Cheap Auto Insurance in Erie, PA
In the market for cheap auto insurance in Erie, PA? At CheapCarInsuranceinc.com, you will find the lowest cost insurance premiums within your town. To acquire free car insurance rates from the top rated providers immediately, key your postal code within the quote box here.
Erie, PA is the 3rd largest metropolitan area within the state and aptly named for its location along the southern and eastern shore of Lake Erie. Because Erie happens to be the only Pennsylvania city with access to a lake port, shipping and manufacturing has been an essential industry since its founding. To this day, its strong economy makes Erie an attractive town for new residents and private business.
- Fun fact: Sounds a bit creaky in here…because Erie is #28 on the list of “Top 100 cities with oldest houses (pop. 50,000+)”. Learn more about Erie.
Coverage Requirements - Auto Insurance in Pennsylvania
Driving legally in Erie requires:
| Coverage | Requirements | Most Common |
| Liability Bodily Injury | 15,000/30,000 | 100,000/300,000 |
| Liability Property Damage | 5,000 | 50,000 |
| Bodily Injury - Motorist Uninsured | Not required | 100,000/300,000 |
| Medical Payments | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Collision | Not required | 500 deductible |
| Comprehensive | Not required | 100 deductible |
Don’t be put off by the fact that Medical Payments coverage is required in Pennsylvania. After all, if you or someone else does get hurt in the accident you’re involved in, having that extra amount of coverage can really help with any medical bills.
In most parts of Pennsylvania, the average monthly rate to stay insured can be as high as $120 or more, depending on where you live. Thankfully, Erie drivers can lower that down to around $40/mo* or less – if they know how and where to look.
Between Allied, Cal Casualty, and State Auto, the average driver will be hard-pressed to find a cheaper deal. However, keep in mind that motorists who fall under special circumstances, such as a poor credit score or a student driver, might not find the best deals with a major, mainstream company.
Pennsylvania auto insurance providers contemplate various attributes when calculating insurance rates, especially marital status, accident claims, occupation, years of driving experience, and multiple cars and drivers. Also, don’t forget that premiums could vary from provider to provider. To make sure you’re still receiving the most affordable price, examine cheap Erie auto insurance quotes on the web.
Most Auto Insurance Facts to know in Erie
At the time your car insurance provider prepares to craft your policy, they take lots of variables into account. Some, such as your age or perhaps your exact address, can be improbable to vary. A few additional aspects are:
- Your Zip Code
Cheap car insurance is usually present in metropolitan areas with a smaller population density. Because there are a lesser number of vehicles cruising the road, there are fewer possibilities to get into a significant wreck with another motorist. The populace of Erie is 100,671 plus the general household income is $32,508.
- Automobile Accidents
If your particular zip code experiences a high rate of significant accidents each year, your provider might automatically raise rates to offset the future cost of expensive claims. The statistics for Erie are displayed below. Talk to your agent about Safe Driver discounts which you might qualify for to help lower your monthly rate.
- Car Thieving in Erie
Obtaining inexpensive auto insurance can be hard if you are vulnerable to auto theft. Specific trendy car or truck models usually are popular with thieves, as well as cars or trucks which might be parked frequently in big urban centers. The full amount of thieved cars in 2013 was only 98 for the city of Erie. If you don’t think you’re at risk for auto theft, altering your Comprehensive deductible could help you save on monthly premiums.
- Your Credit Score
Your credit score plays a significant role in what you get charged monthly for your vehicle insurance. As this chart clearly demonstrates, having a poor credit score can almost double – or even triple – what you pay each month to remain insured (unless you get rejected by a provider like State Auto).
- Your Age
Statistically speaking, young and inexperienced drivers are the most likely to get into an accident. That’s why older drivers get charged lower monthly rates – because the insurance company is not taking on a huge financial risk by insuring them. If you are a young teenage driver, try looking into good student discounts, as well as Drivers Ed and defensive driving courses.
- Your Driving Record
The more tickets, citations, and violations you have on your driving record, the higher your monthly premiums will be. Furthermore, if you have some significant mistakes on your record, such as a DUI, your insurance company may refuse to cover you at all. Some companies may be willing to forgive a minor ticket or two if you qualify for “Accident Forgiveness” discounts, though.
- Your Vehicle
As this chart shows, there is a significant difference between insuring a regular sedan and a fancy sports car. A good chunk of that price increase comes from the fact that a luxury automobile will require more than just basic insurance coverage.
Minor Car Insurance elements in Erie
Just because these elements might not have a huge influence on your rate, doesn’t mean they should be ignored:
- Your Marital Status
When it comes to discounts associated with your marital status, most companies have very different opinions on whether married or single people should pay more. But one advantage that married couples have is bundling discounts. If you bundle your insurance policy with that of your spouse, or your homeowner’s insurance, you can get some pretty substantial discounts.
- Your Gender
Our analysis of the data shows no significant difference in monthly premiums between male and female drivers. Some companies might charge women more, while others might charge men a higher rate. But even for companies who charge different prices, it usually varies by no more than 2-3%.
- Your Driving Distance to Work
Typical commutes to and from work are shorter than in most cities: the average citizen in Erie can expect to spend between 16 to 24 minutes behind the wheel each way, although commutes as long as 20 minutes are most common. A little over 74% of motorists will use their own vehicle in order to travel to work alone, while another 4-23% will ask a co-worker to carpool with them. Less than 5% walk.
Some companies pay lip service to your purpose for driving, as well as the miles you drive each year. However, when you analyze the data, most of these elements barely make a dent in your monthly premium – for example, there may be no more than a 4% difference between driving fewer miles for work and tens of thousands of miles for pleasure each year. However, business vehicles tend to have about 10-15% higher premiums than regular vehicles.
- Your Coverage and Deductibles
Naturally, the more insurance coverage you purchase, the higher your monthly premiums will be. However, you can purchase the coverage you need and keep your monthly rate relatively low by raising your deductible. Yes, you will have higher out-of-pocket expenses in the event of a claim, but you will have lower monthly premiums as a result.
- Education in Erie, PA
More than 41% of the Erie population has successfully graduated from high school or earned an equivalent diploma. Another 20% has yet to go through all four years of their high school education. Speaking of school, though, did you know that having a higher degree will earn you lower prices on auto insurance rates? It’s true!
There are four full-time universities which offer bachelor’s degrees and higher located within Erie. Those are Gannon University, the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Penn State Erie, and Mercyhurst College. Additionally, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine is one of the most prestigious medical schools in the area. For a more specialized degree in half the time, students often flock to the Erie Business Center or the Northwestern Pennsylvania Technical Institute.
Obtaining reasonably priced auto insurance can certainly become a problem. There’s lots of information you need to contemplate, and figuring out exactly how insurance companies evaluate your possible risk may well be complicated. But try not to allow the wrong insurance company to convince you to purchase an expensive policy. Discover the things that insurance providers don’t wish for people to find out.
How We Conducted Our Car Insurance Analysis
Sources:
Pennsylvania Insurance Department
The Philadelphia Courts – Office of Financial Services
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
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