Unthinkable but true, nearly 70% of customers have stayed with the same insurance company for a minimum of four years, and approximately 38% of consumers have never even compared quotes to find affordable rates. The average driver in Pittsburgh could save roughly 55% each year by just shopping around, but they don’t know how much they could save if they swap their current policy for a cheaper one.
To save the most money, the best way to get affordable auto insurance rates is to regularly compare quotes from companies in Pittsburgh. You can shop around by following these steps.
Step 1: Spend a few minutes and learn about how insurance works and the changes you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many rating factors that result in higher prices such as accidents, careless driving, and a negative credit rating can be improved by being financially responsible and driving safely. This article gives the details to lower rates and earn a bigger discount.
Step 2: Compare prices from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Direct and exclusive agents can give quotes from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while agents who are independent can quote prices for a wide range of companies.
Step 3: Compare the new rates to your current policy premium and determine if there is any savings. If you find better rates and decide to switch, verify that coverage does not lapse between policies.
An essential thing to point out is that you’ll want to make sure you compare identical coverages on each price quote and and to get rate quotes from as many carriers as you can. Doing this provides a level playing field and many rates to choose from.
Best companies for affordable Saturn VUE insurance in Pennsylvania
The companies shown below offer comparison quotes in Pittsburgh, PA. If multiple companies are listed, we recommend you visit as many as you can to get a more complete price comparison.
Rates and other information
The information shown next highlights estimates of coverage prices for Saturn VUE models. Having a good grasp of how prices are calculated is important for making informed decisions when comparing rates.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vue XE 2WD | $178 | $278 | $346 | $20 | $104 | $926 | $77 |
| Vue XR 2WD | $178 | $338 | $346 | $20 | $104 | $986 | $82 |
| Vue XR-L 2WD | $200 | $338 | $346 | $20 | $104 | $1,008 | $84 |
| Vue XR AWD | $200 | $338 | $346 | $20 | $104 | $1,008 | $84 |
| Vue XR-L AWD | $200 | $400 | $346 | $20 | $104 | $1,070 | $89 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Prices based on married female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Information does not factor in Pittsburgh location which can change price quotes significantly.
Rate comparison for different deductibles
One common question asked by Pittsburgh drivers is how low should you set your deductibles. The data tables below can help show how much more rates are between low and high physical damage coverage deductibles. The first table uses a $100 deductible for physical damage and the second price chart uses a $500 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vue XE 2WD | $284 | $420 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,177 | $98 |
| Vue XR 2WD | $284 | $512 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,269 | $106 |
| Vue XR-L 2WD | $320 | $512 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,305 | $109 |
| Vue XR AWD | $320 | $512 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,305 | $109 |
| Vue XR-L AWD | $320 | $602 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,395 | $116 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vue XE 2WD | $206 | $284 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $938 | $78 |
| Vue XR 2WD | $206 | $346 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,000 | $83 |
| Vue XR-L 2WD | $234 | $346 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,028 | $86 |
| Vue XR AWD | $234 | $346 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,028 | $86 |
| Vue XR-L AWD | $234 | $408 | $330 | $20 | $98 | $1,090 | $91 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Data variables include married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, claim-free, homeowner, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Premium costs do not factor in specific location which can raise or lower insurance rates considerably.
Based on this data, using a $100 deductible will cost you about $23 more each month or $276 for a full year than quoting the higher $500 deductible. Since you would have to pay $400 more out-of-pocket with a $500 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you average more than 17 months between claims, you would probably be better off by selecting a higher deductible.
How to calculate deductible break even period
| Average monthly premium for $100 deductibles: | $108 |
| Average monthly premium for $500 deductibles (subtract): | – $85 |
| Monthly savings from raising deductible: | $23 |
| Difference between deductibles ($500 – $100): | $400 |
| Divide difference by monthly savings: | $400 / $23 |
| Number of months required between physical damage coverage claims in order to save money by choosing the higher deductible | 17 months |
One thing to note is that increasing deductibles to save money results in more money out-of-pocket at claim time. That will force you to have enough disposable income in order to pay more for the deductible.
Saturn VUE insurance costs by age and gender
The chart below illustrates the comparison of Saturn VUE insurance costs for male and female drivers. The premium estimates are based on no tickets, no at-fault accidents, full coverage, $250 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are applied.
Cost difference between full coverage and liability
The information below visualizes the comparison of Saturn VUE yearly insurance costs with and without full coverage. The price estimates are based on no accidents or driving violations, $500 deductibles, single marital status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
When to buy liability coverage only
There is no written rule of when to phase out comp and collision coverage, but there is a broad guideline. If the annual cost of coverage is about 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then you may need to consider dropping full coverage.
