Trying to find lower-priced car insurance rates in Pittsburgh, PA? Pittsburgh buyers have many options when searching for low-cost Chevy Sonic insurance. You can either waste hours driving around trying to get quotes or utilize the internet to make rate comparisons.
There are both good and bad ways to find car insurance online so we’re going to tell you the absolute fastest way to get price quotes for a new or used Chevy and obtain the cheapest rates either online or from Pittsburgh insurance agents.
Consumers should take time to take a look at other company’s rates at least once a year because car insurance prices are usually higher with each renewal. Just because you had the lowest rate on Chevy Sonic insurance in Pittsburgh on your last policy there is a good chance you can find better premium rates now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because you’re going to learn how to use the internet to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.
The companies in the list below have been selected to offer price comparisons in Pittsburgh, PA. In order to find the best auto insurance in Pennsylvania, it’s highly recommended you visit two to three different companies to get a more complete price comparison.
Take these eight policy discounts and save on Chevy Sonic insurance in Pittsburgh
Some companies do not advertise all their discounts in a way that’s easy to find, so we took the time to find some of the more common as well as some of the hidden credits available to you. If you aren’t receiving every discount you qualify for, you are throwing money away.
- Seat Belt Discounts – Drivers who require all vehicle occupants to use their safety belts can save a little on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.
- Auto/Home Discount – If you have multiple policies and place coverage with the same company you may earn 10% to 20% off each policy.
- Passenger Safety Discount – Options like air bags could see savings of more than 20%.
- Payment Discounts – By paying your entire bill at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can avoid the installment charge.
- College Student – Youth drivers who live away from home to go to college and won’t have access to an insured vehicle can receive lower rates.
- Good Student Discount – This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. This discount can apply up to age 25.
- No Accidents – Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts compared to accident-prone drivers.
- Accident Forgiveness – This one isn’t a discount, but a few companies such as State Farm and Progressive permit an accident before raising your premiums so long as you are claim-free for a set time period.
Just know that many deductions do not apply to the whole policy. Some only reduce individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it’s just not the way it works. But all discounts should definitely cut the amount you pay for coverage.
Larger auto insurance companies and the discounts they provide can be found below.
- State Farm includes discounts for multiple autos, anti-theft, good student, defensive driving training, driver’s education, and accident-free.
- GEICO has savings for daytime running lights, emergency military deployment, anti-lock brakes, defensive driver, military active duty, and multi-policy.
- Liberty Mutual may include discounts for safety features, new graduate, new vehicle discount, multi-car, and newly married.
- The Hartford may have discounts that include defensive driver, bundle, air bag, good student, driver training, anti-theft, and vehicle fuel type.
- MetLife discounts include defensive driver, good driver, multi-policy, accident-free, good student, claim-free
- Progressive offers discounts including multi-vehicle, continuous coverage, online signing, online quote discount, multi-policy, and homeowner.
Before purchasing a policy, check with each insurance company which discounts they offer. Some of the earlier mentioned discounts might not apply in Pittsburgh. To see insurers who offer discounts in Pennsylvania, follow this link.
Compare prices but still have a local Pittsburgh insurance agency
Many people would rather sit down and talk to an agent and that is just fine! Professional insurance agents are very good at helping people manage risk and help submit paperwork. One of the benefits of getting online price quotes is you may find the lowest rates but also keep your business local. Buying from local agents is definitely important in Pittsburgh.
Once you complete this simple form, your information is submitted to local insurance agents in Pittsburgh who will give competitive quotes for your coverage. You won’t need to leave your house because prices are sent directly to your email. If you want to quote rates from a specific company, just visit that company’s website and fill out the quote form the provide.
Two different types of car insurance agents
When researching a reliable agent, it’s important to understand the different types of agencies and how they function. Pittsburgh agents can either be independent or exclusive. Both types of agents can insure your vehicles properly, but it is important to understand the differences because it can factor into your selection of an agent.
Independent Auto Insurance Agents (or Brokers)
These type of agents often have many company appointments so they have the ability to put coverage with any number of different companies and get you the best rates possible. If your agent finds better pricing, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to do anything.
When comparison shopping, we highly recommend that you check rates from at least one independent agent to ensure the widest selection of prices. Most can insure with mutual insurance companies which may have better rates.
Below is a short list of independent insurance agents in Pittsburgh that can give you rate quotes.
- Nationwide Insurance: Joshua Michael Dott Agency
513 Towne Square Way – Pittsburgh, PA 15227 – (412) 927-2400 – View Map - Casto Insurance Agency
1900 Painters Run Rd – Pittsburgh, PA 15241 – (412) 257-4300 – View Map - Dowd Insurance Agency Inc
998, Greensburg Pike – East Pittsburgh, PA 15112 – (412) 271-5477 – View Map
Exclusive Auto Insurance Agencies
Agents that choose to be exclusive normally can only provide a single company’s rates and examples are AAA, Allstate, State Farm, or Farmers Insurance. They generally cannot provide rate quotes from other companies so keep that in mind. They are highly trained on what they offer which helps offset the inability to provide other markets. Consumers often use the same agent primarily because of loyalty to the company rather than having the cheapest rates.
Shown below are exclusive agencies in Pittsburgh that can give you comparison quotes.
