Oxford Junction Auto Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now
Finding lower rates for Oxford Junction auto insurance is nearly impossible for consumers not familiar with comparing rates online. Consumers have so many options available that it can turn into a lot of work to locate the lowest price in Oxford Junction.
It's important to price shop coverage before your policy renews because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal two years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the proper way to lower your annual insurance bill.
If you currently have car insurance, you should be able to save some money using these techniques. The purpose of this article is to let you in on how car insurance quotes work and some tips to save money. But Iowa drivers do need to know the way companies price online insurance and take advantage of how the system works.
Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper
Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.
Listed below are some of the factors that factor into rates.
- Proper usage rating affects rates - The more miles you rack up on your car every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. The majority of insurers apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Autos that are left in the garage can get a lower rate as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Verify your auto insurance policy is showing how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.
- Small claims can cost you - Car insurance companies in Iowa give better rates to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you frequently file small claims, you can look forward to either higher rates or even cancellation. Car insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
- Multi-policy discounts can save money - Most auto insurance companies will give a discount to customers who buy several policies from them. It's known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can be ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even though this discount sounds good, you still need to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still be able to find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.
- Liability coverage is peace of mind - Liability insurance will protect you if ever a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. Liability insurance provides legal defense coverage up to the limits shown on your policy. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
- Save money with special equipment - Driving a car with an alarm system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder your vehicle from being stolen.
- Bump up deductibles to save - Physical damage insurance, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be a windshield shattered by a rock, collision with an animal, and burglary. Physical damage deductibles are how much you are willing to pay before a claim is paid by your company. The more money the insured has to pay upfront, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
- Is your vehicle built for speed? - The make and model of the car you own makes a substantial difference in your rates. Low performance passenger cars usually have the lowest rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
- Being married can save on auto insurance - Being married can actually save you money on your auto insurance policy. It usually means you are more mature than a single person and it's proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
How to Compare Oxford Junction Auto Insurance Rates
There are multiple methods you can shop for auto insurance but some are less time-consuming than others. You can spend your afternoon driving to agents in Oxford Junction, or you could save time and use the web to accomplish the same thing much quicker.
Most of the larger companies are enrolled in a marketplace that enables customers to complete one form, and every company then returns a price quote for coverage. This system prevents you from having to do repetitive form submissions to each individual auto insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.
The only downside to using this type of form is you can't choose which providers you want to price. So if you prefer to pick individual companies for rate comparison, we have a page of auto insurance companies in Iowa. Click here for list of insurance companies in Iowa.
It doesn't matter which method you choose, just ensure you're using the exact same coverage limits and deductibles with each company. If you use different liability limits it's impossible to make an equal comparison in Oxford Junction. Having just a slight variation in insurance coverages may result in large price differences. And when price shopping your coverage, comparing more company's prices will enable you to find the best rates.
Don't pay full price with these discounts
The price of auto insurance can be rather high, buy you may qualify for discounts that many people don't even know exist. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of quoting, but some must be specially asked for before you will receive the discount.
- Discount for New Cars - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
- Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% with select insurance companies.
- Anti-theft System - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems can help prevent theft and will save you 10% or more.
- Organization Discounts - Participating in certain professional organizations could trigger savings on auto insurance.
- Payment Discounts - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
- Auto/Life Discount - Select insurance companies reward you with lower rates if you buy life insurance from them.
- Multi-car Discount - Having more than one vehicle with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
- Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in Oxford Junction may earn you a small savings because owning a home requires personal responsibility.
- Good Students Pay Less - This discount can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts until age 25.
Consumers should know that many deductions do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free auto insurance policy, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will cut your premiums.
To choose companies offering auto insurance discounts in Oxford Junction, click this link.
The auto insurance bait and switch
Auto insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads in print and on television. They all seem to make the same claim that you'll save big if you switch your policy. How do they all make almost identical claims?
Different companies can use profiling for the right customer that makes them money. An example of a desirable insured could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and therefore will cut their rates substantially.
Potential insureds who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile will have to pay more money which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that kind of money. That's why companies can state the savings.
Because of the profiling, you need to compare as many rates as you can. It's impossible to know the company that will give you the biggest savings.
Much more information about auto insurance in Iowa is available on the Iowa Insurance Division website located here. Iowa consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, download brochures, and read consumer alerts.
Final considerations
When buying insurance coverage, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, an accident victim reduced liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford.
Insureds switch companies for a number of reasons such as delays in paying claims, extreme rates for teen drivers, policy cancellation or even questionable increases in premium. Regardless of your reason, choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.
Discount auto insurance can be found online in addition to many Oxford Junction insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies do not provide online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.