Car Insurance Rates for an Audi A4 in Portland

Smart shoppers know that auto insurance companies don’t want you shop around. Consumers who get price quotes annually will probably buy a new policy because there is a great chance of getting low-cost coverage. A recent auto insurance study revealed that consumers who compared rates once a year saved as much as $3,500 over four years as compared to drivers who don’t make a habit of comparing rates.

If finding the lowest price on Audi A4 insurance is your ultimate goal, then knowing how to find companies and compare insurance can make it easier to shop your coverage around.

If you want to save money, the best way to get the cheapest car insurance rates is to start doing an annual price comparison from companies in Portland.

• First, try to understand how companies price auto insurance and the modifications you can make to prevent expensive coverage. Many policy risk factors that are responsible for high rates like traffic violations, accidents, and poor credit can be eliminated by making minor driving habit or lifestyle changes. Later in this article we will cover more ideas to help prevent expensive coverage and get discounts that may be available to you.
• Second, request price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Direct and exclusive agents can give quotes from a single company like GEICO or Farmers Insurance, while independent agents can quote rates from multiple insurance companies.
• Third, compare the price quotes to your existing policy to see if a cheaper price is available. If you find a lower rate quote, make sure the effective date of the new policy is the same as the expiration date of the old one.
• Fourth, provide written notification to your current company to cancel your current policy and submit a completed application and payment to the newly selected company. Once coverage is bound, keep your new proof of insurance paperwork somewhere easily accessible.

One important bit of advice is to make sure you’re comparing similar coverage information on each quote and and to look at as many carriers as you can. Doing this ensures a fair price comparison and a complete rate analysis.

The most recommended method to compare policy rates for Audi A4 insurance in Portland is to know all the major auto insurance companies pay for the opportunity to provide you with a free rate quote. The one thing you need to do is provide the companies a bit of rating information such as whether you are married, types of safety features, coverage limits, and your occupation. That rating information is instantly sent to many of the top insurers and you receive quotes almost instantly.

To compare rates for your car now, click here then complete the form.

The companies in the list below are ready to provide quotes in Oregon. If your goal is to find the best auto insurance in Oregon, we recommend you visit as many as you can to get the most competitive price.

Check for these ten discounts on Audi A4 insurance in Portland

Car insurance is not cheap, but you may find discounts that you may not even be aware of. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of quoting, but occasionally some discounts must be inquired about prior to getting the savings.

• Early Switch Discount – A few larger companies give discounts for switching to them before your current expiration date. The savings is around 10%.
• Anti-lock Brake Discount – Cars, trucks, and SUVs with ABS and/or traction control can stop better under adverse conditions so you can save 10 percent or more.
• New Vehicle Savings – Buying a new car instead of a used A4 can save you some money compared to insuring an older model.
• Life Insurance Discount – Some insurance carriers give a discounted insurance rate on car insurance if you buy auto and life insurance together.
• Theft Prevention Discount – Cars and trucks equipped with tracking devices and advanced anti-theft systems help deter theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
• Bundled Policy Discount – If you combine your homeowners and auto policies with one company you could get a discount of 10% to 20% off each policy.
• Onboard Data Collection – Drivers that enable their company to scrutinize driving habits by using a telematics device like Allstate’s Drivewise may get a rate reduction as long as the data is positive.
• Military Deployment Discount – Being deployed with a military unit could mean lower prices.
• More Vehicles More Savings – Insuring multiple cars with the same insurance company can reduce rates for all insured vehicles.
• Discounts for Cautious Drivers – Insureds without accidents could pay up to 40% less compared to accident prone drivers.

Drivers should understand that most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. Even though the math looks like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won’t be that lucky.

The chart below shows the difference between Audi A4 car insurance rates with and without policy discounts. The premium estimates are based on a female driver, a clean driving record, no claims, Oregon state minimum liability limits, full physical damage coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, multi-car, marriage, and safe-driver discounts applied.

A few of the larger companies and their possible discounts include:

• GEICO may include discounts for five-year accident-free, good student, air bags, driver training, and seat belt use.
• Mercury Insurance has savings for anti-theft, location of vehicle, annual mileage, ease of repair, professional/association, accident-free, and good driver.
• Farmers Insurance discounts include homeowner, multi-car, electronic funds transfer, early shopping, and teen driver.
• Auto-Owners Insurance has discounts for teen driver, good student, anti-lock brakes, mature driver, and multi-policy.
• Liberty Mutual offers premium reductions for safety features, new move discount, newly retired, multi-policy, exclusive group savings, and hybrid vehicle.
• SAFECO offers discounts for anti-lock brakes, accident prevention training, homeowner, anti-theft, teen safe driver, multi-car, and bundle discounts.
• Progressive includes discounts for multi-vehicle, continuous coverage, good student, online signing, multi-policy, homeowner, and online quote discount.
• USAA policyholders can earn discounts including loyalty savings, good student, multi-vehicle, new vehicle, driver training, and military installation.

