Do you want more affordable Pontiac Grand Prix insurance in Portland? Having to pay for expensive insurance in Portland can overdraw your checking account and make it impossible to make ends meet. Performing a price comparison can be a smart way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.
It’s an obvious assumption that car insurance companies don’t want policyholders to shop around. People who shop for lower prices are very likely to buy a new policy because they have a good chance of finding a more affordable policy. A recent survey found that consumers who compared rates annually saved $865 a year compared to policyholders who don’t regularly compare prices.
If finding the cheapest rates on Pontiac Grand Prix insurance is your objective, then having some insight into how to find and compare insurance rates can make the process more efficient.
How to save money on Pontiac Grand Prix insurance in Portland
The recommended way to get cheaper Pontiac Grand Prix insurance in Portland is to start doing an annual price comparison from companies who can sell car insurance in Oregon.
- Spend some time learning about the different coverages in a policy and the modifications you can make to drop your rates. Many things that result in higher rates such as speeding and your credit history can be eliminated by being financially responsible and driving safely. Keep reading for the details to keep prices down and earn a bigger discount.
- Compare rates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive and direct companies can only quote rates from a single company like GEICO or State Farm, while independent agents can give you price quotes for many different companies.
- Compare the new rates to the price on your current policy to see if a cheaper rate is available in Portland. If you find a lower rate, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
The key thing to remember is to compare the same coverage limits and deductibles on each price quote and and to get price quotes from every insurance company. This guarantees a fair rate comparison and the best price quote selection.
Drivers have multiple insurance companies to choose from, and though it is a good thing to have a selection, it can be more difficult to find the best rates for Pontiac Grand Prix insurance in Portland.
These eight discounts can lower your auto insurance quotes
The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you might find some hidden discounts that may help make it more affordable. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at quote time, but a few must be specially asked for before you get the savings. If they aren’t giving you every credit you qualify for, you’re paying more than you need to.
- Passive Restraint Discount – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts can qualify for discounts of up to 25% or more.
- Discounts for Cautious Drivers – Insureds who avoid accidents could pay up to 40% less compared to rates paid by drivers with frequent claims.
- Organization Discounts – Having an affiliation with specific professional or occupational memberships or organizations could trigger savings on your bill.
- Anti-lock Brakes – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles can reduce accidents and will save you 10% or more on Grand Prix insurance in Portland.
- Multi-policy Discount – When you have multiple policies and insure them with the same company you may save up to 20% and get you affordable Pontiac Grand Prix insurance rates in Portland.
- No Claims – Good drivers with no accidents get the best auto insurance rates as opposed to insureds who have frequent claims or accidents.
- Paperless Signup – A handful of insurance companies will give a small break for completing your application on the internet.
- Good Students Pay Less – Being a good student may save you up to 25%. Most companies allow this discount well after school through age 25.
Keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.
Larger auto insurance companies and their offered discounts are shown below.
- American Family may have discounts that include early bird, mySafetyValet, multi-vehicle, good driver, good student, TimeAway discount, and Steer into Savings.
- Farm Bureau includes discounts for youthful driver, multi-vehicle, 55 and retired, safe driver, renewal discount, and driver training.
- State Farm may include discounts for good driver, multiple policy, good student, driver’s education, Steer Clear safe driver discount, and anti-theft.
- Travelers discounts include early quote, multi-policy, multi-car, IntelliDrive, payment discounts, student away at school, and driver training.
- The Hartford offers premium reductions for vehicle fuel type, defensive driver, air bag, bundle, and driver training.
- GEICO offers discounts for multi-vehicle, anti-lock brakes, membership and employees, emergency military deployment, and federal employee.
- Progressive may offer discounts for online signing, good student, online quote discount, continuous coverage, and homeowner.
When comparing rates, check with all companies you are considering what discounts are available to you. Some of the discounts discussed earlier might not be offered on policies in your area.
Specifics of your insurance policy
Having a good grasp of a insurance policy aids in choosing the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and even agents have difficulty translating policy wording. Listed below are the usual coverages offered by insurance companies.
Auto collision coverage
Collision insurance covers damage to your Grand Prix from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision coverage protects against things such as damaging your car on a curb, sideswiping another vehicle and crashing into a ditch. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to increase the deductible on your Grand Prix to save money on collision insurance.
Auto liability
Liability coverage protects you from damage that occurs to other people or property in an accident. This insurance protects YOU against claims from other people, and does not provide coverage for damage sustained by your vehicle in an accident.
Coverage consists of three different limits, bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see limits of 25/50/20 that translate to $25,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a per accident bodily injury limit of $50,000, and $20,000 of coverage for damaged property.
Liability can pay for claims such as legal defense fees, repair costs for stationary objects, pain and suffering and attorney fees. How much liability should you purchase? That is a personal decision, but you should buy as large an amount as possible. Oregon requires drivers to carry at least 25/50/20 but you should think about purchasing higher limits.
The chart below shows why low liability limits may not be adequate.
Comprehensive protection
This coverage will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. A deductible will apply then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as damage from flooding, a broken windshield, falling objects and a tree branch falling on your vehicle. The maximum payout a insurance company will pay at claim time is the cash value of the vehicle, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
This protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family and damage to your Pontiac Grand Prix.
Since many Oregon drivers have only the minimum liability required by law (which is 25/50/20), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. So UM/UIM coverage is very important.
Medical expense coverage
Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP reimburse you for bills for things like X-ray expenses, rehabilitation expenses, doctor visits and ambulance fees. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you do not have health coverage. Coverage applies to not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants as well as any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible
Frequent quotes can save
When getting Portland car insurance quotes online, make sure you don’t reduce needed coverages to save money. In too many instances, an insured dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to discover later that it was a big error on their part. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price.
We just showed you some good ideas how you can compare Pontiac Grand Prix insurance car insurance rates in Portland. The key thing to remember is the more you quote Portland car insurance, the better likelihood of getting low cost Portland car insurance quotes. You may even discover the most savings is with a small local company. Smaller companies may often insure only within specific states and give better rates compared to the large companies like Allstate or State Farm.
Cheaper Pontiac Grand Prix insurance in Portland can be found on the web as well as from independent agents in Portland, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies don’t offer online price quotes and many times these regional carriers sell through independent agencies.
Steps to finding affordable Pontiac Grand Prix insurance in Portland
If you want to save the most money, the best way to get budget auto insurance rates in Portland is to make a habit of comparing prices annually from companies in Oregon.
- First, get an understanding of car insurance and the modifications you can make to prevent high rates. Many things that drive up the price such as careless driving and a bad credit score can be remedied by being financially responsible and driving safely.
- Second, request rate estimates from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can only give rate quotes from a single company like Progressive and State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes for a wide range of insurance providers.
- Third, compare the price quotes to your existing policy to determine if switching companies saves money. If you can save money and make a switch, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
A valuable tip to remember is to make sure you enter identical coverages on every quote request and and to get rate quotes from as many car insurance companies as possible. This helps ensure a fair rate comparison and a complete selection of prices.
Additional detailed information can be read in these articles:
- Child Safety FAQ (iihs.org)
- Safety Belts FAQ (iihs.org)
- What is Covered by GAP Insurance? (Allstate)
- Prepare your Teens for Safe Driving (InsureUonline.org)