Tightwads Tips for Saving on Augusta Auto Insurance

Sick and tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than most other car owners in Kansas. Drivers have multiple to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to have a choice, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates before your policy renews because prices are constantly changing. Just because you found the lowest rates a couple years back you may be paying too much now. So forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the tricks you need to know to reduce your cost while increasing coverage.

Comparison of Auto Insurance in Augusta

Most major insurance companies like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive allow you to get coverage prices on the web. This process is pretty painless as you just type in as detailed in the form. Behind the scenes, the system will obtain credit information and your driving record and generates pricing information based on these and other factors. Quoting online helps simplify price comparisons, but the time it takes to visit several different sites and type in the same information is not the best way to spend an afternoon. But it's very important to have as many quotes as possible in order to find the best price on auto insurance.

A less time-consuming method to lower your auto insurance bill uses one form that obtains quotes from a lot of companies. The form is fast, eliminates form submissions, and makes online shopping much more enjoyable and efficient. Immediately after you send the form, it is rated and you can select any one of the returned quotes.

If one or more price quotes are lower than your current rates, you simply finish the application and purchase the new policy. The entire process takes less than 15 minutes and could lower your rates considerably.

To find out if lower rates are available, click here to open in new window and complete the simple form. To compare your current rates, we recommend you complete the form with coverages and limits exactly as shown on your declarations page. This way, you will be getting rate comparison quotes based on similar coverages.

Augusta Rates are Influenced by These Factors

It's important that you understand some of the elements that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what influences your rates enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Drive less and save money - Driving more miles every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies charge to insure your cars based on their usage. Vehicles not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Ask your agent if your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage.
Occupation reflects on rates - Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for auto insurance? Jobs such as lawyers, architects and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates in part from high stress and lots of time spent at work. Conversely, occupations such as farmers, engineers and performers receive lower rates.
Marriage pays dividends - Having a spouse can get you a discount when buying auto insurance. It means you're more mature it has been statistically shown that drivers who are married are more cautious.
Older drivers save more - Youthful drivers in Kansas are known to be more careless in a vehicle so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and get fewer tickets.
Policy add-ons can waste money - There are a ton of extra bells and whistles that you can buy when buying auto insurance. Coverages for rental car reimbursement, towing coverage and term life insurance are examples of these. These coverages may sound good when talking to your agent, but if they're wasting money eliminate them to save money.
Credit scores impact auto insurance rates - Credit history is a huge factor in your rate calculation. If your credit score is not that good, you could be paying less to insure your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers who have high credit ratings tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than those with lower credit scores.
High numbers of claims are not good - If you file claims often, you can definitely plan on higher rates. Car insurance companies in Kansas provide lower rates to drivers who are claim-free. Insurance coverage is intended for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Lower rates with optional equipment - Driving a car with anti-theft technology or alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder your car from being stolen.

Are you getting all your discounts?

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you can get discounts that you may not know about. Some trigger automatically when you quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked about before you get the savings. If you're not getting every credit available, you're just leaving money on the table.

Save with a New Car - Insuring a new car can save up to 30% due to better safety requirements for new cars.
No Accidents - Claim-free drivers can save substantially as compared to frequent claim filers.
Sign Online - A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 just for signing your application over the internet.
College Student - Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
Driver Safety - Taking part in a defensive driving course could save 5% or more depending on where you live.

It's important to note that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire cost. Most only cut the price of certain insurance coverages like collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you're out of luck. But any discount will bring down the cost of coverage.

For a list of companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Kansas, follow this link.

More information can be found on the website for the Kansas Insurance Department. Click here for link. Visitors are able to file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read industry bulletins, get help finding coverage, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

A tidy conclusion

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, never reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that the savings was not a smart move. The ultimate goal is to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price.

Lower-priced auto insurance can be sourced both online and also from your neighborhood Augusta agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some auto insurance companies may not provide online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.