Before you buy a policy, ask each company or agent what discounts are available to you. Depending on the company, some discounts may not be available in Portland. To choose insurance companies that have a full spectrum of discounts in Portland, click here to view.

Statistics and details

The information shown next outlines detailed analysis of insurance costs for Audi A4 models. Having a good understanding how rate quotes are formulated can aid in making decisions on which insurance to purchase.

Table data assumes married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Oregon minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-vehicle. Price information does not factor in your specific Portland location which can increase or decrease price quotes considerably.

Physical damage deductibles: Should you raise them?

One common question asked by Portland drivers is how high should the physical damage coverage deductibles be. The rates shown below highlight the rate difference between low and high policy deductibles. The first set of prices uses a $250 deductible for physical damage and the second price chart uses a $1,000 deductible.

Above prices assume married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Oregon minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and multi-policy. Rate quotes do not factor in Portland location which can revise rates noticeably.

We can estimate from the data above that using a $250 deductible will cost you roughly $29 more each month or $348 for a full year than selecting the higher $1,000 deductible. Because you would pay $750 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you tend to have more than 26 months between claims, you would probably be better off if you opt for a higher deductible. The table below shows how you can perform this determination yourself.

The diagram below demonstrates how deductibles and can raise or lower Audi A4 insurance costs for each age group. The rates are based on a single female driver, comp and collision included, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Irresponsible driving raises your rates

The diagram below shows how traffic citations and fender-benders raise Audi A4 car insurance costs for each age group. The rates are based on a single male driver, full physical damage coverage, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

Annual premiums comparing men and women

The example below shows the difference between Audi A4 auto insurance costs for male and female drivers. The prices are based on no tickets, no at-fault accidents, comprehensive and collision coverage, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no discounts are factored in.

Should you buy full coverage?

The chart below shows the difference between Audi A4 car insurance costs with and without physical damage coverage. The prices are based on no claims or driving violations, $500 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

When to stop buying comprehensive and collision coverage

There is no set guideline for eliminating comp and collision coverage, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.

For example, let’s assume your Audi A4 claim settlement value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most your company would pay you is $5,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If you are currently paying more than $500 a year for full coverage, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.

There are some situations where dropping physical damage coverage is not a good plan. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you are required to maintain full coverage to protect the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle. Also, if your emergency fund is not enough to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should not opt for liability only.

Car insurance agents can find coverage gaps

A small number of people still like to get advice from a local agent and that is a smart decision Experienced insurance agents will help you protect your assets and give you someone to call. The best thing about comparing rates online is that you can obtain cheap auto insurance rates and still choose a local agent. And buying from local agents is important especially in Portland.

By using this short form, the quote information is emailed to local insurance agents who will give competitive quotes and help you find cheaper coverage. It’s much easier because you don’t need to leave your computer since price quotes are sent directly to you. In the event you want to quote rates from a specific auto insurance provider, you just need to go to their quote page and submit a quote form there.

Two types of auto insurance agents

If you are wanting to purchase auto insurance from a reputable insurance agent or broker, it’s helpful to know the types of agencies and how they can service your needs differently. Auto insurance agents in Portland can either be exclusive agents or independent agents. Either can do a good job, but it’s important to know the subtle differences since it can impact your agent selection.

Independent Auto Insurance Agents

These agents are not restricted to one company and that allows them to write policies with a variety of different insurance companies and possibly get better coverage at lower prices. If your premiums go up, they simply move your policy to a different company and you don’t have to find a new agent. When comparing auto insurance prices, it’s recommended you get quotes from at least one independent agent for maximum quote selection. They often place coverage with additional companies that you may not be familiar with which could offer lower prices.

Featured below is a small list of independent agencies in Portland that can give you pricing information.

• Chet Hill Insurance
  10402 NE Sandy Blvd – Portland, OR 97220 – (503) 256-2020 – View Map
• Hecht and Hecht Insurance Agency Inc.
  425 NE Hancock St – Portland, OR 97212 – (503) 542-1130 – View Map
• Chamberlain Insurance
  7831 SE Stark St #102 – Portland, OR 97215 – (503) 256-1448 – View Map

View more Portland agents

Exclusive Agencies

Agents that elect to be exclusive generally can only insure with one company like Farmers Insurance, State Farm, Allstate, and AAA. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so they have no alternatives for high prices. Exclusive agencies receive a lot of sales training on their company’s products and that allows them to sell at a higher price point. Many people buy from exclusive agents mainly due to the prominent brand name rather than having the cheapest rates.

