Affordable Pittsburgh BMW 328i Insurance

The best way we recommend to save on BMW 328i insurance in Pittsburgh is to compare prices once a year from insurance carriers who provide auto insurance in Pennsylvania. You can compare prices by following these steps.

Step 1: Try to understand what coverages are included in your policy and the factors you can control to prevent rate increases. Many policy risk factors that result in higher prices like traffic citations and a not-so-good credit score can be amended by making minor changes in your lifestyle. This article provides information to keep prices down and find additional discounts.

Step 2: Compare price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only quote rates from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes for a wide range of companies.

Step 3: Compare the price quotes to the price on your current policy to see if a cheaper price is available in Pittsburgh. If you find a lower rate quote, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.

Step 4: Tell your current company of your intention to cancel your current car insurance policy. Submit a completed application and payment to your new company or agent. As soon as you can, store the certificate verifying coverage in your vehicle.

An important note is to use the same liability limits and deductibles on each quote request and and to analyze every insurance company. Doing this ensures a fair rate comparison and a better comparison of the market.

Unimaginable but true, the vast majority of consumers kept their coverage with the same car insurance company for a minimum of four years, and nearly half have never quoted car insurance rates at all. American insurance shoppers could save $859 a year by just comparing quotes, but they just don’t understand the big savings they would realize if they changed companies.

Most companies allow you to get insurance quotes on the web. Obtaining pricing for BMW 328i insurance in Pittsburgh is pretty painless as you just enter your required coverages on the page. Upon sending the form, their rating system orders your driving record and credit report and quotes a price based on the information you submitted. This simplifies rate comparisons, and it is imperative to have as many quotes as possible if you are searching for lower-cost auto insurance pricing.

To save time and compare rates using this form now, consider comparing rates from the companies shown below. If you have a policy now, it’s recommended you replicate the coverage information identical to your current policy. This helps ensure you will have rate quotes based on similar coverages.

The companies in the list below are our best choices to provide free rate quotes in Pittsburgh, PA. If you want to find cheap auto insurance in Pennsylvania, we recommend you compare several of them to get the lowest price.

You may qualify for discounts for BMW 328i insurance in Pittsburgh

Auto insurance companies don’t always advertise the complete list of policy discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the next list breaks down some of the more common and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using when you buy Pittsburgh auto insurance online.

• Discounts for Good Drivers – Accident-free drivers can get discounts for up to 45% lower rates compared to rates paid by drivers with frequent claims.
• Driver Education Discount – Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course if offered at their school.
• Accident Free – Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially as compared to accident-prone drivers.
• Distant Student Discount – Children who are attending college and don’t have a car could qualify for this discount.
• Multi-policy Discount – When you combine your home and auto insurance and insure them both with the same insurance company you may save approximately 10% to 15%.
• Pittsburgh Homeowners Pay Less – Owning a home in Pittsburgh can earn you a little savings because maintaining a house is proof of financial responsibility.
• Pay Early and Save – If you can afford to pay the entire bill instead of paying each month you can avoid the installment charge.

While discounts sound great, it’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy.

The diagram below visualizes the comparison of BMW 328i auto insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the premium. The rates are based on a female driver, no violations or claims, Pennsylvania state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, multi-car, marriage, safe-driver, multi-policy, and claim-free discounts applied.

Large auto insurance companies and their offered discounts are detailed below.

• State Farm includes discounts for accident-free, Drive Safe & Save, student away at school, driver’s education, safe vehicle, defensive driving training, and Steer Clear safe driver discount.
• Farmers Insurance offers premium reductions for electronic funds transfer, switch companies, good student, business and professional, multi-car, teen driver, and early shopping.
• GEICO may include discounts for driver training, membership and employees, anti-theft, seat belt use, multi-vehicle, federal employee, and military active duty.
• American Family offers discounts including TimeAway discount, Steer into Savings, good student, early bird, bundled insurance, and good driver.
• Nationwide has savings for anti-theft, good student, easy pay, multi-policy, accident-free, and defensive driving.
• Progressive may have discounts that include good student, homeowner, multi-vehicle, online quote discount, online signing, and continuous coverage.

