How to Find the Cheapest Alexandria Auto Insurance

Are you intimidated by the crazy number of auto insurance options in Alexandria? You're not the only one! Consumers have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a real hassle to locate the lowest price.

It's important to compare prices every six months since insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best price a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're about to find out one of the easiest ways to get good coverage at a lower rate.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available to help offset the cost. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time of purchase, but less common discounts must be manually applied prior to receiving the credit. If you aren't receiving every discount possible, you're paying more than you need to.

  • Senior Discount - Mature drivers can possibly qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
  • Memberships - Affiliation with a civic or occupational organization could qualify you for a break on auto insurance.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Have your child complete a driver education course in high school.
  • Claim Free - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially as compared to bad drivers.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount - Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and will save you 10% or more.
  • Anti-theft System - Anti-theft and alarm systems help deter theft and will save you 10% or more.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will reduce the amount you have to pay.

To see a list of companies with the best auto insurance discounts in Alexandria, follow this link.

Alexandria auto insurance comparison

How to Compare Auto Insurance Quotes in Alexandria, Minnesota

Finding cheaper auto insurance prices isn't really that difficult. Consumers just need to invest a few minutes comparing price quotes provided by online insurance companies. It is quite easy and can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

  • The best way to compare a lot of rates at once is a comparison rater form click here to open form in new window. This method eliminates the need for repetitive form entry for each company. Filling out one form will return price quotes direct from many companies. It's the fastest way to compare.
  • A harder way to shop for auto insurance online consists of visiting each company's website and fill out their own quote form. For instance, let's say you want to compare rates from , and . You would have to go to every website to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is more popular. For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Alexandria, click here.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just ensure you are comparing exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits for every quote you compare. If you are comparing different values for each quote it will be impossible to determine the best price in Alexandria.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

  • Mature drivers pay less - Older insureds are viewed as being more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers. Teenage drivers tend to be more careless when behind the wheel and because of this, their auto insurance rates are much higher.
  • Liability coverage is cheap - The liability section of your policy provides coverage if ever a jury decides you are liable for personal injury or accident damage. It provides for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • You might want pay the small claims yourself - Car insurance companies in Minnesota provide cheaper rates to insureds who do not file claims often. If you file claims often, you can expect higher rates. Car insurance is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
  • Rates may be lower depending on your job - Jobs such as lawyers, architects and dentists have the highest average rates because of high stress levels and long work hours. Other occupations like actors, historians and the unemployed get better rates.
  • Do you know you're credit rating? - Credit rating is a important factor in calculating your auto insurance rates. People with high credit scores tend to be more responsible than those with lower credit scores. If your credit can use some improvement, you could pay less to insure your by improving your credit score.
  • Discounts for multiple policies - The majority of companies will give a discount to people who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to compare rates to verify if the discount is saving money. Consumers may find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Minnesota drivers can't get away from ads that promise big savings from the likes of Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to say the same thing about savings if you move your coverage to them.

How can each company say the same thing?

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that is profitable for them. For example, a desirable insured might be profiled as between the ages of 40 and 55, has no driving citations, and has a short commute. A propective insured who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don't qualify for the requirements will have to pay higher prices which usually ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. That's the way companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings.

Because of the profiling, drivers must compare as many rates as you can. It's not possible to predict which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Best coverage at the best price

As you shop your coverage around, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where someone sacrificed physical damage coverage only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford.

Cheaper auto insurance is possible on the web as well as from independent agents in Alexandria, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance providers don't offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

Consumers who switch companies do it for a number of reasons such as not issuing a premium refund, questionable increases in premium, extreme rates for teen drivers or high rates after DUI convictions. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new insurance company is actually quite simple.

Additional information can be found on the Minnesota Department of Commerce website located here. Minnesota drivers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, find out which companies have the most complaints, and download brochures.