Are you drained from scraping the payment together to pay your car insurance bill each month? Your situation is no different than most other drivers in Washington.
Shocking but true, the majority of drivers kept their policy with the same company for over three years, and approximately 38% of consumers have never even compared rates from other companies. Most drivers in Washington can save hundreds of dollars each year just by getting comparison quotes, but most just don’t grasp the amount of money they would save if they changed companies. You have multiple insurers to choose from, and although it’s a good thing to have a selection, it can be more difficult to find a good deal for Volkswagen Rabbit insurance in Seattle.
You should make it a habit to take a look at other company’s rates before your policy renews due to the fact that insurance prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal on Volkswagen Rabbit insurance in Seattle two years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate quote today. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because you’re going to learn the things you must know in order to save on car insurance.
Locating the most cost-effective auto insurance policy in Seattle is actually not that difficult if you follow our advice. If you have coverage now or need new coverage, you can use this information to shop for the lowest rates and possibly find even better coverage. Vehicle owners just have to know the proper way to compare company rates from many different companies.
The following companies provide quotes in Seattle, WA. If multiple companies are shown, we suggest you visit two to three different companies in order to get a fair rate comparison.
Affordable Seattle car insurance quotes with discounts
Not many people think insurance is cheap, but you might find some hidden discounts to cut the cost considerably. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time you complete a quote, but occasionally some discounts must be asked for before you get the savings.
- Driving Data Discount – Insureds that choose to allow their car insurance company to scrutinize driving patterns remotely like Drivewise from Allstate or In-Drive from State Farm may see discounts as long as they are good drivers.
- Student in College – College-age children who are enrolled in a college that is more than 100 miles from Seattle and won’t have access to an insured vehicle can receive lower rates.
- Drive Less and Save – Fewer annual miles on your Volkswagen can qualify you for substantially lower car insurance rates.
- Renewal Discounts – A few larger companies offer discounts for signing up before your current expiration date. Ten percent is about the average savings.
- Homeowners Savings – Owning a house in Seattle can save a few bucks because it shows financial diligence.
- Responsible Drivers – Safe drivers may receive a discount up to 45% than less cautious drivers.
- Active Service Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.
- Defensive Driver Discount – Taking part in a course that instructs on driving safety can save you 5% or more and easily pay for the cost of the class.
- Good Students Pay Less – A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply up to age 25.
One thing to note about discounts is that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comprehensive or collision. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business. But all discounts will definitely lower your overall premium however.
A list of car insurance companies and some of the premium reductions they offer are outlined below.
- State Farm may offer discounts for driver’s education, multiple policy, anti-theft, accident-free, and Steer Clear safe driver discount.
- Farmers Insurance offers discounts including good student, switch companies, youthful driver, homeowner, electronic funds transfer, bundle discounts, and pay in full.
- GEICO may include discounts for multi-policy, seat belt use, federal employee, driver training, and defensive driver.
- American Family has discounts for defensive driver, early bird, multi-vehicle, good driver, and good student.
- Nationwide offers premium reductions for multi-policy, accident-free, easy pay, good student, business or organization, and family plan.
- Progressive has savings for homeowner, multi-policy, online quote discount, good student, online signing, and multi-vehicle.
Before buying, ask every insurance company to give you their best rates. Depending on the company, some discounts might not be offered on policies in every state. To see a list of insurers that provide some of the discounts listed above in Washington, click here.
You may want advice from an insurance agency
A lot of people would prefer to have an agent’s advice and that is not a bad decision Professional agents can answer important questions and give you someone to call. A good thing about comparing car insurance online is that drivers can save money and get cheap car insurance quotes but still work with a licensed agent.
To find an agent, once you fill out this simple form, your information is submitted to insurance agents in Seattle who will gladly provide quotes to get your business. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to search for an agent because quoted prices will be sent to you instantly. If for some reason you want to get a rate quote from a specific company, you would need to go to their quote page to submit a rate quote request.
Finding the right provider should depend on more than just the quoted price. Before buying a policy in Seattle, get answers to these questions.
- Will high miles depreciate repair valuations?
- Does the agent recommend any additional coverage?
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- Will they take your side in the event of a claim?
- Do they assist clients in filing claims?
- Do they review policy coverages at every renewal?
- Do you need full coverage on every vehicle?
Do you need an independent or exclusive car insurance agent?
If you prefer to buy car insurance from an insurance agent, it can be helpful to understand the different types of agents to choose from. Car insurance agents in Seattle are classified as either independent agents or exclusive agents depending on their employer. Either one can properly insure your vehicles, but it is a good idea to know why they differ because it may have an impact on your agent selection.
Exclusive Car Insurance Agents
Agents in the exclusive channel can only place business with one company such as American Family, State Farm, and Allstate. Exclusive agents are unable to provide other company’s prices so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Exclusive agents are very knowledgeable on their company’s products which helps them sell on service rather than price.
Shown below are Seattle exclusive insurance agencies willing to provide price quotes.
