We don’t have to point out that fact that auto insurance companies don’t want policyholders to shop around. Insureds who shop rates annually are inclined to move their business because of the high probability of finding a lower-cost company. A study showed that drivers who make a habit of shopping around saved about $70 a month compared to drivers who never compared rates.
If finding budget-friendly rates on Hyundai Sonata insurance is your objective, then understanding the best ways to shop for cheaper coverage can save time and money.
If you want to find the absolute lowest rates, then the best way to save money on Hyundai Sonata insurance in Baltimore is to make a habit of regularly comparing prices from insurers in Maryland. This can be done by completing these steps.
- Read and learn about the coverage provided by your policy and the measures you can take to prevent rate increases. Many things that result in higher rates such as accidents, careless driving, and a not-so-good credit rating can be improved by paying attention to minor details.
- Compare prices from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies. Exclusive and direct companies can give quotes from a single company like GEICO and Allstate, while independent agents can provide prices from many different companies.
- Compare the quotes to your existing coverage to see if a cheaper rate is available in Baltimore. If you find a better price and decide to switch, make sure there is no lapse in coverage.
One bit of advice is to compare the same liability limits and deductibles on every quote and and to analyze as many carriers as you can. Doing this guarantees a level playing field and a complete selection of prices.
If you’re already insured or need new coverage, you will benefit by learning to reduce the price you pay without reducing coverage. Choosing the most cost-effective car insurance policy in Baltimore can be much easier if you know how to start. Smart shoppers just have to use the best way to compare company rates instantly.
Finding a lower price on insurance is surprisingly easy. All you need to do is take time getting comparison quotes from different insurance companies.
Getting quotes online is very simple and it replaces the need to call or drive to each insurance agency near you. Doing it all online reduces the need to sit down with an agent unless you’re the type of person who wants the professional abilities that you can only get from talking to an agent. If you prefer, some companies allow you to price shop online and still use a local agent.
The companies shown below are ready to provide comparison quotes in Maryland. To buy the best cheap auto insurance in Baltimore, MD, we suggest you visit several of them in order to find the cheapest rates.
Auto insurance discounts help lower rates for Hyundai Sonata insurance in Baltimore
Companies don’t list all discounts very well, so the following list contains a few of the more common and also the more inconspicuous savings tricks you should be using when you buy Baltimore car insurance online.
- Student Driver Training – Require your teen driver to take driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
- E-sign – Certain larger companies will provide an incentive for completing your application over the internet.
- Sign Early and Save – Select insurance companies give a discount for switching to them early. This discount can save up to 10%.
- Anti-lock Brakes – Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles have fewer accidents so you can save 10 percent or more.
- Telematics Data Discounts – Insureds who allow companies to monitor vehicle usage through the use of a telematics system such as Snapshot from Progressive or Drivewise from Allstate could see a rate decrease as long as they are good drivers.
- Smart Student Discounts – A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. Most companies allow this discount well after school through age 25.
Consumers should know that some credits don’t apply to all coverage premiums. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. If you do the math and it seems like you could get a free auto insurance policy, it just doesn’t work that way.
The illustration below illustrates the difference between Hyundai Sonata auto insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The costs are based on a female driver, no claims or violations, Maryland state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $100 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, multi-car, safe-driver, multi-policy, claim-free, and homeowner discounts applied.
A list of companies and some of their more popular discounts are:
- Progressive discounts include good student, continuous coverage, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and online quote discount.
- The Hartford policyholders can earn discounts including vehicle fuel type, air bag, bundle, good student, defensive driver, and driver training.
- Mercury Insurance has savings for low natural disaster claims, good student, age of vehicle, accident-free, annual mileage, and anti-theft.
- GEICO may offer discounts for military active duty, five-year accident-free, membership and employees, air bags, anti-lock brakes, multi-policy, and daytime running lights.
- AAA may include discounts for multi-policy, multi-car, education and occupation, pay-in-full, and good student.
- State Farm offers discounts including defensive driving training, multiple autos, student away at school, Drive Safe & Save, and anti-theft.
If you need lower rates, check with each company or agent which discounts can lower your rates. Some credits might not be offered in Baltimore.
Insurance rate breakdown
The premium information displayed below covers different insurance coverage prices for Hyundai Sonata models. Being aware of how auto insurance policy rates are formulated can be valuable when making smart choices when comparing insurance rates.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $250 | $490 | $556 | $32 | $166 | $1,494 | $125 |
| Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $250 | $490 | $556 | $32 | $166 | $1,494 | $125 |
| Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $250 | $490 | $556 | $32 | $166 | $1,494 | $125 |
| Sonata SE 4-Dr Sedan | $250 | $578 | $556 | $32 | $166 | $1,582 | $132 |
| Sonata SE 4-Dr Sedan | $250 | $578 | $556 | $32 | $166 | $1,582 | $132 |
| Sonata Limited 4-Dr Sedan | $282 | $578 | $556 | $32 | $166 | $1,614 | $135 |
| Sonata Limited 4-Dr Sedan | $282 | $578 | $556 | $32 | $166 | $1,614 | $135 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Above prices assume single male driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Maryland minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, safe-driver, multi-vehicle, and claim-free. Rate information does not factor in zip code location which can influence insurance rates greatly.