For example, let’s say your Saturn VUE claim settlement value is $7,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most you would receive is $6,000 after you pay the deductible. If premium cost is more than $600 a year to have full coverage, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.
There are some conditions where dropping physical damage coverage is not in your best interest. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you have to keep full coverage in order to satisfy the requirements of the loan. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is in an accident, you should not opt for liability only.
You may qualify for discounts for Saturn VUE insurance in Pittsburgh
Car insurance companies do not advertise every discount available in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of both well-publicized in addition to some of the lesser obvious discounts you could be receiving when you buy Pittsburgh car insurance online. If you check and find you aren’t receiving every discount available, you’re just leaving money on the table.
- Smart Student Discounts – Excelling in school may save you up to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
- Auto/Home Discount – If you combine your home and auto policies and insure them with the same company you may earn over 10 percent off each policy depending on the company.
- Discounts for Good Drivers – Insureds without accidents may receive a discount up to 45% than drivers with accident claims.
- Buy New and Save – Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper because newer vehicles keep occupants safer.
- Military Discounts – Having a family member in the military could be rewarded with lower rates.
- Driver Education Discount – Have your child enroll in driver’s education in high school.
- Include Life Insurance and Save – Not all insurance carriers offer life insurance, but some may give you a discounted premium rate on car insurance if you buy life insurance from them.
- Discounts for Seat Belt Usage – Requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts may be able to save a few bucks off the PIP or medical payment premium.
- No Charge for an Accident – This one is not really a discount per se, but some insurance companies will turn a blind eye to one accident before they charge you more for coverage if you are claim-free before the accident.
Don’t be surprised that most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, it doesn’t quite work that way.
The illustration below shows the difference between Saturn VUE insurance costs with and without policy discounts. The data is based on a female driver, no claims or driving violations, Pennsylvania state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with claim-free, multi-policy, multi-car, safe-driver, marriage, and homeowner discounts applied.
Some of the larger companies that possibly offer some of the discounts shown above include:
When quoting, ask every prospective company to apply every possible discount. Some discounts listed above may not apply to policies everywhere.
Informed Consumers Can Slash Their Insurance Rates
Many different elements are used in the calculation when premium rates are determined. Some factors are common sense such as traffic violations, but others are not quite as obvious like your vehicle usage or your commute time. The best way to find cheaper auto insurance is to take a look at some of the elements that are used to determine your auto insurance rates. If you have a feel for what controls the rates you pay, this allows you to make good choices that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices.
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Pay more by driving carelessly – Whether or not you get tickets has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Drivers who don’t get tickets have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Getting just one speeding ticket or other violation can increase rates by twenty percent. People who have multiple violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may face state-mandated requirements to submit a SR-22 form with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
The illustration below highlights how traffic violations and accidents drive up Saturn VUE insurance premiums for different age categories. The data is based on a single male driver, full coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no other discounts are factored in.
- A car insurance policy lapse is a bad thing – Driving without insurance can get your license suspended and companies may charge more for letting your insurance coverage expire. And not only will your rates increase, the inability to provide proof of insurance could earn you fines or a revoked license. You may then have to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the Pennsylvania motor vehicle department.
- Rental and towing coverage may not be needed – There are a ton of additional extra coverages that you can get tricked into buying but may not be useful. Things like rental car reimbursement, accidental death, and membership fees may be wasting your money. They may seem like a good idea at first, but if you have no use for them consider taking them off your policy.
- Bump up coverage deductibles to lower rates – Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your Saturn from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered are a windshield shattered by a rock, damage caused by hail, and burglary. Comprehensive and collision coverage deductibles define the amount you are required to spend before a claim is paid by your company. The higher the amount you’re willing to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
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How old are your drivers? – Beginning drivers in Pennsylvania are proven to be inattentive when at the wheel of a vehicle therefore auto insurance rates are much higher. Having to add a inexperienced driver to your policy can cause a big jump in price. More mature drivers are shown to be more cautious, tend to cause fewer accidents, and usually have better credit.
The following chart assumes a single driver, full coverage with $100 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
- Lower prices with alarm systems – Buying a car with an alarm system can help lower your premiums. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.
- Having a spouse can lower rates – Your spouse actually saves money on your policy. Having a significant other is viewed as being more mature than a single person and it’s proven that being married results in fewer claims.
Auto insurance quotes from local Pittsburgh insurance agents
Certain consumers still prefer to sit down with an agent and that is a personal choice. A nice benefit of getting free rate quotes online is the fact that drivers can get the best rates and still have an agent to talk to. Buying from local agents is important especially in Pittsburgh.
