How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Car Insurance in Athol

Nobody looks forward to paying for car insurance, particularly when the cost is way too high.

Insurance companies such as GEICO and Progressive continually bombard you with ads and it is difficult to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that could result in lower car insurance prices.

Don't buy coverages you don't need - There are quite a few additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying when buying car insurance. Insurance for rental car reimbursement, accidental death and membership fees may be wasting your money. These may sound like a good investment initially, but your needs may have changed so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
Multiple policies with one company can save - Some car insurance companies will award you with lower prices to insureds who consolidate policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
Liability coverage is cheap - Your policy's liability coverage is the coverage that protects you if you are found liable for damages caused by your negligence. Liability provides for a legal defense starting from day one. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so drivers should carry high limits.
Do you work long hours in a high stress job? - Occupations such as lawyers, executives and dentists are shown to have the highest average rates due to high stress levels and lengthy work days. Other occupations such as scientists, historians and retirees pay the least.

These discounts can lower your rates

Companies that sell car insurance don't list all available discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we took the time to find both the well known and also the lesser-known ways to save on car insurance.

Safety Course Discount - Completing a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
Anti-theft Discount - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
Organization Discounts - Being a member of a civic or occupational organization could trigger savings when buying car insurance.
Federal Employees - Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% depending on your company.
Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you may receive a discount up to 10%.
Seat Belts Save more than Lives - Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.

A little note about advertised discounts, many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like you can get free auto insurance, you won't be that lucky.

To choose insurers with discount car insurance rates in Athol, click this link.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

21st Century, Allstate and State Farm consistently run ads on television and other media. All the companies make the same claim about savings if you change your policy. How can each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the right customer that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer might be a mature driver, owns a home, and drives newer vehicles. Any driver who matches those parameters receives the best rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who are not a match for the requirements must pay a higher premium which leads to the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that kind of money. That is how companies can truthfully claim big savings. This illustrates why you should get quotes from several different companies. You cannot predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

Different people need different coverages

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Every situation is different so this has to be addressed. For instance, these questions might point out whether you would benefit from professional advice.

Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
Do I qualify for additional discounts?
Why am I required to get a high-risk car insurance policy?
Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Even more information can be found at the Kansas Insurance Department website. Visitors are able to discover disciplinary actions, read consumer alerts, find out which companies have the most complaints, and read industry bulletins.

Shop smart and save

Cheaper car insurance can be sourced both online in addition to many Athol insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. A few companies do not provide online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When trying to cut insurance costs, it's a bad idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut physical damage coverage only to discover later that it was a big mistake. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.