We don’t have to tell you that insurance companies don’t want their customers to go rate shopping. Consumers who shop around for cheaper price quotes are inclined to switch to a new company because of the high probability of finding good coverage at a lower price. A recent auto insurance study revealed that people who routinely compared quotes saved on average $865 annually compared to people who never shopped around.
If finding budget-friendly rates on car insurance is your intention, then knowing the best way to shop and compare insurance premiums can make shopping around easier.
Really, the only way to get cheaper car insurance rates is to compare quotes annually from different companies who can sell car insurance in Pittsburgh.
First, read and learn about policy coverages and the things you can change to keep rates in check. Many risk factors that result in higher prices like traffic tickets, fender benders, and a substandard credit history can be rectified by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes.
Second, request price quotes from direct carriers, independent agents, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only provide price estimates from a single company like Progressive or Allstate, while independent agents can quote rates from multiple insurance companies.
Third, compare the new rate quotes to your existing policy to see if cheaper CC coverage is available in Pittsburgh. If you find better rates and change companies, make sure coverage is continuous and does not lapse.
The most important part of shopping around is to use identical coverage information on each price quote and and to analyze as many different companies as possible. This guarantees an apples-to-apples comparison and plenty of rates choose from.
These techniques will instruct you on how car insurance works and some tips to save money. If you are insured now, you will definitely be able to save money using the techniques covered below. But Pennsylvania vehicle owners benefit from understanding how companies set your policy premium and use it to find better rates.
Discounts can help lower premiums on Volkswagen CC insurance in Pittsburgh
Auto insurance companies don’t necessarily list every discount available very clearly, so we break down a few of the more common in addition to some of the lesser obvious savings tricks you should be using when you buy Pittsburgh auto insurance online. If you do not double check each discount you deserve, you could be paying more than you need to.
- Bundled Policy Discount – If you can bundle your homeowners and auto insurance and place coverage with the same company you could save at least 10 to 15 percent or more.
- Buy New and Save – Buying a new car instead of a used CC can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new vehicles.
- Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Factory air bags or automatic seat belts may get savings as much as 30%.
- 55 and Retired – If you’re over the age of 55, you may qualify for a slight reduction on a Pittsburgh auto insurance quote.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Some insurance companies give a discounted rate on car insurance if you buy some life insurance in addition to your auto policy.
- Accident Waiver – This one is not really a discount per se, but some insurance companies will allow you to have one accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
- E-sign – A few larger online companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying your policy on the web.
- Safe Driver Discounts – Drivers who avoid accidents can pay as much as 50% less compared to rates paid by drivers with frequent claims.
- Own a Home and Save – Being a homeowner may earn you a small savings due to the fact that maintaining a home requires a higher level of personal finance.
It’s important to understand that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most cut specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Even though it appears you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn’t work that way. But any discount should help lower the premium cost.
The example below compares Volkswagen CC car insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The premium estimates are based on a male driver, no claims or driving citations, Pennsylvania state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with homeowner, marriage, multi-car, multi-policy, claim-free, and safe-driver discounts applied.
Companies and some of the premium reductions they offer are outlined below.
- Farm Bureau includes discounts for good student, youthful driver, multi-vehicle, renewal discount, multi-policy, safe driver, and driver training.
- State Farm may offer discounts for safe vehicle, defensive driving training, good student, passive restraint, driver’s education, and accident-free.
- Progressive discounts include continuous coverage, multi-policy, online quote discount, multi-vehicle, online signing, homeowner, and good student.
- Allstate policyholders can earn discounts including good payer, safe driver, early signing, resident student, and anti-theft.
- Nationwide has discounts for accident-free, defensive driving, easy pay, Farm Bureau membership, family plan, multi-policy, and business or organization.
- MetLife may have discounts that include good student, accident-free, good driver, claim-free, defensive driver, multi-policy
When quoting, ask each company or agent what discounts are available to you. Some credits may not be available in Pittsburgh. To find companies that offer the discounts shown above in Pennsylvania, click this link.
Keep in mind that comparing a wide range of rates will enable you to find more affordable rates.
The following companies provide price comparisons in Pittsburgh, PA. To get cheap auto insurance in PA, it’s highly recommended you visit two to three different companies in order to find the most competitive rates.
Detailed insurance information
The coverage information displayed below showcases different policy rates for Volkswagen CC models. Understanding more about how car insurance premiums are formulated can be of help when making smart choices when selecting a policy.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC Sport 4-Dr Coupe | $328 | $506 | $432 | $26 | $130 | $1,422 | $119 |
| CC Luxury 4-Dr Coupe | $328 | $506 | $432 | $26 | $130 | $1,422 | $119 |
| CC VR6 Sport 4-Dr Coupe | $364 | $582 | $432 | $26 | $130 | $1,534 | $128 |
| CC VR6 Motion 4-Dr Coupe | $364 | $582 | $432 | $26 | $130 | $1,534 | $128 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data based on single male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, safe-driver, claim-free, and homeowner. Price estimates do not factor in specific garaging location which can decrease or increase prices noticeably.
Reckless driving habits raise auto insurance rates
The chart below highlights how speeding tickets and at-fault collisions can increase Volkswagen CC car insurance rates for each age group. The premium estimates are based on a married male driver, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no additional discounts are factored in.
