Finding Cheap Car Insurance Without Getting Scammed
Ive been driving for 22 years now. In that time Ive had policies with Geico, Progressive, State Farm, and a couple others I cant even remember. Ive made claims, gotten ripped off, found deals, and learned a ton about what actually matters.
Heres what Ive figured out about getting cheap car insurance thats actually worth having.
First – Understand What Youre Actually Buying
Car insurance isnt just one thing. Its a bundle of different coverages, and cheap insurance usually means cutting some of these:
Liability – Pays for damage YOU cause to other people and their stuff. This is required pretty much everywhere. Dont skimp on this – if you cause a bad accident and only have minimum coverage, you could owe money out of pocket for years.
Collision – Pays to fix YOUR car after an accident. Optional but important if your car is worth anything.
Comprehensive – Covers theft, hail, hitting a deer, stuff like that. My comprehensive saved me $3,000 when a tree branch fell on my car in a storm.
Uninsured Motorist – Covers you if someone with no insurance hits you. More people are uninsured than youd think.
How I Actually Compare Quotes
Every 2-3 years I shop around. Its annoying but it genuinely saves money. Companies change their rates all the time.
I get quotes from at least 5 companies. The same exact coverage can cost $100/month at one place and $180/month at another. No exaggeration – Ive seen swings that big.
The comparison websites are okay but they dont always include everyone. I usually go to a few big names directly (Geico, Progressive, State Farm) plus run one of the comparison sites.
Make sure youre comparing the same coverage amounts. Cheap insurance with 25/50 liability limits is a totally different product than one with 100/300. Dont compare apples to oranges.
The Discounts That Actually Work
Every company has discounts but some are worth more than others:
Bundling home and auto – This saved me like 15%. If youre renting, bundling renters insurance works too and renters insurance is super cheap anyway.
Clean driving record – Obviously. One ticket can mess up your rates for three years. Ask me how I know.
Paying in full – Most companies charge a fee if you pay monthly. Paying 6 months or a year upfront saves maybe 5-10%.
Good credit – I hate that this is a thing but it is. In most states, better credit means lower insurance rates.
Low mileage – If you work from home or dont drive much, you can get cheaper rates. Some companies put a tracker in your car to verify this.
The Tracker Programs – My Honest Take
Progressive has Snapshot, Geico has DriveEasy, etc. They monitor your driving.
I tried Progressives Snapshot for six months. It was… fine? Saved maybe $30 per term. But it dinged me for hard braking when a kid ran in front of my car. Like, sorry for not hitting the child?
If youre a very calm, low-mileage driver, these programs can save decent money. If you do highway driving with lots of stop-and-go, they might actually raise your rates.
When To Drop Coverage (And When You Really Shouldnt)
Heres my rule: if you have a car loan, you need full coverage. The bank requires it anyway.
If you own your car outright and its worth less than $5,000? You might drop collision. The math usually doesnt work – youll pay more in premiums over time than youd get if you totaled it.
I dropped collision on my 2009 Honda when it hit 150K miles. Just kept comprehensive because theft and weather damage are still real.
Liability? Never cheap out on this. I have 100/300/100 limits. Minimum coverage in my state is 25/50. If I caused an accident that hurt someone badly, minimum coverage would evaporate instantly and Id be on the hook for the rest.
Companies Ive Actually Used
Geico – Currently with them. Rates are good, app works fine, made one claim and it was handled without drama. Nothing exciting but nothing wrong either.
Progressive – Was with them for years. Good rates for younger drivers. Customer service was hit or miss.
State Farm – More expensive but Ive heard their claims process is smoother. Might be worth it if you have an accident-prone teenager.
USAA – Cant use them unless youre military-connected but everyone I know who has USAA loves them.
Things That Raise Your Rates (That You Might Not Expect)
Getting married lowers your rates. Getting divorced raises them. Go figure.
Your credit score matters way more than it should. When I was young and had bad credit, insurance was brutal.
Moving to a new zip code can change your rate significantly. Urban areas with more accidents and theft cost more.
Certain cars cost more to insure – sports cars, cars that get stolen a lot, expensive cars with pricey parts. I actually checked insurance rates before buying my last car.
The Bottom Line
The cheapest insurance isnt always the best deal. What matters is:
- Adequate coverage for your situation
- A company thatll actually pay when you need them
- The best price for that coverage
Shop around every couple years. Ask about every possible discount. Consider raising your deductible if youve got emergency savings. And whatever you do, dont buy minimum liability just to save a few bucks – its not worth the risk.
