How to Know You're Spending Too Much for Auto Insurance in Enterprise
Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can overdraw your personal savings and make it hard to pay other bills. Comparison shopping is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to make sure you're not throwing money away.
Drivers have multiple to buy insurance from, and although it's a good thing to have multiple companies, it can be more challenging to compare rates.
It's important to compare prices yearly because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest price six months ago a different company probably has better rates today. There is a lot of bad information regarding auto insurance on the internet, so I'm going to show you some great ways to find cheap auto insurance.
Finding affordable coverage in Enterprise is not that difficult. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will most likely be able to cut costs considerably using this information. Although Kansas consumers do need to know the way companies price online insurance because it can help you find the best coverage.
Be sure to get all your discounts
Companies don't list all their discounts very clearly, so we researched both the well known and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using.
- College Student - Kids in college who are attending college and do not have a car can receive lower rates.
- Bundle and Save - If you have multiple policies with one company you could get a discount of approximately 10% to 15%.
- Theft Prevention System - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Sign Online - A handful of insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy over the internet.
- Drive Less and Save - Driving fewer miles could be rewarded with discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
- No Accidents - Drivers who don't have accidents pay much less as compared to drivers who are more careless.
- Multi-car Discount - Buying insurance for more than one vehicle on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won't be that lucky.
Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates
Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.
Listed below are a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.
- Older drivers pay less - Youthful drivers in Kansas are statistically proven to be more careless when driving so they pay higher auto insurance rates. If you've ever had to add a teen driver to your auto insurance policy can be quite pricey. More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
- Where you reside plays a part - Residing in less populated areas can be a good thing when talking about auto insurance. Drivers who live in large cities tend to have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft.
- Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? - Most insurers will give a discount to insureds who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you may still want to compare other company rates to ensure the best deal.
- Pay less if you're married - Having a wife or husband can actually save you money on your policy. It means you're more responsible and it's statistically proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
- Safer cars cost less to insure - Vehicles with good safety scores can get you lower premiums. These vehicles reduce injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into savings for insurance companies and thus lower rates.
How do I know if I need professional advice?
When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a perfect coverage plan. Everyone's needs are different so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions can help discover whether or not you might need an agent's assistance.
- Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
- What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
- Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
- Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
- Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
- Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
- Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
If you're not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.
Is there truth in advertising?
Auto insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. They all seem to make an identical promise about savings if you switch to their company. How does each company claim to save you money?
All the different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a desirable insured might be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and has a high credit rating. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.
Drivers who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay higher premiums and ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. This is how companies can truthfully state the savings. Because of the profiling, drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.
Learn more about auto insurance in Kansas
Even more information is located at the Kansas Insurance Department website. Visitors are able to read enforcement actions against agents and companies, view agent and company licensing information, read consumer alerts, and get help finding coverage.
Do the work, save more money
As you restructure your insurance plan, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are many occasions where consumers will sacrifice collision coverage and learned later that they should have had better coverage. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate.
The cheapest auto insurance can be found both online and also from your neighborhood Enterprise agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.