Tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul to pay high auto insurance rates every month? You have the same problem as most other drivers in North Dakota. There is such a variety of auto insurance companies to pick from, and even though it’s nice to be able to choose, lots of choices makes it harder to compare rates.
It’s a great practice to compare prices occasionally because insurance prices are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best price on your last policy there may be better deals available now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in the tricks you need to know to find better rates and still maintain coverage.
Locating affordable protection in Gwinner is not that difficult. If you have insurance now or are just looking to switch companies, you can follow these tips to get lower rates and possibly find even better coverage. North Dakota drivers just need to know the best way to shop for auto insurance online.
Learn how to lower your auto insurance rates
Lots of factors are part of the equation when you get a price on insurance. Some are obvious like your driving record, but other criteria are less obvious such as whether you are married or your vehicle rating.
The factors shown below are some of the most common factors auto insurance companies consider when setting prices.
- Premiums are high for teenagers – Youthful drivers in North Dakota tend to be inattentive and easily distracted when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Mature drivers are proven to be safer behind the wheel, statistically cause fewer accidents , and usually have better credit.
- An active claims history can cost you – If you tend to file frequent claims, you can expect either higher rates or even cancellation. Auto insurance companies in North Dakota generally give discounts to policyholders who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Auto insurance is meant to be used in the event of claims that pose a financial burden.
- The more you drive the more you pay – The higher the mileage driven annually the higher your rate. Many insurance companies apply a rate partially by how you use the vehicle. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting receive better premium rates compared to those used for work or business. It’s a good idea to make sure your auto insurance declarations sheet correctly shows the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
- Drive a safer car and pay less – Vehicles with good safety scores tend to have lower insurance rates. Safe vehicles reduce the chance of injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into savings for insurance companies which can result in lower premiums. If your car earned at least four stars on Safercar.gov you may be receiving a better rate.
- Bundle home and auto and save – Most auto insurance companies afford discounts for people who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Even if you already get this discount, you still need to compare other insurance prices to guarantee you are still saving the most.
- Only buy coverage you need – There are a ton of extra add-on coverages that may not really be needed if you aren’t careful. Things like vanishing deductibles, better glass coverage, and extra life insurance coverage may be wasting your money. You may think they are a good idea when you first buy your policy, but if you’ve never needed them in the past remove them from your policy.
- Don’t let your policy lapse – Driving your car without having proper coverage is a misdemeanor and any future policy may cost more because you let your insurance lapse for non-payment. Not only will rates go up, the inability to provide proof of insurance may earn you fines and jail time. You may then have to file a SR-22 with the North Dakota department of motor vehicles.
- Deter car thieves – Buying a car with advanced anti-theft systems can save you some money. Advanced theft deterrents such as vehicle immobilizer systems, OnStar, and tracking devices like LoJack all help prevent your vehicle from being stolen.
How to get affordable auto insurance in Gwinner
Reducing your insurance rates can be surprisingly simple. The only requirement is to take a couple of minutes comparing from online providers. It is quite easy and can be accomplished using a couple different methods.
- The easiest and least time consuming way to get the best comparison quotes is an all-inclusive rate comparison click to view form in new window. This form saves time by eliminating boring form submissions for every auto insurance company. One form submission will get you price quotes direct from many companies.
- A less efficient way to compare rate quotes requires visiting each company’s website and repeat the quote process again and again. For sake of this example, let’s assume you want to get rates from Nationwide, Liberty Mutual and Allstate. In order to get each rate, you would have to visit each site and type in your information over and over, which can take a lot of time. To view a list of companies in Gwinner, click here.
- The least recommended method to price shop rates is making phone calls or going to insurance agencies in your area. The ability to quote online has reduced the need for local agents unless you have a complicated situation and need the professional advice of a local agency. Although you can price shop online but buy from a local insurance agent.
You can choose any of those ways to find more affodable coverage, but try to use equivalent coverage data with every price quote. If each company quotes different coverage information then you won’t be able to truly determine the lowest rate in Gwinner.
Do drivers who switch really save $448 a year?
North Dakota drivers can’t get away from ads for auto insurance savings by Allstate, Geico and Progressive. All the ads convey the message that drivers will save a bundle if you get a free and switch your auto insurance policy to them.
How does every auto insurance company charge less that you’re paying now? It’s all in the numbers.
Insurance providers have specific characteristics for the type of customer that makes them money. For instance, a driver they prefer may need to be over the age of 45, has no claims, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer who matches those parameters will probably get the lowest premium rates and is almost guaranteed to save quite a bit of money when switching.
People who are not a match for these standards will see higher premiums and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. If you listen to the ad wording, they say “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much money. This is how insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings.
Because of these techniques, it’s extremely important to quote coverage with many companies. It is impossible to guess the company that will have the best prices at this point in time.
Don’t overlook these auto insurance discounts
Some insurance providers do not advertise every available discount in an easy-to-find place, so we break down a few of the more common as well as some of the hidden discounts that may be available.
- No Accidents – Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially in comparison with drivers with a long claim history.
- Early Payment Discounts – If you can afford to pay the entire bill instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.
