The easiest way to find lower priced car insurance rates is to compare prices regularly from insurance carriers who can sell car insurance in Portland. Rates can be compared by completing these steps.
First, try to learn a little about how companies price auto insurance and the changes you can make to drop your rates. Many policy risk factors that cause rate increases like high-risk driving behaviors and poor credit rating can be improved by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
Second, request price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only give rate quotes from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes from many different companies.
Third, compare the new rates to your existing coverage and see if there is a cheaper rate. If you find a lower rate, ensure there is no coverage lapse between policies.
Fourth, give notification to your agent or company to cancel your current auto insurance policy. Submit payment and a signed application to your new agent or company. As soon as you can, safely store the certificate verifying proof of insurance above your visor, in the console, or in the glove compartment.
One bit of advice is to make sure you’re comparing identical limits and deductibles on each quote request and and to analyze as many auto insurance providers as possible. This enables a level playing field and a better comparison of the market.
Statistics show that a large majority of consumers renewed their policy with the same company for four years or more, and virtually 40% of consumers have never shopped around. With the average premium in Oregon being $1,740, drivers could cut their rates by almost $970 a year by just comparing rate quotes, but they don’t invest the time required to do a rate comparison.
How to get the cheapest Cadillac ATS insurance in Portland
The following companies have been selected to offer price quotes in Portland, OR. To find cheaper car insurance in OR, we recommend you get rate quotes from several of them to get the most competitive price.
Lower rates by qualifying for discounts
Car insurance is neither fun to buy or cheap, but discounts can save money and there are some available that you may not even be aware of. Most are applied when you complete an application, but some must be requested specifically before being credited.
- Driver Safety – Taking time to complete a class that teaches defensive driver techniques could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.
- Seat Belt Usage – Drivers who require all occupants to wear their seat belts can save up to 10 percent (depending on the company) on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Not all companies offer life insurance, but some may give you a discounted premium rate on car insurance if you buy a life policy as well.
- ABS and Traction Control Discounts – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can avoid accidents and will save you 10% or more on ATS insurance in Portland.
- Active Military Service – Being on active duty in the military could be rewarded with lower premium rates.
- Paperless Signup – Some of the larger companies will give a small break for completing your application online.
Remember that some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it appears adding up those discounts means a free policy, it just doesn’t work that way. Any amount of discount will help reduce the cost of coverage.
Car insurance companies who may offer these discounts possibly include:
When comparing rates, check with each company or agent which credits you are entitled to. Some discounts might not apply in your state. To see companies that offer the discounts shown above in Portland, click here to view.
Protect more than your Cadillac ATS
Despite the high cost, insuring your vehicle serves an important purpose.
- Most states have mandatory insurance requirements which means you are required to carry specific limits of liability insurance in order to drive the car legally. In Oregon these limits are 25/50/20 which means you must have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $20,000 of property damage coverage.
- If your Cadillac ATS has a lienholder, most lenders will require that you have full coverage to ensure the loan is repaid in case of a total loss. If you cancel or allow the policy to lapse, the bank will be required to insure your Cadillac for a lot more money and make you pay for it.
- Car insurance preserves both your car and your assets. Insurance will pay for medical expenses for not only you but also any passengers injured in an accident. Liability insurance, one of your policy coverages, will also pay attorney fees in the event you are sued. If your vehicle suffers damage from an accident or hail, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay to have it repaired.
The benefits of carrying enough insurance more than offset the price you pay, especially with large liability claims. But the average American driver overpays more than $750 every year so you should quote your policy with other companies at least once a year to be sure current rates are still competitive.
How to know if you need help
When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no “best” method to buy coverage. Your financial needs are unique so your insurance should reflect that
These are some specific questions can help discover whether you could use an agent’s help.
- What is PIP insurance?
- Which companies will insure me after a DUI?
- Am I covered if I hit a deer?
- Are rock chip repairs covered?
- Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
- What are the liability requirements in my state?
- Can I rent a car in Mexico?
- I have health insurance so do I need medical payments coverage?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with an agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, free and can help protect your family.
Do I need an agent?
Certain consumers would prefer to get advice from a local agent and we recommend doing that Good agents can make sure you are properly covered and help file insurance claims. One of the best bonuses of comparing insurance online is you may find cheap insurance rates and still choose a local agent. And supporting neighborhood insurance agencies is definitely important in Portland.
To help locate an agent, after submitting this short form, your insurance coverage information is transmitted to insurance agents in Portland who will gladly provide quotes to get your business. You don’t have to search for an agent since price quotes are sent immediately to you. If you have a need to compare prices from a specific insurance company, you just need to go to their quote page and fill out the quote form the provide.
What type of Portland auto insurance agent is right for you?
If you want a reliable agent, it can be helpful to understand the different agency structures that you can select. Insurance policy providers may be either exclusive or independent. Both types can sell insurance policies, but we need to point out how they differ because it can influence the kind of agent you use.
Independent Insurance Agencies or Brokers
Agents in the independent channel are not locked into one company so as a result can place your coverage with lots of companies and potentially find a lower price. If your agent finds better pricing, the agent simply finds a different carrier which is easy for the insured.
If you are comparing rate quotes, it’s recommended you get insurance quotes from several independent agencies to maximize your price options. They also have the ability to place coverage with less well-known companies which may have better rates.
The following are Portland independent agents who may be able to give you comparison quotes.
- Darrell Grenz Insurance Agency
5651 N Lombard St – Portland, OR 97203 – (503) 206-6736 – View Map - Oregon Insurance Advisor – Mark Strauss
5201 SW Westgate Dr #300 – Portland, OR 97221 – (503) 922-4847 – View Map - Chet Hill Insurance
10402 NE Sandy Blvd – Portland, OR 97220 – (503) 256-2020 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
Exclusive agents can usually just insure with one company like Farmers Insurance, State Farm, Allstate, and AAA. They usually cannot provide rate quotes from other companies so they have to upsell other benefits. Exclusive agents receive extensive training on their company’s products which helps them sell on service rather than price. Consumers often buy from exclusive agents primarily because of the prominence of the brand and the convenience of having a single billing for all their coverages.
Below is a short list of exclusive agencies in Portland that are able to give rate quotes.
- Gustavo Soares – State Farm Insurance Agent
650 NE Holladay St Ste 1600 – Portland, OR 97232 – (503) 287-0027 – View Map - Chad Humphrey – State Farm Insurance Agent
15160 NW Laidlaw Rd #210 – Portland, OR 97229 – (503) 992-6251 – View Map - Bill Northfield – State Farm Insurance Agent
5915 SE 43rd Ave – Portland, OR 97206 – (503) 775-8202 – View Map
Finding a good insurance agency should include more criteria than just a cheap quote. Some important questions to ask are:
- How will an accident affect your rates?
- How long has the business existed?
- Are aftermarket or OEM parts used to repair vehicles?
- Do they feel the quoted coverages are adequate?
- Are they able to provide referrals?
- How are claims handled?
If you get good answers to any questions you have and an acceptable price quote, it’s possible that you found an auto insurance agent that can be trusted to properly insure your vehicles. Just be aware that you are able to cancel a policy at any point so never assume that you are obligated to any specific agency for the full term.