Melinda Elkin – State Farm Insurance Agent
7104 Greenwood Ave N – Seattle, WA 98103 – (206) 784-6560 – View Map
Ezra Teshome – State Farm Insurance Agent
1510 14th Ave – Seattle, WA 98122 – (206) 322-3910 – View Map
Allstate Insurance: Carmelita Strong
5959 Martin Luther King Jr Way S – Seattle, WA 98118 – (206) 725-8969 – View Map
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Agents of this type do not have single company limitations so as a result can place your coverage with lots of companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your premiums go up, your policy is moved internally and you don’t have to switch agencies.
When comparing car insurance rates, we highly recommend that you get some free quotes from several independent insurance agents so that you can do a thorough price comparison.
The following is a list of independent agents in Seattle that are able to give comparison quotes.
Adams Insurance
8613 35th Ave NE – Seattle, WA 98115 – (206) 523-8660 – View Map
BGI Agency Network Inc
4634 E Marginal Way S C 140 – Seattle, WA 98134 – (206) 682-9990 – View Map
Norwest Insurance Agency
5191 S Spencer St – Seattle, WA 98118 – (206) 965-8140 – View Map
Upon receiving reasonable responses in addition to an acceptable price estimate, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agency that can be relied on to properly service your car insurance policy. Keep in mind policyholders can terminate your policy at any point so don’t think you are locked into any particular company for the full term.
Why you need to buy car insurance
Even though it’s not necessarily cheap to insure a Volkswagen in Seattle, car insurance is mandatory in Washington but it also protects more than you think.
First, the majority of states have compulsory liability insurance requirements which means you are required to carry a specific level of liability coverage in order to get the vehicle licensed. In Washington these limits are 25/50/10 which means you must have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.
Second, if you bought your car with a loan, most lenders will require that you buy insurance to guarantee their interest in the vehicle. If you default on your policy, the bank may insure your Volkswagen at a much higher premium rate and require you to reimburse them a much higher amount than you were paying before.
Third, insurance safeguards not only your Volkswagen Rabbit but also your assets. It also can pay for medical expenses for you, your passengers, and anyone else injured in an accident. Liability coverage, the one required by state law, will also pay to defend you if you are sued as the result of an accident. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, collision and comprehensive coverages will pay all costs to repair after the deductible has been paid.
The benefits of carrying adequate insurance definitely exceed the price paid, especially when you need to use it. The average driver in Washington is overpaying more than $865 each year so you should quote rates at every policy renewal to help ensure money is not being wasted.
Specifics of your auto insurance policy
Having a good grasp of a auto insurance policy can help you determine which coverages you need and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are typical coverages found on the average auto insurance policy.
Coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers
Your UM/UIM coverage provides protection when the “other guys” are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. It can pay for medical payments for you and your occupants as well as damage to your Volkswagen Rabbit.
Since many Washington drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (25/50/10 in Washington), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.
Coverage for medical expenses
Med pay and PIP coverage kick in for bills like rehabilitation expenses, prosthetic devices, doctor visits, dental work and funeral costs. They can be used in conjunction with a health insurance plan or if you lack health insurance entirely. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover getting struck while a pedestrian. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available but it provides additional coverages not offered by medical payments coverage
Liability insurance
This coverage will cover injuries or damage you cause to a person or their property that is your fault. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 25/50/10 that means you have a $25,000 limit per person for injuries, a limit of $50,000 in injury protection per accident, and $10,000 of coverage for damaged property.
Liability insurance covers claims like pain and suffering, bail bonds, court costs, repair costs for stationary objects and repair bills for other people’s vehicles. How much coverage you buy is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford. Washington state law requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/10 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.
Collision insurance
This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You have to pay a deductible then the remaining damage will be paid by your insurance company.
Collision can pay for claims like driving through your garage door, backing into a parked car, sideswiping another vehicle, crashing into a building and rolling your car. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to raise the deductible on your Rabbit to get cheaper collision coverage.
Comprehensive auto insurance
Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible and then insurance will cover the rest of the damage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as hitting a bird, fire damage, damage from getting keyed, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and rock chips in glass. The maximum amount your auto insurance company will pay is the cash value of the vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider dropping full coverage.
Final considerations
In this article, we covered a lot of information how to save on Volkswagen Rabbit insurance in Seattle. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even find the lowest prices come from a smaller regional carrier. Some small companies may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive.
Cost effective Volkswagen Rabbit insurance can be purchased both online and from local agencies, and you should compare rates from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. A few companies may not offer internet price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers only sell through independent agents.
When you buy Seattle auto insurance online, don’t be tempted to sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There have been many cases where an insured cut physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time they didn’t have enough coverage. Your focus should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best cost, not the least amount of coverage.
To read more, feel free to visit the resources below:
- A Tree Fell on Your Car: Now What? (Allstate)
- Who Has the Cheapest Seattle Auto Insurance Quotes for Homeowners? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Seattle Car Insurance Quotes for Active Military? (FAQ)
- Rental Car Insurance Tips (Insurance Information Institute)
- Teen Driving and Texting (State Farm)
- What is a Telematics Device? (Allstate)
- Think You’re a Safe Driver? (State Farm)