6 Shopping Tips Shown to Lower Car Insurance Costs in Merriam

Consumers who are new to the process of buying insurance online may find finding affordable Merriam car insurance very challenging.

Don't pay full price with these six discounts

Companies don't list all available discounts very clearly, so we researched some of the more common and the harder-to-find ways to save on car insurance.

  • Homeowners Savings - Owning a home in Merriam may earn you a small savings because of the fact that having a home shows financial diligence.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts up to 30%.
  • No Claims - Good drivers with no accidents pay much less when compared with accident-prone drivers.
  • Accident Forgiveness - Certain companies will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you haven't had any claims for a set time period.
  • Auto/Home Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with the same insurance company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
  • Defensive Driving Course - Successfully completing a driver safety course can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.

Keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most cut the price of certain insurance coverages like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it just doesn't work that way.

To choose insurers with the best car insurance discounts in Kansas, click this link.

The car insurance bait and switch

Allstate, GEICO and Progressive regularly use ads in print and on television. All the companies make the same claim that you can save if you move your policy. How does each company make the same claim? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the right customer that makes them money. For instance, a profitable customer could be over the age of 50, a clean driving record, and chooses high deductibles. Any new insured who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and therefore will save when switching.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to these standards must pay more money which leads to business going elsewhere. The ads say "drivers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that kind of money. That is how insurance companies can state the savings. This illustrates why you should compare many company's rates. It's just too difficult to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying the best car insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a "perfect" insurance plan. Every insured's situation is different.

Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether or not you may require specific advice.

  • When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
  • Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
  • Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
  • Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. If you don't have a local agent, complete this form.

Additional Kansas consumer information

Additional detailed information is located at the Kansas Insurance Department website. Consumers can report car insurance fraud, find out industry alerts, and read industry bulletins.

Kansas car insurance

Do the work, save more money

Affordable car insurance is definitely available from both online companies in addition to many Merriam insurance agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance companies do not provide online price quotes and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

You just learned many ideas to save on car insurance. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers may even find the biggest savings come from a lesser-known regional company.

Insureds who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including lack of trust in their agent, poor customer service, high rates after DUI convictions or even denial of a claim. Regardless of your reason, switching car insurance companies is easier than you think.