It’s an obvious statement that insurance companies don’t want you to look for cheaper rates. People who do rate comparisons are inclined to move their business because they have a good chance of finding a policy with more affordable rates. A recent survey found that people who compared rates annually saved $865 a year compared to policyholders who never compared prices.
If finding the most affordable Chevy Volt insurance in Tampa is the reason you’re reading this, then understanding how to get rate quotes and compare cheaper coverage can help you succeed in finding affordable rates.
If you want to save money, the best way to get low-cost Chevy Volt insurance in Tampa is to start doing an annual price comparison from different companies who can sell car insurance in Florida.
First, get an understanding of the different coverages in a policy and the changes you can make to prevent rate increases. Many things that cause high rates such as multiple speeding tickets and a negative credit history can be remedied by improving your driving habits or financial responsibility.
Second, get rate quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct companies and exclusive agencies can give quotes from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide price quotes from multiple companies.
Third, compare the new rate quotes to your current policy premium to see if switching to a new carrier will save money. If you can save some money and switch companies, make sure there is no coverage gap between policies.
Fourth, provide notification to your current agent or company to cancel your existing policy and submit payment and a signed application to the new company. When you receive it, store the certificate of insurance in an accessible location in your vehicle.
One thing to point out is that you’ll want to make sure you compare the same amount of coverage on every price quote and and to get rate quotes from as many companies as feasibly possible. Doing this provides a level playing field and a complete rate analysis.
Buying the cheapest car insurance in Tampa is not rocket science. Virtually every driver who compares rates for car insurance will probably find a cheaper policy. Nevertheless, Florida car owners do need to know how the larger insurance companies calculate your policy premium.
When price shopping your coverage, quoting more increases the chance that you will find more affordable insurance. Some insurance companies are not set up to provide Tampa Volt insurance quotes online, so it’s important to compare price estimates from those companies as well.
The companies shown below are our best choices to provide free rate quotes in Florida. To locate the cheapest car insurance in Tampa, we suggest you get price quotes from several of them to get the best price comparison.
Why you need auto insurance
Even though Tampa Volt insurance rates can get expensive, maintaining insurance serves several important purposes.
First, most states have mandatory liability insurance requirements which means state laws require specific limits of liability insurance coverage in order to be legal. In Florida these limits are 10/20/10 which means you must have $10,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $20,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
Second, if you have a loan on your car, more than likely the lender will have a requirement that you buy insurance to ensure loan repayment if the vehicle is totaled. If you do not pay your insurance premiums, the lender will be forced to insure your Chevy at a much higher rate and force you to pay the higher price.
Third, auto insurance protects not only your Chevy but also your assets. It will also pay for hospital and medical expenses for yourself as well as anyone injured by you. One policy coverage, liability insurance, also covers legal expenses if you are sued as the result of your driving. If your Chevy gets damaged, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision) coverage will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.
The benefits of having auto insurance definitely exceed the cost, especially if you ever need it. According to a 2015 survey, the average American driver is overpaying more than $800 each year so it’s recommended you shop around each time the policy renews to ensure rates are competitive.
Lower Insurance Rates with These Tips
Many things are part of the equation when you quote your car insurance policy. A few of the factors are predictable like a motor vehicle report, but some are more obscure like your vehicle usage or your vehicle rating.
The following are some of the most rate-impacting factors utilized by car insurance companies to help set your prices.
Cars with good safety ratings means cheaper rates – Cars with five star safety ratings cost less to insure. Safe vehicles result in less severe injuries and fewer serious injuries translates directly to fewer claims and lower rates for you.
Never let your coverage expire – Not maintaining insurance can get you a ticket and companies may charge more for letting your insurance lapse. In addition to paying higher premiums, getting caught without coverage will get you a hefty fine and possibly a revoked license.
Too many car insurance claims and you’ll pay more – If you file claims often, you should expect either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Auto insurance companies in Florida provide better rates to drivers that do not abuse their auto insurance. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of the bigger claims that can’t be paid out-of-pocket.
