Truthfully, the best way to get cheaper car insurance rates in Pittsburgh is to start comparing prices regularly from insurers in Pennsylvania.
- Step 1: Spend some time learning about individual coverages and the steps you can take to prevent rate increases. Many factors that cause rate increases such as traffic violations, accidents, and poor credit history can be eliminated by making minor changes to your lifestyle.
- Step 2: Compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only quote rates from a single company like GEICO and State Farm, while independent agents can provide prices from multiple companies.
- Step 3: Compare the new rates to the price on your current policy to see if cheaper 3 coverage is available. If you find a better price and change companies, ensure coverage does not lapse between policies.
- Step 4: Tell your current company of your intent to cancel your existing policy. Submit payment and a signed application for the new coverage. As soon as you have the new policy, put the certificate verifying coverage with your vehicle’s registration.
A good tip to remember is to compare the same level of coverage on each price quote and and to get quotes from as many auto insurance providers as possible. This guarantees an apples-to-apples comparison and and a good selection of different prices.
It’s well known that auto insurance companies don’t want customers comparing rates. Insureds who perform rate comparisons will, in all likelihood, switch auto insurance companies because there is a significant possibility of finding a lower-priced company. A recent survey discovered that consumers who faithfully checked for cheaper rates saved approximately $3,450 over four years as compared to drivers who don’t regularly compare prices.
If finding budget-friendly car insurance is your ultimate objective, then learning about how to shop and compare coverage rates can make the process more efficient.
The easiest way to compare policy rates for Mazda 3 insurance in Pittsburgh is to take advantage of the fact most of the bigger providers actually pay money for the chance to quote your coverage. The one thing you need to do is provide a small amount of information such as if a SR-22 is needed, whether the vehicles are used for commuting, your job, and any included safety features. That rating data is automatically sent to multiple companies and they respond with quotes immediately.
If you would like to start a quote now, click here and enter the information requested.
The providers in the list below are ready to provide quotes in Pennsylvania. If you want cheap auto insurance in Pittsburgh, we suggest you visit two to three different companies to find the most affordable car insurance rates.
Auto insurance does more than just repair your car
Even though it can be expensive, maintaining insurance is required for several reasons.
- Almost all states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means it is punishable by state law to not carry a specific level 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, most banks will force you to have comprehensive coverage to ensure they get paid if you total the vehicle. If the policy lapses, the bank may buy a policy for your Mazda for a much higher rate and require you to pay a much higher amount than you were paying before.
- Insurance safeguards both your assets and your Mazda 3. It will also provide coverage for medical bills for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, will also pay for a defense attorney if you are sued as the result of your driving. If you have damage to your Mazda as the result of the weather or an accident, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay to repair the damage.
The benefits of having auto insurance greatly outweigh the cost, particularly if you ever have a claim. According to a 2015 survey, the average American driver is currently overpaying as much as $855 a year so we recommend shopping around each time the policy renews to make sure the price is not too high.
Rates and data analysis
The coverage table shown next outlines detailed analysis of coverage prices for Mazda 3 models. Being able to understand how auto insurance prices are formulated can be valuable when making decisions when shopping around.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 I Sport 4-Dr Sedan | $200 | $338 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $994 | $83 |
| 3 I SV 4-Dr Sedan | $200 | $338 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $994 | $83 |
| 3 I Touring 4-Dr Sedan | $200 | $400 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $1,056 | $88 |
| 3 S Sport 4-Dr Hatchback | $226 | $400 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $1,082 | $90 |
| 3 S Sport 4-Dr Sedan | $226 | $400 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $1,082 | $90 |
| 3 S Grand Touring 4-Dr Hatchback | $226 | $400 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $1,082 | $90 |
| 3 S Grand Touring 4-Dr Sedan | $226 | $400 | $336 | $20 | $100 | $1,082 | $90 |
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Price data assumes married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Price estimates do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can revise auto insurance rates considerably.
Physical damage deductibles: Should you raise them?