Before purchasing a policy, check with all the companies what discounts are available to you. All car insurance discounts may not apply to policyholders in Pittsburgh.

Statistics and details

The premium table shown next covers a range of insurance rates for BMW 328i models. Having a better understanding of how premiums are figured is important for you to make informed decisions when shopping around for a new policy.

Premium data assumes married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-vehicle, homeowner, multi-policy, and claim-free. Premium amounts do not factor in your specific Pittsburgh location which can modify prices greatly.

An analysis of deductible level

When comparing insurance rates, the most common question is how high or low should comp and collision deductibles be. The data tables below lay out the cost difference of buying low and high physical damage coverage deductibles. The first rate table uses a $100 deductible and the second set of rates uses a $1,000 deductible.

Data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, safe-driver, and homeowner. Price information does not factor in specific location which can raise or lower rates substantially.

Based on the above data, using a $100 deductible costs about $41 more each month or $492 for a full year than choosing the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would be required to pay $900 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you normally average at least 22 months between claim filings, you would more than likely save some money going with the higher deductible.

The example below shows how choosing a deductible and can affect BMW 328i yearly insurance costs for each age group. The information is based on a single female driver, comp and collision included, and no discounts are factored in.

Violations and accidents raise rates

The example below demonstrates how citations and fender-benders can drive up BMW 328i auto insurance costs for different insured age categories. The premium estimates are based on a married female driver, comp and collision included, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.

How much more does full coverage cost?

The information below shows the comparison of BMW 328i insurance costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying liability only. The information is based on no claims or driving citations, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no policy discounts are applied.

When to buy liability coverage only

There is no set guideline of when to eliminate comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than around 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then you might consider buying liability only.

For example, let’s assume your BMW 328i replacement value is $5,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, you would only receive $4,000 after paying your deductible. If it’s costing in excess of $400 annually for physical damage coverage, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.

There are some situations where dropping full coverage is not a good idea. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you have to carry full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should maintain full coverage.

Compare prices but buy from a neighborhood Pittsburgh auto insurance agent

Some consumers prefer to have an agent’s advice and that is a smart decision A good thing about price shopping on the web is that drivers can save money and get cheaper premium rates and still have an agent to talk to. Buying from small agencies is still important in Pittsburgh.

To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, your insurance data is instantly submitted to agents in your area who will give you quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You don’t have to visit any agencies since price quotes are sent to your email. You can most likely find cheaper rates and an insurance agent to talk to. In the event you want to compare prices for a specific company, you can always jump over to their website and submit a quote form there.

If you are wanting to find an insurance agent, it’s helpful to know the different agency structures that you can select. Insurance agencies may be either independent or exclusive.

Independent Insurance Agencies or Brokers

Independent agencies are not restricted to one company and that is an advantage because they can write policies through many different insurance companies and find the cheapest rate. If premiums increase, the agent simply finds a different carrier and the insured can keep the same agent. If you need cheaper insurance rates, we recommend you compare prices from several independent insurance agents to get the best comparison.

Listed below is a list of independent agencies in Pittsburgh that may be able to provide competitive price quotes.

More Pittsburgh agents

Exclusive Agencies

Exclusive agents can only provide one company’s prices and some examples include AAA, Allstate, State Farm, or Farmers Insurance. These agents are unable to provide rate quotes from other companies so you might not find the best rates. Exclusive insurance agents are highly trained in insurance sales which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates.

Shown below are Pittsburgh exclusive agencies that can give you rate quotes.

More Pittsburgh agents

Picking an car insurance agent is decision based upon more than just a low price. Any good agent in Pittsburgh should know the answers to these questions.

• What company do they have the most business with?
• Is the agent properly licensed in Pennsylvania?
• Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
• Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
• What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
• Are they actively involved in the community?
• How much training do they have in personal risk management?
• Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?

Upon receiving reasonable responses and an acceptable price quote, chances are good that you have found an auto insurance agent that can insure your vehicles.

