Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an overpriced insurance policy? Believe me when I say many consumers are feeling buyer’s remorse and feel like there’s no way out.
It’s safe to conclude that car insurance companies don’t want policyholders to compare prices from other companies. People who compare rates at least once a year will presumably switch to a new company because there is a good probability of finding a lower-cost company. A recent survey discovered that consumers who make a habit of shopping around saved about $865 a year compared to people who never shopped around for lower prices.
If finding discount rates on car insurance in Portland is your target objective, then having some knowledge of the best ways to shop for insurance premiums can save time, money, and frustration.
Steps to buying lower priced Ford C-Max Energi insurance in Portland
If your goal is the lowest price, then the best way to find cheaper quotes for Ford C-Max Energi insurance is to regularly compare price quotes from insurers in Portland. Rate comparisons can be done by following these steps.
Step 1: It will benefit you to learn about individual coverages and the measures you can take to prevent rate increases. Many risk factors that are responsible for high rates such as speeding tickets, careless driving and an unacceptable credit score can be improved by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
Step 2: Quote rates from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can provide rates from a single company like Progressive and State Farm, while agents who are independent can quote prices for many different companies.
Step 3: Compare the quotes to your current policy premium to see if you can save by switching companies. If you find a lower rate and switch companies, make sure coverage does not lapse between policies.
Step 4: Notify your current company to cancel your current car insurance policy. Submit payment and a signed application to the newly selected company. Immediately keep the new certificate verifying proof of insurance in an accessible location in your vehicle.
An important part of this process is to try to use the same coverage limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to get rate quotes from as many companies as possible. This helps ensure the most accurate price comparison and a complete price analysis.
Insurance companies such as GEICO and Progressive continually bombard you with ad campaigns and it is difficult to see past the geckos and flying pigs and do the work needed to find the best deal.
If you are insured now or are shopping for new coverage, take advantage of these tips to lower your rates without reducing coverage. Buying the cheapest insurance in Portland is actually very simple if you learn how to start. Smart buyers just need to know the most effective way to compare different rates instantly.
Low Cost car insurance in Portland, OR
The companies shown below are our best choices to provide price quotes in Portland, OR. If you want to find the cheapest car insurance in Portland, we recommend you visit several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.
How to Lower Your Insurance Premiums
Lots of factors are part of the calculation when quoting car insurance. Some are pretty understandable such as your driving history, although some other factors are more transparent such as whether you are married and annual miles driven. The best way to find cheaper auto insurance is to take a look at the factors that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. If you understand what determines premiums, this allows you to make good choices that can earn you big savings.
- Add-on coverages that may not be needed – There are a lot of extra bells and whistles that you can buy on your C-Max Energi policy. Add-on coverages like roadside assistance, towing coverage, and extra life insurance coverage are probably not needed. The coverages may be enticing when discussing your needs, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
- Prevent theft and save – Selecting a car model with an alarm system can save you a little every year. Theft deterrent systems like GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all help prevent vehicle theft.
- Premiums are lower the older you get – Older people tend to be more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents, and get fewer tickets. Beginning drivers tend to be inattentive behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates.
- Which gender costs less? – Over the last 50 years, statistics have shown females are less aggressive when driving. That doesn’t necessarily mean that women are better drivers. Women and men cause at-fault accidents in similar percentages, but the males have accidents that have higher claims. Men also statistically get ticketed for serious violations such as reckless driving.
- Your career may increase prices – Did you know your career choice can influence rates? Jobs like lawyers, airline pilots, and emergency personnel generally pay higher average rates attributed to intense work situations and lots of time spent away from family. Conversely, professions such as professors, athletes and the unemployed get better rates.
- Frequent claims will increase rates – Insurance companies in Oregon generally give the lowest premiums to drivers that do not abuse their auto insurance. If you frequently file small claims, you can definitely plan on either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Your insurance policy is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Discounts mean cheaper rates for Ford C-Max Energi insurance in Portland
Buying auto insurance is not cheap, but you might already qualify for some discounts to help bring down the price. Certain credits will be shown when you quote, but a few must be manually applied before they will apply.
- Portland Homeowners Discount – Just owning your own home can help you save on auto insurance because of the fact that having a home requires a higher level of personal finance.
- Data Collection Discounts – Policyholders that allow driving data submission to monitor driving patterns by using a telematics device such as In-Drive from State Farm or Allstate’s Drivewise system could possibly reduce rates if they exhibit good driving behavior.
- Student in College – Older children who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from Portland and don’t have a car could get you a discount.
- Student Driver Training – Have your child complete a driver education course as it can save substantially.
- Anti-lock Brake Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with ABS and/or traction control can avoid accidents so you can save 10 percent or more.
- No Claim Discounts – Insureds who avoid accidents and claims pay much less in comparison to insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
- Air Bags and Passive Restraints – Factory options such as air bags may get savings up to 30%.
- Professional Memberships – Being a member of a civic or occupational organization in Portland could trigger savings on auto insurance.
- Service Members Pay Less – Being deployed in the military could mean lower auto insurance rates.
- Discounts for Seat Belt Usage – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle up before driving can save up to 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
We need to note that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. Just because you may think it’s possible to get free car insurance, companies wouldn’t make money that way. But any discount should definitely cut the amount you have to pay.