Higher deductibles save money
One of the most common car insurance questions is how high should your deductibles be. The data tables below approximate the differences in price of buying low and high insurance deductibles. The first data set uses a $250 deductible for physical damage and the second price grid uses a $1,000 deductible.
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $314 | $528 | $458 | $28 | $138 | $1,491 | $124 |
| Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $314 | $528 | $458 | $28 | $138 | $1,491 | $124 |
| Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $314 | $528 | $458 | $28 | $138 | $1,491 | $124 |
| Sonata SE 4-Dr Sedan | $314 | $624 | $458 | $28 | $138 | $1,587 | $132 |
| Sonata SE 4-Dr Sedan | $314 | $624 | $458 | $28 | $138 | $1,587 | $132 |
| Sonata Limited 4-Dr Sedan | $354 | $624 | $458 | $28 | $138 | $1,627 | $136 |
| Sonata Limited 4-Dr Sedan | $354 | $624 | $458 | $28 | $138 | $1,627 | $136 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
| Model | Comp | Collision | Liability | Medical | UM/UIM | Annual Premium | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $194 | $332 | $458 | $28 | $138 | $1,150 | $96 |
| Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $194 | $332 | $458 | $28 | $138 | $1,150 | $96 |
| Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $194 | $332 | $458 | $28 | $138 | $1,150 | $96 |
| Sonata SE 4-Dr Sedan | $194 | $392 | $458 | $28 | $138 | $1,210 | $101 |
| Sonata SE 4-Dr Sedan | $194 | $392 | $458 | $28 | $138 | $1,210 | $101 |
| Sonata Limited 4-Dr Sedan | $218 | $392 | $458 | $28 | $138 | $1,234 | $103 |
| Sonata Limited 4-Dr Sedan | $218 | $392 | $458 | $28 | $138 | $1,234 | $103 |
| Get Your Own Custom Quote Go | |||||||
Premium data assumes married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Maryland minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, claim-free, homeowner, safe-driver, and multi-policy. Rates do not factor in specific location information which can alter premium rates considerably.
We can derive from the above data that using a $250 deductible costs roughly $31 more each month or $372 each year than quoting the higher $1,000 deductible. Since you would have to pay $750 more out-of-pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $250 deductible, if you have at a minimum 24 months between claims, you would save more money if you elect the higher deductible.
The information below demonstrates how deductible levels and can raise or lower Hyundai Sonata insurance prices for each age group. Data assumes a single male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are factored in.
Full coverage versus liability only rates
The information below compares Hyundai Sonata insurance costs when comparing full coverage to state minimum liability only. The premiums assume no driving violations, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, single status, and no policy discounts are applied.
When to stop buying comprehensive and collision coverage
There is no clear-cut rule of when to eliminate comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is about 10% or more of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then you might consider buying liability only.
For example, let’s say your Hyundai Sonata claim settlement value is $9,000 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most you would get paid by your company is $8,000 after paying your deductible. If premiums are more than $800 a year for physical damage coverage, then you might consider buying liability only.
There are some circumstances where removing full coverage is not a good idea. If you still owe money on your vehicle, you have to keep full coverage in order to keep the loan. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should not eliminate full coverage.
How do Insurance Companies Determine Hyundai Sonata Insurance Premiums?
A large part of saving on insurance is knowing the factors that go into determining the rates you pay for insurance. When you understand what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this enables informed choices that will entitle you to big savings. Lots of things are part of the calculation when pricing auto insurance. Most are fairly basic like an MVR report, but others are not quite as obvious like your continuous coverage and annual miles driven.
- Never go without insurance – Not having insurance can get your license suspended and insurance companies will penalize you for letting your insurance coverage expire. And not only will your rates increase, not being able to provide proof of insurance will get you a steep fine or even jail time. You will then be forced to file a SR-22 with the Maryland motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
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Accidents drive up prices – Drivers who don’t get tickets get better prices compared to drivers with tickets. Having just one moving violation can increase rates twenty percent or more. Drivers who have received multiple violations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may find they need to file a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
The information below illustrates how traffic citations and fender-benders can increase Hyundai Sonata insurance costs for each different age group. The prices are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
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Youthful driver insurance rates – Beginning drivers in Maryland have a tendency to get distracted easily when driving with friends and because of this, their insurance rates are much higher. Parents adding a young driver onto your insurance can cause a big jump in price. Mature drivers have been proven to be more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents, and are safer drivers.
The chart below uses these assumptions: single driver, full coverage with $1000 deductibles, and no discounts or violations.
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Your gender affects rates – Over the last 30 years, statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, this does not mean males are worse at driving than females. Both sexes tend to get into auto accidents at a similar rate, but men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also get higher numbers of serious violations like DUI and reckless driving.
The illustration below illustrates the comparison of Hyundai Sonata auto insurance costs for male and female drivers. The data is based on no accidents, no driving violations, comprehensive and collision coverage, $250 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are applied.