Car insurance is unique, just like you

When choosing the best car insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really isn’t a perfect coverage plan. Every insured’s situation is different.

For example, these questions might help in determining if your insurance needs could use an agent’s help.

• Do I have coverage when making deliveries for my home business?
• Is water damage covered by my policy?
• Are rock-chip repairs free?
• What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in Pennsylvania?
• Should I buy full coverage?
• Is there a penalty for late payment?
• At what point should I drop full coverage?
• Which companies will insure high-risk drivers?
• Do I benefit by insuring my home with the same company?
• What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?

If you’re not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.

Insurance Cost Influencing Factors

A large part of saving on car insurance is knowing the rating factors that play a part in calculating your car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively influences your rates, this allows you to make good choices that may reward you with cheaper rates. Lots of factors are part of the calculation when you quote your car insurance policy. Some are obvious such as your driving record, although some other factors are not as apparent like your continuous coverage and annual miles driven.

The itemized list below are some of the factors used by your company to calculate your premiums.

• Save miles and save money – The higher the mileage driven every year the more it will cost to insure it. A lot of companies charge to insure your cars based on their usage. Cars and trucks left parked in the garage can get a lower rate than vehicles that have high annual mileage. Having the wrong rating on your 328i may be costing you higher rates. It’s always a good idea to double check that your car insurance policy is rated on annual mileage, because it can save money.
• Always keep your coverage in place – Not maintaining insurance is a big no-no and as a result your rates will increase for letting your insurance coverage expire. Not only will rates go up, being ticketed for driving with no insurance may earn you a license revocation or jail time. Then you may be required to file a SR-22 with the Pennsylvania DMV.
• Drivers with excellent credit save – Having a bad credit rating is a big factor in determining what you pay for car insurance. People with good credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with lower ratings. If your credit history is not that good, you could pay less to insure your BMW 328i if you improve your credit rating.
• Big cities have higher premiums – Living in less populated areas is a positive aspect when buying car insurance. Fewer people means fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Residents of big cities have to deal with more auto accidents and much longer commute distances. More time commuting means more chances of being involved in an auto accident.
• File insurance claims and pay more – Car insurance companies in Pennsylvania give cheaper rates to policyholders who do not file claims often. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Your car insurance is designed for claims that you cannot pay yourself.

Three reasons to insure your 328i

Despite the high cost, insurance is not optional due to several reasons.

• Almost all states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means the state requires specific minimum amounts of liability protection in order to drive the car 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.
• If your BMW has a lienholder, more than likely the lender will make it a condition of the loan that you have physical damage coverage to protect their interest in the vehicle. If you let the policy lapse, the bank or lender will purchase a policy for your BMW for a much higher rate and force you to pay a much higher amount than you were paying before.
• Car insurance preserves both your car and your assets. It also can pay for most medical and hospital costs for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance will also pay for a defense attorney if you are sued as the result of an accident. If you receive damage to your vehicle caused by a storm or accident, comprehensive and collision coverage will pay to restore your vehicle to like-new condition.

The benefits of having insurance are definitely more than the cost, especially for larger claims. Despite what companies tell you, the average driver overpays as much as $810 a year so you should quote rates at every policy renewal to ensure rates are inline.

Don’t give up on cheap rates

In this article, we presented a lot of ways to save on BMW 328i insurance in Pittsburgh. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even discover the biggest savings come from the smaller companies.

When searching for cheaper Pittsburgh auto insurance quotes, it’s not a good idea to skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. There are a lot of situations where consumers will sacrifice liability limits or collision coverage only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. The aim is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest cost, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.

People who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as poor customer service, delays in responding to claim requests, denial of a claim or even high prices. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a great new company is easier than you think.

More learning opportunities

• Automakers compete to add autobraking (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• How Much is Pittsburgh Auto Insurance for Felons? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Drivers Requiring a SR22 in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for a Ford Escape in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
• Protecting Teens from Drunk Driving (Insurance Information Institute)
• Tread Depth and Tire Safety (State Farm)
• Medical Payments Coverage (Liberty Mutual)