- Waiver for an Accident – This one is not really a discount per se, but certain companies will allow you to have one accident without getting socked with a rate hike so long as you haven’t had any claims for a specific time period.
- Drivers Education – It’s a good idea to have your young drivers take driver’s ed class in high school.
- Safety Course Discount – Successfully completing a class that teaches defensive driver techniques could cut 5% off your bill and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- Discounts for Federal Employees – Simply working for the federal government could provide a small rate reduction but check with your company.
- Seat Belts Save – Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to fasten their seat belts can save up to 10 percent (depending on the company) on medical payment and PIP coverage.
- Discount for Life Insurance – Some auto insurance companies give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
One last thing about discounts, most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most cut the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. Despite the fact that it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, auto insurance companies aren’t that generous.
A few of the larger companies and some of the discounts are included below.
- State Farm may offer discounts for Drive Safe & Save, multiple policy, anti-theft, safe vehicle, driver’s education, and defensive driving training.
- Liberty Mutual may have discounts that include newly retired, multi-car, new graduate, good student, safety features, new move discount, and new vehicle discount.
- American Family has discounts for accident-free, mySafetyValet, early bird, bundled insurance, and air bags.
- Progressive may include discounts for online quote discount, online signing, good student, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, and continuous coverage.
- Farmers Insurance offers premium reductions for multi-car, youthful driver, mature driver, distant student, and switch companies.
- Auto-Owners Insurance has savings for paid in full, anti-lock brakes, safe driver, air bags, anti-theft, company car, and teen driver.
- SAFECO offers discounts for drive less, safe driver, anti-lock brakes, teen safe driver, and bundle discounts.
If you are trying to find , ask all companies you are considering which discounts you qualify for. All car insurance discounts may not apply to policyholders in Gwinner. To locate auto insurance companies who offer online auto insurance quotes in North Dakota, click this link.
Get rate quotes but buy from a local Gwinner insurance agent
A small number of people just want to talk to an insurance agent and that is recommended in a lot of cases Good agents can make sure you are properly covered and help in the event of a claim. One of the great benefits of comparing insurance prices online is the fact that drivers can get lower car insurance rates and still have an agent to talk to. Buying insurance from local insurance agents is important especially in Gwinner.
For easy comparison, once you complete this short form, your coverage information is immediately sent to companies in Gwinner who can give free rate quotes to get your business. There is no need to do any legwork since price quotes are sent to you. If you wish to get a comparison quote from one company in particular, you just need to navigate to their website and give them your coverage information.
Compare rates from both independent and captive car insurance agents
If you want to buy auto insurance from a local Gwinner insurance agency, you need to know there are two types of agencies and how they can quote your rates. Agents are categorized either independent or captive depending on the company they work for. Both properly insure your vehicles, but it’s worth mentioning the difference between them because it can impact which type of agent you select.
Independent Auto Insurance Agents (or Brokers)
Agents that choose to be independent are not limited to a single company and that is an advantage because they can write policies with multiple insurance companies and get you the best rates possible. To transfer your coverage to a different company, your agent can just switch to a different company and you won’t have to switch agencies.
If you are comparing rate quotes, it’s a good idea to get insurance quotes from multiple independent agents to ensure the widest selection of prices.
Featured below is a list of independent insurance agents in Gwinner that may be able to give free price quotes.
J A Insurance – 20 N Main St – Gwinner, ND 58040 – (701) 678-2771
Captive Agencies
Agents that elect to be captive normally can only provide a single company’s rates such as State Farm, AAA, Farmers Insurance or Allstate. Captive agents cannot place coverage with different providers so they are skilled at selling on more than just price. Captives are well schooled on sales techniques which aids in selling service over price.
Finding a good insurance agent is decision based upon more than just the price. Before buying a policy, get answers to these questions.
- Can you use your own choice of collision repair facility?
- Do they offer rental car reimbursement?
- If you raise deductibles, how much can you save?
- What is their Better Business Bureau rating?
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
- Is the agency involved in supporting local community causes?
- Do the companies they represent have a solid financial rating?
- Is there a Errors and Omissions policy in force?
Auto insurance is unique, just like you
When buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no “perfect” insurance plan. Every insured’s situation is different and a cookie cutter policy won’t apply. For example, these questions may help highlight if your insurance needs will benefit from professional help.
- Does having multiple vehicles earn me a discount?
- Do I need medical payments coverage since I have good health insurance?
- Am I covered if I wreck a rental car?
- Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
- Are rental cars covered under my policy?
- Do I have coverage if my license is suspended?
- Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
If you’re not sure about those questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It only takes a few minutes and you can get the answers you need.
Additional auto insurance information is located on the North Dakota Insurance Department website through this link. North Dakota drivers can find out industry alerts, read consumer alerts, download brochures, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.
One last thing to lower rates
You just read many ideas to save on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the higher your chance of finding . You may be surprised to find that the best price on auto insurance is with a small mutual company. Smaller companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than their larger competitors like State Farm and Allstate.
When buying insurance coverage, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where someone dropped collision coverage only to regret at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.