- Joy Capozzi – State Farm Insurance Agent
3111 Banksville Rd #207 – Pittsburgh, PA 15216 – (412) 344-3014 – View Map - Tad Paterra – State Farm Insurance Agent
984 Greentree Rd – Pittsburgh, PA 15220 – (412) 922-2622 – View Map - Mike Dudenas – State Farm Insurance Agent
901 Castle Shannon Blvd – Pittsburgh, PA 15234 – (412) 561-5012 – View Map
Choosing the best insurance agency requires more thought than just the bottom line cost. Any agent in Pittsburgh should be forthright in answering these questions:
- How are they compensated?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- What companies can they write with?
- What company holds the largest book of business for them?
You may need specialized auto insurance coverage
Keep in mind that when it comes to choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no “best” method to buy coverage. Everyone’s needs are different.
For example, these questions could help you determine whether you could use an agent’s help.
- When should I drop full coverage on my Chevy Sonic?
- Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
- What is the minimum liability in Pennsylvania?
- Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
- What does medical payments cover?
- Do I get a pro-rated refund if I cancel my policy early?
- What if I don’t agree with a claim settlement offer?
- What is an umbrella policy?
- Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
- What states are considered no-fault?
If you can’t answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form. It only takes a few minutes and may give you better protection.
Protect more than your vehicle
Despite the fact that car insurance is not cheap in Pittsburgh, buying car insurance may be mandatory for several reasons.
First, the majority of states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means you are required to buy specific limits of liability 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.
Second, if your Chevy Sonic has a loan, more than likely the lender will force you to have full coverage to protect their interest in the vehicle. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the bank may buy a policy for your Chevy at a more expensive rate and force you to pay the higher premium.
Third, car insurance protects both your assets and your Chevy Sonic. It will also reimburse you for hospital and medical expenses incurred in an accident. Liability coverage will also pay attorney fees in the event you are sued. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of insuring your car outweigh the cost, especially if you ever need it. According to a recent study, the average American driver is overpaying over $869 every year so it’s recommended you shop around each time the policy renews to make sure the price is not too high.
Auto insurance 101
Knowing the specifics of your policy helps when choosing the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants and damage to your Chevy Sonic.
Since many Pennsylvania drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (15/30/5), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. That’s why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is a good idea. Usually the UM/UIM limits are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.
Liability car insurance
Liability insurance protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on other’s property or people in an accident. This coverage protects you from claims by other people. Liability doesn’t cover your own vehicle damage or injuries.
Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see policy limits of 15/30/5 that translate to a limit of $15,000 per injured person, a limit of $30,000 in injury protection per accident, and property damage coverage for $5,000. Occasionally you may see one number which is a combined single limit which provides one coverage limit without having the split limit caps.
Liability insurance covers things like court costs, attorney fees, repair costs for stationary objects, medical services and emergency aid. How much liability coverage do you need? That is up to you, but buy higher limits if possible. Pennsylvania requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 but it’s recommended drivers buy more coverage.
The illustration below shows why buying minimum limits may not provide adequate coverage.
Collision insurance
Collision insurance will pay to fix damage to your Sonic from colliding with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage protects against claims such as scraping a guard rail, crashing into a building, sideswiping another vehicle and rolling your car. This coverage can be expensive, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible on your Sonic to get cheaper collision coverage.
Comprehensive protection
Comprehensive insurance coverage will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims like damage from a tornado or hurricane, hail damage and fire damage. The most you’ll receive from a claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low consider dropping full coverage.
Medical expense coverage
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for expenses for things like pain medications, chiropractic care, X-ray expenses, prosthetic devices and rehabilitation expenses. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. They cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not available in all states but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
The lowest rates come from being thorough
A few companies don’t offer online rate quotes and many times these smaller providers provide coverage only through independent insurance agencies. Lower-priced car insurance in Pittsburgh can be found both online and from local agencies, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates.
When shopping online for car insurance, you should never buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where someone dropped full coverage only to find out that the savings was not a smart move. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.
In this article, we covered some good ideas how you can compare Chevy Sonic insurance prices in Pittsburgh. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better likelihood of getting affordable Pittsburgh auto insurance quotes. Drivers may even discover the most savings is with a small local company.
Steps to finding low-cost rates for Chevy Sonic insurance in Pittsburgh
The best way we recommend to get more affordable Chevy Sonic insurance is to compare quotes annually from insurers who sell auto insurance in Pittsburgh. You can shop around by completing these steps.
- Try to learn about how your policy works and the measures you can take to prevent high rates. Many policy risk factors that drive up the price such as at-fault accidents, careless driving, and poor credit rating can be remedied by making small lifestyle or driving habit changes.
- Compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can only give rate quotes from a single company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while independent agencies can provide price quotes from multiple companies.
- Compare the price quotes to your existing rates and see if you can save money. If you find better rates and buy the policy, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
The most important part of this process is to try to compare similar deductibles and liability limits on each price quote and and to analyze every company you can. This enables a fair rate comparison and a complete price analysis.
To read more, feel free to browse these articles:
- Determining Your Vehicle’s Value and Repair Cost (Insurance Information Institute)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Drivers Under 25 in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Pittsburgh Car Insurance Quotes for Teenage Males? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Pittsburgh Car Insurance Quotes for a Nissan Rogue? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Car Insurance for Seniors in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance for Postal Workers in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Rates for Ride Shares in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for a Ford Focus in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Tools for Teen Driving Safety (State Farm)
- Reducing Your Risks in a Car Crash Video (iihs.org)
- Property Damage Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
- How to Avoid Buying a Flooded Car (Insurance Information Institute)