If you’re shopping for car insurance in Lancaster, Pennsylvania here are 3 important things you need to know.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania is a great place to call home. From our cool little city to our beautiful farmlands, Lancaster Pennsylvania has it all! When it comes to auto insurance in Lancaster, there are some factors that make us unique.
Did you know?!? Most households in Lancaster own 2 vehicles, and the majority of commuting is done alone. Compared to the rest of Pennsylvania Lancaster drivers prefer to drive alone versus carpooling. According to PennDOT the average commute time for Lancaster residents is 20 minutes.
These factors play into the overall insurance demographic of Lancaster which determines our auto premiums. According to Insurify, the average monthly car insurance cost in Lancaster is $131 a month or $1,572 for the year. The average monthly auto insurance premium for the state of Pennsylvania is $150. So, besides the beauty of Lancaster, our cheaper auto insurance is another great reason to call Lancaster home.
When shopping for car insurance in Lancaster PA here are 3 tips to find the right policy for you!
- The first thing to consider when shopping for auto insurance in Lancaster, PA, is how to get the cheapest monthly rates. There are a few main factors that dictate your car insurance premiums. The first is what type of vehicle you drive. The more expensive the vehicle, typically the more expensive your auto insurance will be. Some other factors include your Credit Score, driving record, and deductibles. One of the largest factors that many people don’t consider is where you live. Although Lancaster on average has cheaper rates than the rest of Pennsylvania, each town within Lancaster also carries its own rating risk factors.
We did some of our own research and found that the most expensive town in Lancaster for car insurance was Willow Street, followed by Lancaster City. The cheapest town in Lancaster PA for auto insurance was Leola.
- The second thing to consider when looking for car insurance in Lancaster PA is where are you going to shop? There are 3 primary ways customers shop for auto insurance policies. The first is to go online directly to a company’s website and quoting system. Some of the primary online companies are Geico and Progressive. There is however some risk when shopping online since you may not fully know what you are purchasing or what you need. Some questions you will want answers to are; what tort option you want, should you “Stack” Uninsured and Underinsured coverage, do you need roadside assistance, and what are the best liability limits for you.
The second option is to visit a captive insurance agent. They are called captive agents because they work directly for one insurance company. Examples of captive agents would be State Farm and Allstate. These agents will be able to help guide you to the right coverages but are not able to offer you different quoting options, they are tied to their one company.
The best option is to visit an Independent Agent. Independent agents in Lancaster PA have local knowledge and are able to gather your info and then do the shopping for you. They will take your info to a variety of different insurance companies to find the quote that has the best coverage and pricing.
- Lastly know what you are purchasing. DO NOT BUY STATE MINIMUM COVERAGE! In Lancaster PA the minimum coverage you legally need is $15,000 of liability per person, $30,000 of liability per accident, and $5,000 in property damage. In today’s world of backup cameras and sensors, $5,000 is not going to get you very far. So, if you would rear-end a brand-new Mercedes or a Porsche, $5,000 might replace their wheel, everything above that they can come back and go after you personally to pay for the rest of the damages.
We recommend limits of at least 100,000 per person, 300,000 per accident, and 100,000 in property damage. That’s a great place to start, but you may still need liability limits that are higher depending on your economic position. The difference in price between state minimums and higher coverage in Lancaster PA auto policies is negligible. For an extra $5 a month or so, the increased coverage and peace of mind are well worth it!
There are some quick tips on shopping for auto insurance in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. If you have questions about getting a quote, feel free to give us a call. Our number here is 717-290-7780. We have agents here that will be happy to answer any questions or help you find a policy. Thanks and see you next time.