Top 6 Ways to Save Money on Car Insurance in Minneapolis
Shopping for the cheapest Minneapolis car insurance on the web is impossible for consumers new to comparison shopping online. With so many choices of online companies, how can you effectively compare the different rates to find the best price?
It's important to compare prices yearly since rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best rates last year the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. There is too much inaccurate information about car insurance online but we're going to give you some great ways to save money.
Don't pay full price with these six discounts
Companies that sell car insurance don't list every available discount very clearly, so the following is a list of some of the more common as well as the least known ways to save on car insurance.
- Good Student Discount - A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last up until you turn 25.
- Auto/Life Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
- Safety Course Discount - Taking a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill and easily recoup the cost of the course.
- Resident Student - Any of your kids living away from home attending college and don't have a car may be able to be covered for less.
- Anti-theft System - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more.
- Memberships - Belonging to a qualifying organization could trigger savings on your policy.
A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like you could get a free car insurance policy, you won't be that lucky.
To see a list of providers with discount car insurance rates in Kansas, click this link.
How to Get Cheap Car Insurance in Minneapolis, KS
Performing a rate comparison can be challenging if you aren't aware of the most efficient way. You can waste a lot of time talking about coverages with local insurance agents in Minneapolis, or you could save time and use the web to quickly compare rates.
Many insurance companies belong to a marketplace that enables customers to enter their policy data once, and each company can provide price quotes determined by their information. This system prevents you from having to do quote requests to each individual car insurance company.
To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.
The one disadvantage to pricing coverage this way is you don't know exactly which carriers you will receive quotes from. If you wish to select individual companies to receive pricing from, we put together a list of car insurance companies in Kansas. Click here to view list.
It doesn't matter which method you choose, just make sure you use identical coverage limits with every price quote. If your comparisons have differing limits it's not possible to find the best deal in Minneapolis. Having just a slight variation in coverages can result in a big premium difference. And when comparing car insurance rates, know that comparing a large number of companies helps locate better pricing.
Your personal situation dictates your coverage
When choosing coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a "perfect" insurance plan. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs.
Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether or not you may require specific advice.
- Should I buy only the required Kansas minimum liability coverage?
- What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
- Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
- What are Kansas no-fault laws?
- Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
- Am I getting all the discounts available?
- Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
If it's difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form.
The car insurance bait and switch
Companies like State Farm and Allstate consistently run ads in print and on television. All the ads make the same claim about savings if you change your coverage to them. How does each company make the same claim?
Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that is profitable for them. A good example of a preferred risk could be over the age of 50, has no prior claims, and has great credit. Any new insured who matches those parameters receives the best rates and therefore will save when switching.
Potential customers who don't measure up to these standards will be charged a more expensive rate which leads to business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings. That is why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It's just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.
Affordable insurance is out there
You just learned many ideas to compare car insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the biggest savings come from the least-expected company.
As you prepare to switch companies, it's very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where consumers will sacrifice collision coverage and discovered at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your goal should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.
Cheaper car insurance is attainable from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Minneapolis, and you should be comparing both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who don't offer the ability to get a quote online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.
Even more information can be read at the Kansas Insurance Department website. Consumers can file complaints about a company, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and discover disciplinary actions.