Did you come to the realization that you have an expensive auto insurance policy? Say no more because many Mounds View drivers have buyer’s remorse. Lots of insurance companies contend for your hard-earned dollar, so it’s not easy to compare every insurer to discover the definitive lowest rate
If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using these methods. Finding affordable coverage in Mounds View is not rocket science. But Minnesota car owners do need to know how insurance companies market on the web and take advantage of how the system works.
Find cheaper auto insurance with these tips
Multiple criteria are taken into consideration when premium rates are determined. Some factors are common sense such as traffic violations, although others are more obscure like your vehicle usage or your vehicle rating. Part of the auto insurance buying process is learning some of the things that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay, this enables informed choices that can earn you much lower annual insurance costs.
- Where you live – Living in areas with lower population is a positive aspect when it comes to auto insurance. Drivers who live in large cities regularly have congested traffic and more time behind the wheel. Fewer drivers on the road translates into fewer accidents and lower theft and vandalism rates.
- Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? – Lots of auto insurance companies apply lower prices to insureds who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Even if you already get this discount, it’s still a good idea to shop around to help guarantee you have the best rates.
- Getting married brings a discount – Having a significant other may cut your premiums on your auto insurance policy. It may mean you are more responsible and it’s proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
- Cautious drivers pay less – Being a careful driver impacts your car insurance rates tremendously. Even one citation can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who get multiple tickets such as reckless driving or DUI may find they need to prove financial responsibility to the state department of motor vehicles in order to drive a vehicle legally.
- Driver age impacts prices – Older drivers have been proven to be more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers.Inexperience drivers tend to get distracted easily when driving therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
- More performance means more cost – The performance level of the car you own makes a huge difference in your car insurance bill. The lowest performance passenger cars generally receive the lowest base rates, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
- Defend yourself with liability – Your auto insurance policy’s liability coverage is the coverage that protects you in the event that you are found liable for damages caused by your negligence. Liability insurance provides for a legal defense starting from day one. Liability insurance is pretty cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
- Coverage lapses lead to higher prices – Driving with no insurance is illegal and you will pay a penalty because you let your coverage lapse. Not only will you pay higher rates, not being able to provide proof of insurance could earn you fines and jail time. You may then have to submit proof of financial responsibility or a SR-22 with the Minnesota motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
Shopping for lower auto insurance rates can take hours if you don’t utilize the fastest way to get free quotes. You can spend your afternoon talking to agents in Mounds View, or you can stay home and use the internet to achieve your goal.
All the larger companies participate in a marketplace where insurance shoppers enter their policy data once, and each company provides a quote based on that information. This saves time by eliminating quote forms for each company.
To find out how much you’re overpaying now click here to start a free quote.
The only drawback to using this type of system is you don’t know exactly which providers you want to price. So if you prefer to choose individual companies to request quotes from, we have assembled a list of low cost auto insurance companies in Minnesota. Click here to view list.
Whichever way you choose to compare rates, double check that you are using exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits on every price quote you get. If you are comparing higher or lower deductibles you will not be able to make a fair comparison in Mounds View. Quoting even small variations in insurance coverages can result in a big premium difference. Keep in mind that obtaining a wide range of quotes gives you a better chance of getting the best rates.
Slick advertising tricks that work
Geico, State Farm and Progressive regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all make an identical promise that drivers will save a bundle just by switching your policy. How can each company claim to save you money? It’s all in how they say it.
Different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that will generate a profit. For example, a driver they prefer could possibly be a married female, has a clean driving record, and drives a lower-performance vehicle. Anybody who fits those characteristics will get very good Mounds View prices and have a good chance to cut their rates if they switch.
Consumers who are not a match for this stringent profile will be quoted more expensive rates and business not being written. If you pay attention, the ads say “people that switch” not “everyone who quotes” save that kind of money. That is how insurance companies can confidently make those statements. Each company has different criteria, so you really need to get price quotes at each policy renewal. You cannot predict which company will provide you with the cheapest prices.
Auto insurance policy discounts
Auto insurance companies don’t always publicize their entire list of discounts very well, so we took the time to find both the well known as well as the least known credits available to bring down your rates.
- ABS Braking Discount – Cars with anti-lock braking systems are much safer to drive and the ABS can save up to 10%.
- Driving Data Discount – Drivers who elect to allow their insurance company to track driving patterns by using a small device installed in their vehicle such as Progressive’s Snapshot may get a rate reduction if they exhibit good driving behavior.
- Switch and Save Discount – Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching to them before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
- Discount for Good Grades – This discount can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.
- Drivers Ed for Students – Teen drivers should complete a driver education course in school or through a local driver safety program.
- Theft Prevention Discount – Cars optioned with advanced anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Senior Discount – Seniors may qualify for reduced rates.
- Active Service Discounts – Being deployed in the military could mean lower premium rates.
- Multiple Cars – Insuring all your vehicles on one policy qualifies for this discount.
Policy discounts save money, but most of the big mark downs will not be given to the overall cost of the policy. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, nobody gets a free ride.
Car insurance companies who might offer these benefits may include but are not limited to:
It’s a good idea to ask every insurance company which discounts can lower your rates. Depending on the company, some discounts might not apply in Mounds View.
How do I know if I need professional advice?
When it comes to buying coverage for your vehicles, there really is no best way to insure your cars. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions could help you determine whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.
- Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
- Do I need added coverage for expensive stereo equipment?
- Do I need higher deductibles?
- Can I pay claims out-of-pocket if I buy high deductibles?
- Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
- Do I need motorclub coverage?
- How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
- What can I do if my company won’t pay a claim?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.
Additional detailed information can be found at the Minnesota Department of Commerce website. Minnesota consumers can report car insurance fraud, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.
You can lower your rates
Some auto insurance companies don’t offer online rate quotes and usually these small, regional companies only sell coverage through independent agencies. Lower-priced auto insurance is available on the web in addition to local insurance agencies, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best rate selection.
When buying insurance coverage, you should never sacrifice coverage to reduce premiums. In many cases, someone sacrificed liability coverage limits to discover at claim time that it was a big error on their part. The aim is to buy enough coverage for the lowest price, but don’t skip important coverages to save money.