If you would like to choose from a list of auto insurance companies that offer the discounts shown above in Oregon, click this link.
Local neighborhood insurance agents
Some people just want to have an agent’s advice and doing so can bring peace of mind Professional insurance agents are trained to spot inefficiencies and help submit paperwork. A good thing about price shopping on the web is you can get lower car insurance rates but still work with a licensed agent. Buying insurance from local agencies is definitely important in Portland.
To find an agent, once you fill out this quick form, your insurance data is submitted to agents in your area that can provide free Portland auto insurance quotes for your coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go immediately to you. If you wish to compare rates from a specific insurance company, you just need to jump over to their website to submit a rate quote request.
How to choose the best auto insurance agent in Portland
When narrowing the list to find a reliable agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures and how they differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Agencies in Portland can be classified as either exclusive or independent agents depending on their company appointments. Either type can write insurance policies, but we need to point out how they differ because it can factor into which agent you choose.
Independent Insurance Agencies
Independent insurance agents are not locked into one company and that enables them to quote your coverage with many different companies and find the cheapest rate. If they find a lower price, they simply switch companies in-house without you having to go to a different agency. When comparison shopping, we highly recommend that you get insurance quotes from a couple of independent agencies so that you have a good selection of quotes to compare.
The following are Portland independent insurance agents that may be able to give you rate quotes.
Metro One Insurance Agency
3423 S Telegraph Rd, Dearborn, MI 48124 – Dearborn, OR 48124 – (313) 456-9455 – View Map
Peninsula Insurance
12700 NW Cornell Rd – Portland, OR 97229 – (503) 644-5333 – View Map
Oregon Insurance Advisor – Mark Strauss
5201 SW Westgate Dr #300 – Portland, OR 97221 – (503) 922-4847 – View Map
Exclusive Agents
Exclusive agencies work for only one company and examples are Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm, and AAA. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do. Exclusive agents receive a lot of sales training in insurance sales and that allows them to sell at a higher price point.
Shown below is a short list of exclusive agencies in Portland that are able to give comparison quotes.
Lisa Parks – State Farm Insurance Agent
11116 NE Halsey St A – Portland, OR 97220 – (503) 256-3077 – View Map
Mariko Locke – State Farm Insurance Agent
5048 SE Hawthorne Blvd a – Portland, OR 97215 – (503) 232-2444 – View Map
Steve Ching – State Farm Insurance Agent
1018 NW 13th Ave – Portland, OR 97209 – (503) 222-7771 – View Map
Choosing the best car insurance agent should include more criteria than just the bottom line cost. Here are some questions you should ask.
- Do they reduce claim amounts on high mileage vehicles?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- Will the company cover a rental car if your car is getting fixed?
- Is the agency active in community causes in Portland?
- Can they give you a list of client referrals?
- Which insurance company do they prefer to write with?
- Is the agent properly licensed in Oregon?
When do I need an agent’s advice?
When buying the best car insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Every situation is different and your car insurance should unique, too.
For example, these questions can help discover whether or not you might need an agent’s assistance.
- Can I get by with minimal medical coverage if I have good health insurance?
- Is a blown tire covered by insurance?
- Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
- Do I need higher collision deductibles?
- Is my business laptop covered if it gets stolen from my vehicle?
- Is my custom paint covered by insurance?
- Should I carry comprehensive and collision coverage?
- Do I pay less for low miles?
- How much will a speeding ticket raise my rates?
If you can’t answer these questions, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you don’t have a local agent, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and may give you better protection.
Cheap coverage is out there
When you buy Portland auto insurance online, do not reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, an insured cut uninsured motorist or liability limits and discovered at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. Your aim should be to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest cost.
We just covered quite a bit of information on how to find lower-cost Ford C-Max Energi insurance in Portland. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers may even find the lowest priced insurance comes from the least-expected company. These companies may only write in your state and offer lower premium rates than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.
How to find affordable quotes for Ford C-Max Energi insurance in Portland
If you want to save money, the best way to get budget car insurance rates in Portland is to regularly compare price quotes from insurers who provide car insurance in Oregon.
- Try to learn about the different coverages in a policy and the things you can control to keep rates down. Many things that are responsible for high rates like speeding and an imperfect credit score can be improved by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
- Compare prices from exclusive agents, independent agents, and direct providers. Exclusive agents and direct companies can provide rates from one company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agencies can provide rate quotes from multiple sources.
- Compare the quotes to your current policy to determine if switching companies saves money. If you can save money, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
- Give proper notification to your current agent or company of your decision to cancel your current coverage and submit a completed application and payment to your new company or agent. Once received, store the proof of insurance certificate somewhere easily accessible.
One tip to remember is to compare identical coverages on each quote request and and to analyze as many auto insurance providers as possible. Doing this helps ensure an accurate price comparison and and a good selection of different prices.
Additional information can be read at the links below
- Bodily Injury Coverage (Liberty Mutual)
- How Much is Portland Auto Insurance for Police Officers? (FAQ)
- How Much is Portland Auto Insurance for a Nissan Altima? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Portland Auto Insurance Rates for a Dodge Ram? (FAQ)
- Honda warning system reduces insurance claims (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Top Signs Your Brakes are Giving Out (State Farm)
- Air Bags: Potential Dangers to Your Children (Insurance Information Institute)