| Note.
No auto insurance company - no matter what it
says in its ads - offers the lowest price for
every driver in every location. There are companies
that are often among the lowest. And there are
companies that are usually among the highest.
But no company is the lowest for everybody.
Tip.
Also, be aware that prices fluctuate. Sometimes
companies "buy the market" with low
prices to gain new consumers, then their prices
gradually - or not so gradually - sneak up.
They also have to change
prices based on their profitability, losses
and other factors.
Every company has a
slightly different appetite for the risks it
wants to take on. Some insurers want only very
good drivers who have no tickets and no accidents.
Some companies, believe it or not, actually
want bad drivers. In fact, these companies specialize
in insuring people with poor driving records.
Some companies target
drivers who live in certain areas. There are
insurers that really like to do business in
big cities, and there are others that would
prefer to stay away from highly populated areas.
Tip.
Remember that sometimes "you get what you
pay for." The cheapest option may not provide
you or your family with the best protection.
The saying goes, "you don't need insurance
until you have a claim." When you do have
a claim - something that goes wrong - that's
a terrible time to discover you don't have adequate
protection!
If you think auto insurance
is a commodity, consider this:
A person with a good
driving record will pay 3, 5, even 10 times
less than a driver with a couple of tickets,
an accident or who has been cited for and convicted
of driving under the influence.
A person who lives in
a major city - say Columbus, Cleveland, or Cincinnati
- will pay 3, 4, even 5 times more than someone
who lives in a rural area or small town, even
though the two have the same driving records.
Example.
The last two paragraphs are average differences.
Auto insurers are all over the map on prices
in a given area. Say you live in a relatively
rural area and you have a good driving record.
One insurance company might charge you $500
a year for a policy that provides most every
coverage available. Another insurer might charge
you $1,500.
As you can see, it can
pay to shop around. Just be sure:
• You really understand
the different coverage's in your policy, or,
• You have an agent you really trust who
can examine coverage's and prices for you. |