Rate comparison of full coverage and liability-only
The diagram below illustrates the comparison of Volkswagen CC car insurance rates with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The premiums are based on no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, single status, and no additional discounts are factored in.
When to stop buying physical damage coverage
There is no set guideline to eliminate physical damage coverage on your policy, but there is a general convention. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is about 10% or more of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your Volkswagen CC replacement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would receive is $8,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If premium cost is more than $800 annually for your policy with full coverage, then it might be time to buy liability only.
There are some circumstances where dropping physical damage coverage is not advised. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you are required to maintain full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not drop full coverage.
How to know if you need help
When it comes to insurance from an agent or online for your vehicles, there really is not a “perfect” insurance plan. Your needs are unique to you.
Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.
- Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
- Do I need rental car coverage?
- Why are teen drivers so expensive to add on to my policy?
- Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my Volkswagen CC is totaled?
- Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
- Where can I find DUI or SR-22 insurance?
- Does insurance cover damages from a DUI accident?
- When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
- Why do I only qualify for high-risk insurance?
If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form.
Do I need an insurance agent?
Some consumers would rather sit down with an agent and there is nothing wrong with that. The biggest benefit of comparing insurance online is that you can find lower rates and still have a local agent. Supporting local insurance agents is important particularly in Pittsburgh.
For easy comparison, once you complete this short form, your insurance coverage information gets sent to companies in Pittsburgh that can give you free Pittsburgh auto insurance quotes for your coverage. It simplifies rate comparisons since you won’t have to even leave your home since price quotes are sent to you directly. You can find the lowest rates AND an agent nearby. If you want to compare rates from a particular provider, you can always search and find their rate quote page to submit a rate quote request.
Pick the best auto insurance agent in Pittsburgh for you
When searching for a reputable agency, you need to know there are two different agency structures from which to choose. Insurance policy providers can be classified as either independent or exclusive depending on the company they work for.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Agents that choose to be independent do not work for one specific company and that enables them to quote your coverage with any number of different companies and help determine which has the cheapest rates. If you are not satisfied with one company, your agent can switch companies and you won’t have to switch agencies.
When searching for an agent, we highly recommend that you get quotes from independent agents to have the best price comparison. Many can place coverage with additional companies that you may not be familiar with that can offer cheaper rates than bigger companies.
The following are Pittsburgh independent agents that may be able to give pricing information.
- Riley Insurance
2544 Library Rd # 205 – Pittsburgh, PA 15234 – (412) 563-2390 – View Map - Nationwide Insurance: Swenson Insurance Inc
234 Shady Ave – Pittsburgh, PA 15206 – (412) 362-8340 – View Map - Nalley Insurance Agency LLC
3349 Babcock Blvd – Pittsburgh, PA 15237 – (412) 366-5223 – View Map
Exclusive Agencies
Exclusive agencies have only one company to place business with such as State Farm or Allstate. Exclusive agents cannot place coverage with different providers so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Exclusive agencies receive extensive training on the products they sell which helps overcome the inability to quote other rates. Some insured continue to buy insurance from these agents primarily because of the prominence of the brand instead of buying on price only.
Below are Pittsburgh exclusive insurance agents that are able to give comparison quotes.
- Paul Lukitsch – State Farm Insurance Agent
200 Fleet St #100 – Pittsburgh, PA 15220 – (412) 921-2008 – View Map - Joy Capozzi – State Farm Insurance Agent
3111 Banksville Rd #207 – Pittsburgh, PA 15216 – (412) 344-3014 – View Map - Carolyn Dorsey – State Farm Insurance Agent
5901 Baum Blvd – Pittsburgh, PA 15206 – (412) 361-8000 – View Map
Picking the best car insurance agent is decision based upon more than just the price. These are some questions your agent should answer.
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
- Can you use your own choice of collision repair facility?
- Do they get paid more for recommending certain coverages?
- How much will you save each year by using a higher deductible?
- What is the agency’s Better Business Bureau rating?
Lower rates by being persistent
Drivers switch companies for any number of reasons including delays in paying claims, unfair underwriting practices, denial of a claim and even poor customer service. Regardless of your reason, finding the right insurance provider is actually quite simple.
We just presented a lot of tips how to reduce Volkswagen CC insurance premium rates online in Pittsburgh. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote Pittsburgh auto insurance, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers could even find that the most savings is with a small mutual company.
As you shop your coverage around, it’s a bad idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. There are too many instances where an insured cut physical damage coverage and learned later that it was a big mistake. Your goal should be to purchase plenty of coverage for the lowest cost but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
Helpful learning opportunities
- Teen Driving Statistics (iihs.org)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for a Company Car in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Pittsburgh Auto Insurance Quotes for Electric Cars? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Pittsburgh Auto Insurance for Homeowners? (FAQ)
- How Much is Pittsburgh Auto Insurance for a Chevrolet Silverado? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for Real Estate Agents in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- What Car Insurance is Cheapest for Drivers with Accidents in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Vehicle Insurance in the U.S. (Wikipedia)
- New Honda safety features benefit drivers of all ages (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Child Safety FAQ (iihs.org)