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Hyundai Sonata claim data – Insurance companies analyze historical claim data to help determine costs. Models that the data shows to have higher loss trends will have higher rates. The table shown below demonstrates the historical loss data for Hyundai Sonata vehicles.
For each policy coverage, the claim amount for all vehicles, as a total average, equals 100. Values that are below 100 mean the vehicle has better than average losses, while percentages above 100 indicate frequent claims or a tendency for losses to be larger than average.
Hyundai Sonata Insurance Loss Statistics Vehicle Model Collision Property Damage Comp Personal Injury Medical Payment Bodily Injury Hyundai Sonata 129 88 101 138 149 110 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 142 116 119 124 138 121 BETTERAVERAGEWORSEStatistics from IIHS.org for 2013-2015 Model Years
Independent versus exclusive car insurance agents
Certain consumers just want to talk to a local agent and that can be a great decision Professional agents are very good at helping people manage risk and help you file claims. A good thing about getting online price quotes is you may find lower car insurance rates but also keep your business local. Buying from local insurance agencies is definitely important in Baltimore.
After filling out this simple form, your information is submitted to companies in Baltimore who will give competitive quotes for your business. You never need to contact any agents because prices are sent to the email address you provide. If you wish to compare prices from a specific insurance company, just navigate to their website and fill out the quote form the provide.
When narrowing the list to find a local agent, you need to know there are two different agency structures and how they operate. Agents in Baltimore are classified as either exclusive or independent agents depending on their company appointments. Both types can handle insurance, but we need to point out the subtle differences because it may have an impact on buying decisions.
Independent Insurance Agencies or Brokers
Agents that choose to be independent can sell policies from many different companies so as a result can place your coverage with any number of different companies and find you cheaper rates. If they find a lower price, they can switch companies in-house which makes it simple for you.
If you are comparing rate quotes, you need to compare prices from at least one independent agent for maximum quote selection.
Featured below is a partial list of independent agencies in Baltimore who may be able to give you free insurance rate quotes.
Kirby Insurance Agency, Inc.
14 W Saratoga St #100 – Baltimore, MD 21201 – (410) 837-2320 – View Map
Baltimore Insurance Network
11 E Lexington St – Baltimore, MD 21202 – (443) 869-6424 – View Map
Hill Point Insurance LLC
1400 S Charles St – Baltimore, MD 21230 – (410) 779-9272 – View Map
Exclusive Insurance Agencies
These type of agents have only one company to place business with and examples are AAA, Allstate, and State Farm. They generally cannot shop your coverage around so always compare other rates. Exclusive agencies are very knowledgeable on what they offer which helps them compete with independent agents.
Below are Baltimore exclusive insurance agents who can help you get price quote information.
Allstate Insurance: Donald White
733 W 40th St #311 – Baltimore, MD 21211 – (410) 467-9600 – View Map
Cyndi Kuhn – State Farm Insurance Agent
6100 Eastern Ave – Baltimore, MD 21224 – (410) 633-5000 – View Map
Scott Garvey – State Farm Insurance Agent
211 Key Hwy – Baltimore, MD 21230 – (667) 309-3792 – View Map
Picking an insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a cheap price. These are some questions you should get answers to.
- Do they prorate repair cost based on vehicle mileage?
- If you are a high risk driver, do they have special markets for your coverage?
- Is there a Errors and Omissions policy in force?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
- Are they full-time agents?
- Does the company use OEM repair parts?
How to find a good Maryland car insurance company
Insuring your vehicle with the highest-rated car insurance provider is difficult considering how many companies sell insurance in Baltimore. The company rank data displayed below may help you decide which car insurance companies you want to consider putting your business with.
Top 10 Baltimore Car Insurance Companies by A.M. Best Rank
- Travelers – A++
- USAA – A++
- GEICO – A++
- State Farm – A++
- Titan Insurance – A+
- Esurance – A+
- Progressive – A+
- The Hartford – A+
- Allstate – A+
- Nationwide – A+
Final considerations
We just presented a lot of techniques to reduce Hyundai Sonata insurance rates online in Baltimore. The key concept to understand is the more companies you get auto insurance rates for, the better likelihood of getting inexpensive Baltimore car insurance quotes. You may even discover the most savings is with a small local company. Smaller companies may have significantly lower auto insurance rates on certain market segments than the large multi-state companies such as State Farm and Allstate.
As you prepare to switch companies, it’s not a good idea to reduce needed coverages to save money. In many cases, an accident victim reduced liability coverage limits only to find out they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the lowest possible cost while still protecting your assets.
To learn more, feel free to visit the resources below:
- Tread Depth and Tire Safety (State Farm)
- Who Has the Cheapest Baltimore Car Insurance Quotes for a Honda Pilot? (FAQ)
- Who Has the Cheapest Baltimore Auto Insurance Quotes for a Toyota Tacoma? (FAQ)
- Teen Driving Statistics (iihs.org)
- Understanding Your Insurance Deductible (Insurance Information Institute)
- Teen Driving and Texting (State Farm)
- Automakers compete to add autobraking (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)