Listed below are exclusive insurance agents in Portland that can give you rate quotes.

• Bill Northfield – State Farm Insurance Agent
  5915 SE 43rd Ave – Portland, OR 97206 – (503) 775-8202 – View Map
• Mark Nguyen – State Farm Insurance Agent
  14146 SE Stark St – Portland, OR 97233 – (503) 253-2110 – View Map
• John Freeman – State Farm Insurance Agent
  8519 SE Woodstock Blvd – Portland, OR 97266 – (503) 228-1311 – View Map

View more Portland agents

Choosing an insurance agency requires more thought than just a low price. Before buying a policy in Portland, get answers to these questions.

• Will they make sure you get an adequate claim settlement?
• Which family members are covered?
• Does the company have a local claim office in Portland?
• Do they specialize in personal lines auto insurance in Portland?
• What company holds the largest book of business for them?
• Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
• Do you qualify for any additional discounts?

After you get reasonable responses to all your questions as well as a affordable price, you’ve probably found an insurance agent that is a good match to adequately provide auto insurance. Just keep in mind consumers can cancel your policy whenever you want so don’t feel you are locked into a specific company for the full term.

What is the best auto insurance company in Portland?

Selecting the top car insurance company can be challenging considering how many different companies insure vehicles in Portland. The ranking data below could help you select which car insurance companies to look at purchasing a policy from.

Top 10 Portland Car Insurance Companies Overall

1. USAA
2. American Family
3. State Farm
4. The Hartford
5. AAA Insurance
6. GEICO
7. The General
8. Titan Insurance
9. Progressive
10. Mercury Insurance

Top 10 Portland Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Service

1. GEICO
2. State Farm
3. The Hartford
4. Mercury Insurance
5. The General
6. Progressive
7. Allstate
8. AAA Insurance
9. American Family
10. Nationwide

Car insurance specifics

Learning about specific coverages of a car insurance policy helps when choosing appropriate coverage and proper limits and deductibles. The terms used in a policy can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement.

Collision coverage

This covers damage to your A4 resulting from a collision with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision coverage pays for claims like colliding with a tree, backing into a parked car, crashing into a building and rolling your car. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. You can also bump up the deductible on your A4 in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision

This pays for damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You need to pay your deductible first then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage protects against things like fire damage, hitting a bird and hail damage. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much consider dropping full coverage.

UM/UIM Coverage

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants and also any damage incurred to your Audi A4.

Because many people carry very low liability coverage limits (25/50/20), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is a good idea. Usually your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Medical costs insurance

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage reimburse you for immediate expenses for doctor visits, EMT expenses, chiropractic care, ambulance fees and surgery. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. It covers all vehicle occupants as well as if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is only offered in select states and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

Liability

This coverage provides protection from damage that occurs to other’s property or people by causing an accident. Liability coverage has three limits: bodily injury for each person, bodily injury for the entire accident, and a limit for property damage. You commonly see liability limits of 25/50/20 which stand for $25,000 bodily injury coverage, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $20,000 paid for damaged property. Some companies may use a combined limit which limits claims to one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability coverage protects against claims such as court costs, loss of income, medical expenses, funeral expenses and medical services. How much coverage you buy is up to you, but you should buy as high a limit as you can afford. Oregon state law requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/20 but you should think about purchasing more liability than the minimum.

The illustration below demonstrates why low liability limits may not provide adequate coverage.

More comparisons equals cheaper rates

Cheaper car insurance in Portland can be found on the web and also from your neighborhood Portland agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best selection. Some companies may not have price quotes online and these smaller providers work with independent agents.

As you restructure your insurance plan, you should never sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many instances, drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to find out that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best cost while still protecting your assets.

Drivers change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as an unsatisfactory settlement offer, poor customer service, not issuing a premium refund or even delays in paying claims. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding the right car insurance provider can be less work than you think.

Additional information can be read at these links:

• Auto Insurance 101 (About.com)
• Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers with a DUI in Portland? (FAQ)
• How Much is Auto Insurance for Immigrants in Portland? (FAQ)
• What Insurance is Cheapest for a Honda Civic in Portland? (FAQ)
• Older Driver Statistics (Insurance Information Institute)
• Choosing an Insurance Company (Insurance Information Institute)
• Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)