Can You Give Me a Ballpark on This Car Without Looking It Up?

WV & OH ONLY

"I'm thinking about buying a truck. Can an insurance agent tell me about what it'll cost to insure without running all my information?"

I get why you're asking. You just want a rough idea before you commit.

Not one I'd want you to count on. Your car insurance price depends on who's driving, where the car is kept, your history, and exactly which version of the car it is, and every company weighs those differently. Give me a few minutes and the VIN, and I can get you real numbers instead of a guess.

Believe me, I wish I could just give you a number. We want the absolute best rate for every client, and that takes a real look.

No two companies price you the same, so one company's number tells you very little about the others. We're an independent agency and quote with 13 companies, so we can show you who treats your situation best.

Yes, this article is here to get you to call me. A company doesn't look you up until you ask it for a quote. That's when it pulls your records, and every company reads them differently. One call gets a lot of them looking at once, so you can see who treats you best.

WV & OH ONLY

Because it used to work. When my dad opened this agency in 1986, an agent could look at a few things about you and the car and get pretty close. People remember that, and I don't blame anyone for asking.

Yes, if you want a number you can trust. "A 2024 Silverado" isn't one truck. Cabs, beds, engines, trim levels and safety equipment all differ, and they don't cost the same to fix or replace.

The Highway Loss Data Institute tracks collision losses by vehicle, with 100 as the average. For 2020 to 2022 models, a Dodge Challenger came in at 208 and a Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye at 306. Same name on the back of the car.

Companies commonly review your driving record and claims history. In West Virginia and Ohio, companies can also use a credit-based insurance score, within state rules. What you remember and what's in those reports don't always match, and the reports are what count.

I could. It wouldn't help. If I say "probably about a hundred a month" and it comes back at two hundred, you've made a decision on a number I made up.

• The VIN, or a photo of the window sticker
• Driver's license information for everyone in the house who drives
• Your current policy, if you have one

Thinking about buying a car? Call me before you sign, not after. Send me the VIN and I'll find out what it costs to insure.

WV & OH ONLY

Next in the series: Part 2, My Buddy Has a Great Deal on Car Insurance. Why Can't I Just Get That Policy?