What is the Average Cost of Car Insurance in Mobile?
Mobile is a mid-sized city in the United States, with a population of nearly 189,000 as of 2019. The population in Mobile actually declined between 2010 and 2019, with the population decreasing 3.1% compared to the national average of 6.3% growth over the same period. The percentage of people between the ages of 18-65, the typical age range for the majority of drivers, is 62%, with about 57% of the population above age 16 in the labor force between 2014-2018.
The mean travel time to work was 22.4 minutes between 2014-2018. This is solid considering the national average is closer to 27 minutes. In 2019, Mobile had 1,084 total cases of reported vehicle theft, averaging out to 441.6 cases per 100,000 people, which is much higher than the Alabama average of 256.5 and the national average of 219.9. While the shorter commute might help lower insurance, the high rate of theft moves costs in the other direction because of increased risks for the insurance companies.
What is Required for Mobile Drivers?
According to the Alabama Department of Motor Vehicles, the minimum auto insurance requirements in the state include a commonly stated 25/50/25 policy. This translates to $25,000 of coverage in bodily injury liability limit per person, a $50,000 maximum paid for all bodily damages caused per accident, and a $25,000 maximum for property damage caused in each accident. In cases where a driver is involved in an automobile accident and the other party was at fault, but the driver’s own insurance company does not want to pursue costs for the policy holder’s deductible or loss of use on the policy holder’s behalf, the state recommends that the driver file a claim in small claims court or by calling the at-fault party’s insurance policy.
Typically, it’s not recommended that drivers purchase only the minimum required for car insurance in Alabama, which will not be enough to cover the costs in a more severe accident. In particular, the $25,000 property damage maximum for the minimum required policy will be unlikely to cover the costs of totaling an expensive car. Additionally, the $25,000 bodily injury liability per person limit may not be enough to cover medical expenses and other compensation in the advent of a severe accident causing debilitation or death.
Most Expensive and Least Expensive Insurance Rates by Zip Code
Cheap Car Insurance in Mobile by Insurer
Many companies provide affordable car insurance in Alabama. When choosing a car insurance company, it’s important to consider more than just the costs of the minimum coverage plan and instead choose a plan that best suits your financial and personal goals. Also, be sure to check out each company’s customer service ratings in your location to ensure that you are choosing the best company for your needs.
Low Cost Auto Insurance for Bad Credit in Mobile
Drivers with bad credit will still be able to purchase relatively affordable auto insurance in Alabama. It’s important to shop around and get quotes from multiple insurance companies before purchasing a policy, as the cheapest plan may not necessarily be the best one for you.
Learn more on finding low cost car insurance rates with poor credit.
Full Coverage Vs. Liability, Which is Best For You?
What is Liability-Only?
Liability insurance will pay for the injuries and/or damages that you cause to others in the case of a collision where you were at fault. In most cases, liability insurance will cost less than full-coverage insurance, but then again, they are both very different in what they cover. Liability is mandatory in all U.S. states, although how much liability you are required to have differs between states. Even if it wasn’t mandatory to have liability insurance, accidents can happen anytime and, if they do, you will need to be able to pay for the damages that you cause if you were the one to blame.
Full Coverage Auto Insurance
Full coverage auto insurance in Arizona pays for your injuries and the damages made to your car as well as for others and isn’t just a specific type of a policy but it is instead liability, comprehensive insurance, and collision all combined. Full coverage insurance is not mandatory, but is good to have since it will help pay for your car to be fixed in the event of an accident that causes you injury or damage to your car, even if you were at fault. If the other person that collided with you was at fault, then their insurance will cover the damages to your car and your injuries. This is why there are laws requiring everyone to have insurance to cover the damages they cause.
Key Differences Between Full Coverage and Liability Only
The main difference between liability and full coverage insurance is that full coverage will cost more than liability insurance and this is because it protects you against many more possible risks that liability doesn’t cover.
In addition, liability insurance only covers other people’s injury claims and damages to other vehicles where full coverage will cover other’s injuries and vehicle damages as well as your injuries and damage to your own vehicle.
Average Annual Car Insurance Rates in Alabama by City
Ways to Obtain a Lower Cost Auto Insurance Policy
There are many ways that you can save on auto insurance in Mobile:
Of course, the best way to keep your auto insurance rates down is to drive safely and avoid accidents. The better your driving record, the lower your rates. However, there are also other ways to lower your rates.
Shop Around for the Best Price
Prices can vary significantly between insurance agencies so you will need to get a quote from each one. To prevent having to go to each site and put all your information in dozens of times, there are some sites where you can compare the rates of several agencies at once that you should take advantage of.
Bundle with other insurance plans
Most insurance agencies offer you a chance to bundle and get many of your insurance needs from one place; such as renters’ insurance, homeowners’ insurance, auto insurance, and more. You can also save when insuring more than one vehicle.
Reduce the Number of Miles you drive
Reducing the number of miles you drive will reduce your risk for accidents and therefore, your insurance rates. Besides that, it could do your body and your health good to walk sometimes.
Check the Insurance Costs for a Car Before Buying it
Before you buy a car, it is important that you check insurance costs first, as some car types can raise your insurance rates much more than others. Some of the things your premiums may be based on include the cars overall safety record, costs of parts and repairs, the price of the car, and theft likelihood.
Increase your Deductibles
The higher the price of the deductibles the less your rates will be. For example, if you were to increase your deductible from $200 to $500 it would reduce your comprehensive coverage and collision rates by 15-30%.
Watch your Credit Score
Did you know that many people check their credit report only to find several mistakes that can be fixed? Check your credit report often, because the higher your credit score the lower your insurance rates will be.
Check out this guide to learn about insurance premium discounts you may qualify for.
What are the Factors that Affect Your Mobile Car Insurance Premiums
Your car insurance rates can change over time. One of the most reliable factors that will impact your premiums is your age. The older you are, the lower your insurance premiums should be. You may also find your rates vary depending on the car you drive. Sports cars or jeeps may incur higher premiums, while SUVs and sedans are cheaper to insure.
Rates are also impacted by your gender and age, though young women will have lower rates than their same-aged male friends. Actuarial tables show that young drivers are more prone to speeding, alcohol infractions, and accidents than older people, as are young males rather than females.
You can also reduce your regular premium payments by opting for a higher deductible on your collision and comprehensive coverage packages. You can also opt to pay your premium in a larger, single payment every six months rather than spreading the premium out over monthly payments.
Use this guide to compare top insurance company rates if you have a bad driving record.
Check Out Car Insurance Companies in Mobile and Reviews
Helpful Mobile, Alabama Vehicle Resources:
Live Traffic and Accidents
https://www.wkrg.com/traffic/
DMV (Find Locations, Vehicle Registration, Titles and Insurance Info)
https://www.mobilecountylc.com/