Car Insurance Shopping Tips

If you are shopping around for lower car insurance rates in Athens, then there are a few factors that you should consider in advance.  Many companies will try to attract you with rock bottom quarterly prices, but then the total cost increases drastically with extra hidden fees as you commit to the monthly installment plan.  Price is only one consideration when looking for the best and most affordable car insurance in Athens.

Go “Local”

When you choose to purchase from a local insurance provider, this makes the management of the overall policy significantly easier.  You are not forced to only conduct policy and claims business through email and over the phone.  Phone hotlines can lead to spending enormous amounts of time “on-hold” or being forwarded to a foreign operator who is difficult to understand.   Your local options are not only limited to smaller, lesser-known insurance companies either.  Many of the larger, more reputable providers of lower car insurance rates in Athens employ local agents with real “brick and mortar” offices.

Look for “Discounts”

Another benefit to going local is that you can be relatively certain that the local insurance company is actually licensed in your state of residence.  Many of the online options may be cheaper, but may not have authorization to provide you with the best choices of car insurance in Athens.  The types of discounts may be severely limited with these unlicensed companies.  Ask about discounts for multiple vehicles, for teenage drivers with higher grades, and for good driving histories without tickets or accidents.

Consider “Combo Packs”

Sometimes you can find a high quality, local insurance provider that also offers other types of insurance, such as home insurance and life insurance.  This might provide you with substantial savings if you agree to purchase all of your various policies from one provider.  And always remember, lower car insurance rates in Athens does not necessarily mean that you will be provided with adequate coverage.  Make sure to compare the individual details of each policy in order to get the best over rate.

Auto Insurance in Athens, Georgia

For those who would like to learn how to get lower auto insurance rates, there are some secret tips and tricks that many of the less reputable insurance providers may not be willing to share with you.  Whether you own your car outright or have purchased your vehicle with the help of a bank loan, the Federal Government has made it mandatory for all automobile owners to have some sort of car insurance.  This mandate makes it easy for some of the less reliable insurance companies to take advantage of their policy owners.

Tickets and Citations 

For the best auto insurance rates, always try to keep your driving record as clean as possible.  Everyone makes mistakes, but one minor speeding ticket should not automatically increase your monthly premium unless you were traveling dangerously in excess of the speed limit.  If you feel that the speeding ticket was unjustified, then you can actually take it to court. 

If you win the case, then you don’t have to pay the fine.  This means that no points will appear on your driving record.  You might be surprised to learn that many of these cases are won in court simply because the officer who issued the citation fails to appear.  If he or she is a “no show”, then you automatically win.  

Safety Courses and Anti-Theft Devices

Attending a Drivers Safety Course many be a great way to reduce the total number of points on your driving record which leads to the best auto insurance rates possible.   This signals to your provider that you are taking your driving practices seriously. 

For those who really want to learn how to lower auto insurance rates, consider buying a car with a high-tech safety alarm system.  Those sirens and honking noises can be irritating when they accidently go off, but your monthly premiums can be significantly lower as a result.  For older model cars, some insurance companies offer discounts if you promise to use “the club” or other types of portable, locking mechanisms that attach directly to the steering wheel.