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Real
Shopping Tips
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The most common way people shop for auto insurance is by using the hit or miss method.
That's where you call a handful of auto insurance companies at random, hoping to
stumble across the lowest price. However, what you heard over the phone may not
always be what you expected when it's time to buy. Therefore, when it's time for
you to shop for your auto insurance, keep the following tips in mind:
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1. First and foremost, WATCH OUT FOR THE LOWBALLERS!
Unfortunately the only way many agents and brokers can beat a legitimate low price
from FREEWAY is to lowball. That's where they tell you over the phone that it only
takes $100 or so to get you started. However, when you go to their office to buy,
the story changes and they make excuses why the actual down payment is $200 to $300
higher then what they said on the phone. Don't let them trick you into accepting
it. If this happens to you, RUN!
2. Don't be teased by advertisements that say, "Payments as low as $29" or "$19
a month."
Suggesting ridiculously low payments in advertising or over the phone without knowing
your driving information is meant to tease you. Those payments only apply to people
living out in the middle of nowhere or require a huge down payment to get the monthly
payment that low.
3. Beware of those that avoid giving a price over the phone.
These agents or brokers will say that they shop all the insurance carriers so to
make you think there is no need for you to shop anywhere else. This is simply meant
to get you into their office so they can sell you without any competition. Don't
let this happen to you. Ask what they're hiding if they won't give out the full
price over the phone.
4. Don't be fooled by incomplete prices.
Some agents and brokers may give only vague prices, partial prices or leave out
the fees over the phone in an effort to sound lower. Therefore make sure you get
the complete total price for the term of the policy. In addition,
get the complete down payment and complete monthly payments. Make sure the prices quoted include all of their fees as well.
5. Be suspicious of ballpark prices.
Ballpark or rounded-off prices is another way to tease you. However, down payments
and monthly payments always involve dollars and cents. Perfect numbers like $50,
$100, or $200 are not accurate and are meant to sound lower than the real thing.
6. Don't reveal your best price up front.
One of the first things an agent or broker may ask is, "what is the best price you
had found so far." Apparently someone who would ask for that information first does
not have much confidence in their own prices. The time to reveal the best price
that you've found is after they have given out their best price.
7. Don't be swayed when someone says their lowest price is guaranteed.
Some agents or brokers try to sound bold by saying that their price is the lowest
"guaranteed". However, just saying it doesn't mean that there aren't any loopholes.
Those that mention a guarantee are usually higher then everyone else and FREEWAY
consistently beats their prices.
8. Don't be misled by agents and brokers that say they "shop over 100 companies"
or say they "have all the companies."
Saying that they shop over 100 companies is meant to trick you into believing that
they can sell over 100 companies. The truth is that those who say they shop over
100 companies usually have the least amount of companies to sell. Also, no one has
"all the companies" to sell and those that say it are being dishonest with you.
FREEWAY has the largest legitimate selection of low price auto
insurance programs to choose from. As a result, FREEWAY is better equipped to get you the lowest price.
9. Don't be pressured.
If someone is confident they have the lowest price, you can usually hear it in their
voice. Desperate sales people say desperate things and will try to pressure you
to buy.
10. Don't be afraid to get up and leave.
If the price is higher in their office then the price they gave you over the phone
and the reason given is that they thought you told them something different, don't
be pressured into accepting it. Occasionally mistakes will happen. But many times
it was just a trick to get you into their office.
11. Don't buy your auto insurance at a car dealer, on a street corner or from the
trunk of a car.
Buying auto insurance at a car dealer can be expensive. That's because the person
selling you the insurance knows that you want that new car NOW and you are more
willing to pay a higher insurance price so you can take the car home. Also, agents
and brokers that come to your home or office know that you most likely will pay
a higher price because of the convenience. Additionally, make sure you see an established
location. After all, this is the person that you are going to trust for your auto
insurance protection and there have been situations where the person selling insurance
out of their car or on a street corner took the money and ran.
12. Get apples for apples comparisons.
Some agents and brokers have been known to quote liability only to make the price
seem lower when a caller asked for "full coverage". Make sure you get prices for
the same insurance coverages when you call various companies. For instance, make
sure that they all quote liability at the same limits (for example 15/30/5). Also
use the same deductibles for comprehensive and collision coverage (for example $500
or $1,000).
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