By using this short form, your coverage information is emailed to agents in your area who will return price quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. You never need to leave your house because quoted prices will be sent instantly to you. You can most likely find cheaper rates AND an agent nearby. If you want to quote rates from a specific auto insurance provider, you would need to search and find their rate quote page and submit a quote form there.
If you are wanting to purchase auto insurance from a reputable insurance agent or broker, there are a couple of different types of agents and how they operate. Insurance agencies in Pittsburgh are either independent (non-exclusive) or exclusive.
Independent Agents (or Brokers)
Agents of this type do not work for one specific company so as a result can place your coverage with a variety of different insurance companies and help determine which has the cheapest rates. To transfer your coverage to a different company, your agent can just switch to a different company and you stay with the same agent.
If you are trying to find cheaper rates, it’s recommended you include price quotes from multiple independent agents to get the most accurate price comparison. They often place coverage with smaller companies which could offer lower prices.
Shown below is a partial list of independent agents in Pittsburgh who may provide price quote information.
- Crawford Insurance Agency
11743 Frankstown Rd – Pittsburgh, PA 15235 – (412) 244-8888 – View Map - Rodgers Andrew F Insurance Agency Inc
Foster Plaza V, 651 Holiday Dr – Pittsburgh, PA 15220 – (412) 922-1651 – View Map - D Johnson Insurance Agency
12806 Frankstown Rd – Pittsburgh, PA 15235 – (412) 744-4800 – View Map
Exclusive Auto Insurance Agents
These type of agents write business for a single company such as Allstate and State Farm. Exclusive agents are unable to provide rate quotes from other companies so they really need to provide good service. Exclusive insurance agents are highly trained on their products and sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage. Some insured continue to use the same exclusive agent mainly due to high brand loyalty rather than having the cheapest rates.
Below is a list of exclusive agencies in Pittsburgh who can help you get price quote information.
- George O’Korn – State Farm Insurance Agent
4486 Steubenville Pike – Pittsburgh, PA 15205 – (412) 921-1182 – View Map - Michael Dear State Farm
2632 Brownsville Rd – Pittsburgh, PA 15227 – (412) 884-9700 – View Map - Steve Heller – State Farm Insurance Agent
146 Forest Hills Rd – Pittsburgh, PA 15221 – (412) 824-4800 – View Map
Selecting an auto insurance agent should depend on more than just a cheap price quote. These are some questions you should get answers to.
- What companies can they write with?
- How long has their agency been in business in Pittsburgh?
- Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
- What insurance company do they write the most business with?
- Are they able to provide referrals?
- Are there any hidden costs in their price quote and does it include driving and credit history?
- Do you have coverage for a rental car if your vehicle is in the repair shop?
Pennsylvania auto insurance company ratings
Finding a high-quality insurance provider is hard considering how many different companies sell coverage in Pennsylvania. The company ratings displayed below may help you select which car insurance providers to look at putting your business with.
Top 10 Pittsburgh Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Service
- Titan Insurance
- The Hartford
- American Family
- Progressive
- USAA
- Travelers
- State Farm
- GEICO
- Erie Insurance
- Allstate
Top 10 Pittsburgh Car Insurance Companies Overall
- The General
- Titan Insurance
- The Hartford
- Progressive
- Travelers
- State Farm
- Farmers Insurance
- Erie Insurance
- Safeco Insurance
- USAA
More comparisons equals affordable rates
Cost effective Saturn VUE insurance can be found from both online companies in addition to local insurance agencies, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who do not provide rate quotes online and these smaller providers prefer to sell through independent insurance agencies.
We covered many ways to lower your Saturn VUE insurance rates in Pittsburgh. The key concept to understand is the more providers you compare, the better chance you’ll have of finding affordable Saturn VUE insurance quotes. You may even find the biggest savings come from some of the lesser-known companies.
As you shop your coverage around, it’s very important that you do not sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. There are many occasions where consumers will sacrifice comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that it was a big error on their part. The goal is to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price but still have enough coverage for asset protection.
More tips and info about auto insurance can be read at these sites:
- Automakers compete to add autobraking (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
- Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance for a Ford F-150 in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Pittsburgh Auto Insurance for Homeowners? (FAQ)
- What Auto Insurance is Cheapest for a Chevrolet Equinox in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- What Insurance is Cheapest for Lyft Drivers in Pittsburgh? (FAQ)
- Who Has Cheap Pittsburgh Car Insurance for Low Credit Scores? (FAQ)
- Avoiding Deer Collisions (Insurance Information Institute)
- Auto Insurance Learning Center (State Farm)
- Liability Insurance Coverage (Nationwide)