When buying auto insurance, a common question is what deductibles to buy. The tables below may help to conceptualize how much more rates are when you choose different deductibles. The first price estimate table uses a $250 physical damage deductible and the second rate chart uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 I Sport 4-Dr Sedan | $254 | $428 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,155 | $96 |
| 3 I SV 4-Dr Sedan | $254 | $428 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,155 | $96 |
| 3 I Touring 4-Dr Sedan | $254 | $506 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,233 | $103 |
| 3 S Sport 4-Dr Hatchback | $288 | $506 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,267 | $106 |
| 3 S Sport 4-Dr Sedan | $288 | $506 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,267 | $106 |
| 3 S Grand Touring 4-Dr Hatchback | $288 | $506 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,267 | $106 |
| 3 S Grand Touring 4-Dr Sedan | $288 | $506 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,267 | $106 |
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| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 I Sport 4-Dr Sedan | $158 | $270 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $876 | $73 |
| 3 I SV 4-Dr Sedan | $158 | $270 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $876 | $73 |
| 3 I Touring 4-Dr Sedan | $158 | $318 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $924 | $77 |
| 3 S Sport 4-Dr Hatchback | $178 | $318 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $944 | $79 |
| 3 S Sport 4-Dr Sedan | $178 | $318 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $944 | $79 |
| 3 S Grand Touring 4-Dr Hatchback | $178 | $318 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $944 | $79 |
| 3 S Grand Touring 4-Dr Sedan | $178 | $318 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $944 | $79 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Premium amounts do not factor in specific location information which can lower or raise auto insurance rates considerably.
Based on this data, using a $250 deductible will cost you about $26 more each month or $312 every year than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $750 more out of your own pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you normally average at a minimum 29 months between claim filings, you would probably save some money if you choose the higher deductible. Here’s the way you can do this calculation yourself.
| Average monthly premium for $250 deductibles: | $103 |
| Average monthly premium for $1,000 deductibles (subtract): | – $77 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $26 |
| Difference between deductibles ($1,000 – $250): | $750 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $750 / $26 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 29 months |
One important caveat is that higher deductibles means you will have to pay more out-of-pocket when you file a claim. That will force you to have some extra savings in order to pay the deductible.
Men versus women drivers and insurance cost
The example below shows the difference between Mazda 3 insurance prices for male and female drivers. The data assumes no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, full physical damage coverage, $500 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Comparison of full coverage and liability-only policies
The illustration below illustrates the difference between Mazda 3 insurance premiums when comparing full coverage to liability only. The costs are based on no violations or accidents, $100 deductibles, single status, and no policy discounts are applied.
When to stop buying physical damage coverage
There is no set guideline to delete comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general convention. If the annual cost of having full coverage is about 10% or more of replacement cost minus your deductible, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s say your Mazda 3 book value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most your company will settle for is $6,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If premiums are more than $600 a year to have full coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
There are some situations where eliminating full coverage is not a good plan. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you have to maintain full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not buy liability only.
Do you qualify for discounts on Mazda 3 insurance in Pittsburgh?
Insurance is neither fun to buy or cheap, but you might find some hidden discounts that you may not even be aware of. Some of these discounts will be visible when you quote, but a few must be asked about before you get the savings.
- Safe Driver Discounts – Drivers who avoid accidents can save up to 40% or more on their Pittsburgh auto insurance quote than drivers with accidents.
- Passenger Safety Discount – Options like air bags or motorized seat belts can get savings of 20% or more.
- First Accident Forgiveness – Not a discount per se, but some companies like Liberty Mutual, Allstate and State Farm will allow you to have one accident without raising rates so long as you haven’t had any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
- Driver Education Discount – Have your child enroll in driver’s education as it can save substantially.
- Driver Safety – Completing a defensive driving course could save 5% or more and make you a better driver.
- Multiple Policy Discount – If you combine your auto and home policies with one insurance company they may give you a discount of approximately 10% to 15%.
- Telematics Discount – Pittsburgh drivers who agree to allow driving data submission to spy on driving patterns remotely such as In-Drive from State Farm or Allstate’s Drivewise system might see lower rates as long as the data is positive.
- Paperless Signup – Certain insurance companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for completing your application online.
- Discounts for Federal Employees – Federal government employees can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
It’s important to understand that some credits don’t apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it’s just not the way it works. Any amount of discount will cut your insurance premiums.
The diagram below illustrates the comparison of Mazda 3 premium costs with and without discounts. The information is based on a male driver, no claims or driving citations, Pennsylvania state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-car, marriage, and safe-driver discounts applied.