Gender and insurance – Over the last 50 years, statistics have shown that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean men are WORSE drivers than women. Both sexes get in fender benders in similar numbers, but men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also tend to have more aggressive citations such as driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving recklessly. Male teenagers are several times more likely to be in an accident and therefore pay the highest rates.
Car and home together may be cheaper – Most major companies provide lower prices to people who consolidate policies with them. It’s known as a multi-policy discount. The amount of the discounts can be anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you’re getting this discount it’s in your best interest to comparison shop to guarantee you are still saving the most. Drivers may still find lower rates even if you insure with multiple companies
Responsible credit equals lower rates – Having a bad credit score will be a significant factor in determining your rates. Insureds with excellent credit scores tend to be more responsible than those with lower ratings. So if your credit score could use some work, you may save money insuring your Chevrolet Volt if you improve your credit rating.
Big city or small town – Having an address in a small town is a positive aspect when buying car insurance. Less people living in that area means reduced accidents and lower theft and vandalism rates. City drivers have more auto accidents and higher rates of accident claims. More time behind the wheel statistically corresponds to a higher accident and claim rate.
Chevy Volt insurance loss data – Insurance companies analyze claim trends for every vehicle to determine a rate that will be profitable for them. Models that the statistics show to have high amounts or severity of claims will have higher premium rates.
The table shown below demonstrates the historical insurance loss data for Chevy Volt vehicles. For each type of coverage, the claim amount for all vehicles, regardless of manufacturer or model, equals 100. Numbers under 100 represent a good loss history, while values over 100 point to more claims or statistically larger claims.
| Make and Model | Collision | Property Damage | Comp | Personal Injury | Medical Payment | Bodily Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Volt Electric | 89 | 83 | 81 | 71 | 73 | 90 |
Data Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2013-2015 Model Years
You may need specialized insurance coverage
When selecting a policy for your personal vehicles, there really isn’t a one size fits all plan. Your situation is unique.
For example, these questions can help discover whether you could use an agent’s help.
- What is the rate difference between pleasure use and commuting?
- Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
- Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
- What should my uninsured motorist coverage limits be in Florida?
- Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
- Should I buy additional glass protection?
- Does insurance cover damages from a DUI accident?
- Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in Tampa?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form.
How to find a good Tampa car insurance company
Buying coverage from the best car insurance company is difficult considering how many different companies insure vehicles in Florida. The ranking information shown below may help you analyze which companies to look at buying from.
Top 10 Tampa Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Claims Service
- Travelers
- Nationwide
- Allstate
- State Farm
- Liberty Mutual
- GEICO
- American Family
- Esurance
- Titan Insurance
- AAA Insurance
Top 10 Tampa Car Insurance Companies by A.M. Best Rank
- Travelers – A++
- USAA – A++
- GEICO – A++
- State Farm – A++
- Titan Insurance – A+
- Esurance – A+
- Progressive – A+
- The Hartford – A+
- Allstate – A+
- Nationwide – A+
How much can you save?
Drivers who switch companies do it for many reasons like denial of a claim, poor customer service, lack of trust in their agent and being labeled a high risk driver. Whatever your reason, finding a new company is pretty simple and you could end up saving a buck or two.
When getting Tampa car insurance quotes online, it’s not a good idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. There are a lot of situations where someone sacrificed uninsured motorist or liability limits and discovered at claim time that it was a big error on their part. Your goal is to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.
We’ve covered quite a bit of information on how to save on Chevy Volt insurance in Tampa. The key thing to remember is the more you quote Tampa car insurance, the better likelihood of getting cheaper Tampa car insurance quotes. You may even be surprised to find that the best prices are with a small local company.
Helpful information
- Auto Insurance FAQ (Farmers Insurance)
- Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Quotes for 18 Year Olds in Tampa? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for High Risk Drivers in Tampa? (FAQ)
- Who Has Affordable Car Insurance Quotes for a Toyota Corolla in Tampa? (FAQ)
- How Much are Tampa Car Insurance Quotes for Used Cars? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Police Officers in Tampa? (FAQ)
- New vehicle ratings focus on headlights (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- State Car Insurance Guides (GEICO)