprised to find that the lowest premium rates are with the least-expected company. Regional companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as Progressive or GEICO.
Some auto insurance companies may not offer online price quotes and many times these small, regional companies provide coverage only through independent agents. Budget-friendly auto insurance in Pittsburgh can be found on the web and from local agencies, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best selection.
Additional auto insurance information is available on the following sites:
- Warning systems don’t curb driver distraction (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Young Drivers in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for Unemployed Drivers in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for 17 Year Olds in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for a Ford Escape in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Distracted Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
- Anti-Lock Brake FAQ (iihs.org)
- Eight Auto Insurance Myths (Insurance Information Institute)
- Insurance losses by make and model (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)