Get the Best Car Insurance Rate with State Farm®

Finding the best car insurance rate can feel like an impossible task. Premiums seem to vary wildly between companies, and it’s hard to know who really offers the best value. However, there are things you can do to make sure you get the lowest possible rate for quality coverage. Here’s what you need to know to get the best car insurance rate with State Farm®.

Shop Around and Compare Quotes

The first step is to shop around and compare quotes from multiple providers. Rates can vary significantly from company to company, so checking several options ensures you find the best deal. Getting quotes takes just a few minutes, and most companies like State Farm allow you to get free online quotes instantly.

Spend some time filling out quote forms on company websites. Be sure to enter the same coverage details each time so you can properly compare apples to apples. Once you have quotes look at the bottom line price along with coverage details. Make sure you’re comfortable with any tradeoffs before choosing the cheapest policy.

Consider Usage-Based Insurance

Usage-based insurance programs like Drive Safe & Save® from State Farm use technology to measure driving habits. Safe drivers can earn significant discounts, so these programs are worth checking out if available in your state.

With State Farm’s program, you can save over 30% on your premium just by driving safely. The program uses an app or device to track mileage, speeding, acceleration, cornering, phone usage, and more. Safer driving means bigger discounts, so it pays to improve your habits.

Choose the Right Coverages

The coverages and limits you select impact your insurance rate. Consider dropping comprehensive and collision coverage on older cars since repairs may exceed the vehicle’s value. Raising deductibles and dropping optional coverages like rental reimbursement also lowers premiums.

On the other hand make sure you have enough liability insurance to protect your assets. Experts recommend at least $100000 per person and $300,000 per accident. State Farm agents can review your policy to ensure you have the right coverages tailored to your situation.

Take Advantage of Discounts

Most major insurers offer a wide variety of discounts to help you save. Here are some common discounts to ask about:

• Multi-policy discount for bundling home and auto insurance
• Good student discount
• Defensive driving course discount
• Low mileage discount
• Anti-theft devices
• Good payer discount for no lapses in coverage
• Accident-free discount

The more discounts you can stack together, the more you’ll save. State Farm offers discounts like Steer Clear® for drivers under 25 and the Drive Safe & Save® usage-based program.

Maintain Good Credit

Insurers often use credit-based insurance scores to help set premiums. Keeping your credit in good shape can help you earn the best rate. Monitoring your credit reports for errors is important, as is paying bills on time and keeping balances low.

If you see your credit score drop unexpectedly, contact your insurer to find out if they used a different score than you check. If so, ask for details on that score and what factors impacted it.

Review Rates Regularly

It’s a good idea to re-shop rates at least once a year or whenever your situation changes. Things like moving, adding a car, or having teenagers start driving can all impact premiums. Getting a new quote ensures you still have the best rate as things change.

Consider setting a reminder to check rates every 6 or 12 months. Save time by pre-filling your details on company sites or using an insurance comparison platform. This makes it easy to see if there’s a better deal out there.

Work with an Independent Agent

Independent insurance agents offer policies from multiple companies, so they can help you find the best rate. An agent partners with top insurers like State Farm and has expertise to identify gaps or unnecessary coverage.

Agents also advocate on your behalf for discounts and negotiate with claims adjusters. Their expertise and advocacy can end up saving you money in both the short and long term.

Choose the Right Car

Believe it or not, the car you drive impacts your insurance rate. Insurers analyze safety test results, theft data, repair costs, and other factors to determine risk profiles for vehicles. It pays to do your research before purchasing a car to understand the insurance implications.

Cars with high safety ratings and anti-theft tech tend to have lower rates. Sporty, high-powered vehicles are often more expensive to insure. Your agent can let you know a car’s estimated insurance costs before you buy.

Ask About Payment Discounts

Some insurance companies offer discounts for paying in full or setting up automatic payments from a bank account. Taking advantage of these can lead to savings of up to 10% on your premium.

State Farm offers a discount for signing up for automatic EFT payments. There’s no processing fee, and you still have flexibility to adjust your plan or make lump sum payments. Reducing the admin overhead for invoices helps lower rates.

Drive Safely

Your driving record heavily influences your rate. Maintaining a clean record avoids rate hikes after accidents or traffic violations. Safe driving also qualifies you for accident-free and defensive driver discounts from many insurers.

If you do have incidents on your record, take a defensive driving course. Improving your skills can help offset insurance rate increases in some states. Also, make sure to compare rates after 3 years of incident-free driving since some insurers remove violations from your record after this period.

Check Rates as a New Customer

Here’s an insider tip: Insurers often offer discounted rates to attract new customers. You may be able to save by getting a quote as if you were a new customer rather than a renewal. Just make sure to cancel the old policy only after the new one is in effect.

If your current company won’t budge on rate, this strategy may allow you to jump ship to take advantage of new customer pricing. Just remember loyalty discounts and protections like accident forgiveness don’t automatically transfer to a new insurer.

Consider a Higher Deductible

Deductibles of $500 or $1,000 can lead to much lower rates than minimal deductibles of $100 or $250. If you can afford to pay more out of pocket in the event of an accident, a higher deductible provides big premium savings.

Just be sure to have a sufficient emergency fund in case you do need to cover the deductible. State Farm agents can walk you through the pricing trade-offs so you can make an informed decision.

Audit Your Current Policy

Take some time to review your current policy in detail. Make sure you’re not paying for any unnecessary coverages or options. For example, eliminate rental car reimbursement if you don’t need it or would use a personal card anyway.

Also look for inconsistencies or incorrect details like an old car you no longer own. Report anything amiss to your insurer or agent to get your policy updated. Taking the time for an insurance policy audit can reveal opportunities for savings.

Choose a Higher Liability Limit

This may seem counterintuitive, but in some cases choosing a higher liability limit can actually decrease your overall premium. Most companies offer multi-policy or deductible discounts at certain higher liability limits.

For example, State Farm offers the ” disappearing deductible” where your collision deductible is eliminated at liability limits of 100/300 or higher. The discount on collision can outweigh the liability increase. But make sure to get a quote first to see the overall impact on your premium.

Bundle Home and Auto Insurance

Purchasing both auto and home or renters insurance from the same company results in a multi-policy discount. State Farm offers discounts up to 17% to customers who bundle insurance policies. This strategy allows you to consolidate payments and services for added convenience as well.

But don’t sacrifice coverage to bundle. Make sure you still shop around to get quotes from other insurers. Bundling should provide savings on top of already competitive rates. Partner with an agent who can coordinate your policies while optimizing discounts.

Maintain Continuous Coverage

Insurance companies reward long-term customers who maintain continuous insurance coverage. Gaps in coverage due to cancelling a policy or letting it lapse can result in higher rates when starting a new policy. Avoid gaps if possible to keep your rates low.

If you do need to cancel a policy, have the new coverage effective the same day the old policy ends. Paying for a couple of days of overlap is cheaper than a rate hike for lack of continuous coverage. This also prevents risks during gaps when you’re uninsured.

Enroll in Usage-Based Insurance

Usage-based insurance programs like State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save use technology to measure actual driving habits. Safer driving means bigger discounts, so these innovative programs can help lower your rate.

To enroll, you install a small device in your vehicle or use a mobile app to track mileage and driving metrics. State Farm policyholders can save over 30% by proving they avoid speeding, hard braking, and other risky behaviors.