The best insurance companies and some of the discounts are shown below.
- Farm Bureau has discounts for driver training, multi-vehicle, good student, renewal discount, 55 and retired, and multi-policy.
- State Farm discounts include Steer Clear safe driver discount, defensive driving training, accident-free, driver’s education, Drive Safe & Save, and good student.
- Progressive may include discounts for multi-vehicle, multi-policy, online signing, homeowner, and continuous coverage.
- Allstate may offer discounts for auto/life discount, economy car, good student, passive restraint, and multi-policy.
- Nationwide offers premium reductions for multi-policy, family plan, Farm Bureau membership, easy pay, good student, anti-theft, and defensive driving.
- MetLife offers discounts for defensive driver, claim-free, accident-free, good driver, and good student.
Before buying, ask each company or agent which discounts you may be entitled to. Some credits may not apply to policyholders in your area.
Local Pittsburgh insurance agencies
A lot of people would rather buy from a local agent and that can be a great decision An additional benefit of comparing rates online is you can get cheap rate quotes and also buy local. Buying from local insurance agents is still important in Pittsburgh.
Once you complete this form (opens in new window), the quote information is emailed to local insurance agents who will give you quotes for your insurance coverage. There is no reason to contact an agency because prices are sent to your email. You can find better rates AND a local agent. If you need to get a price quote from a specific company, don’t hesitate to jump over to their website and give them your coverage information.
Shown below are Pittsburgh insurers that may be able to provide price quote information for Mazda 3 insurance in Pittsburgh.
Darlene Shelton-Lamot – State Farm Insurance Agent
911 Western Ave – Pittsburgh, PA 15233 – (412) 322-1064 – View Map
Masters Insurance Services
1719 Ardmore Blvd – Pittsburgh, PA 15221 – (412) 351-2448 – View Map
McIlrath Insurance Agency
4601 Clairton Blvd – Pittsburgh, PA 15236 – (412) 882-9000 – View Map
Brown Insurance Agency
5001 Baum Blvd #515 – Pittsburgh, PA 15213 – (412) 681-7114 – View Map
Deciding on a insurer should include more criteria than just the price. The following questions are important to ask.
- How often do they review policy coverages?
- How many companies do they write for?
- Are there any discounts for paying up front?
- Will the company cover a rental car if your car is getting fixed?
- Will they take your side in the event of a claim?
- How is replacement cost determined on your vehicle?
When in doubt talk to an agent
When it comes to coverage for your personal vehicles, there really isn’t a “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s situation is a little different.
For example, these questions may help highlight if your insurance needs might need professional guidance.
- How much liability insurance is required?
- Who is covered when they drive my Mazda 3?
- Is my vehicle covered by my employer’s policy when using it for work?
- Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in Pittsburgh?
- Who does medical payments coverage extend to?
- How much coverage applies to personal belongings?
- What is the rate difference between pleasure use and commuting?
- When should I not buy collision coverage?
- What if I owe more than I can insure my car for?
- What is an adequate liability insurance limit?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.
In the end, you can save money
Cheaper auto insurance in Pittsburgh can be purchased online and also from your neighborhood Pittsburgh agents, so get free Pittsburgh auto insurance quotes from both of them to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who may not offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these smaller providers only sell through independent agents.
When getting Pittsburgh auto insurance quotes online, it’s not a good idea to buy less coverage just to save a little money. Too many times, an insured cut liability coverage limits only to regret that it was a big error on their part. Your strategy should be to find the BEST coverage at the lowest possible cost and still be able to protect your assets.
Throughout this article, we presented some good ideas how to shop for Mazda 3 insurance online. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding cheaper Pittsburgh auto insurance quotes. Consumers may even find the lowest rates are with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.
Helpful learning opportunities
- Teen Driving and Texting (State Farm)
- Who Has the Cheapest Pittsburgh Auto Insurance Rates for a Chevrolet Traverse? (FAQ)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for a School Permit in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- How Much is Pittsburgh Auto Insurance for a 20 Year Old Male? (FAQ)
- Vehicle Insurance in the U.S. (Wikipedia)
- Teen Driving Statistics (iihs.org)
- A Tree Fell on Your Car: Now What? (Allstate)
- Rental Car Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Institute)