How to Know You're Spending Too Much for Auto Insurance in Bloomingdale

Expensive auto insurance can overdraw your checking account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Comparison shopping is a great way to lower your monthly bill.

Numerous battle for your insurance dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare to find the absolute lowest price

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Understanding what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that could result in better auto insurance rates.

The list below includes a few of the "ingredients" companies use to determine premiums.

Increase deductibles and save - The deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims are colliding with a building, vandalism, and rolling your vehicle. The higher the amount you're willing to pay, the bigger discount you will receive.
Men fork out a little more - Statistics have proven that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, don't assume that women are better drivers. Men and women tend to get into accidents in similar percentages, but the male of the species cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also tend to get more serious tickets like reckless driving and DUI.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Occupations such as lawyers, social workers and accountants tend to pay higher rates than average due to high stress levels and long work hours. On the flip side, professions such as pilots, athletes and the unemployed have the lowest average rates.
Liability coverage protects you - The liability section of your policy is the protection if a jury decides you are liable for damages from an accident. It will provide for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not skimp.
Small claims can cost you - Auto insurance companies in Michigan generally give better rates to insureds who file claims infrequently. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can expect higher rates. Car insurance is intended to be relied upon for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.

Free Bloomingdale Auto Insurance Quotes

There are several ways to compare rate quotes from local Bloomingdale auto insurance companies. One of the best ways to find the lowest rates consists of shopping online. This is very easy and can be done in several different ways.

The fastest way to get quotes is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This type of form prevents you from having to do repetitive form submissions for each company. One form gets you coverage quotes from multiple companies.
A harder way to get quotes online consists of going to each individual company website to complete their respective quote request forms. For sake of this example, we'll pretend you want comparison quotes from , and . You would have to spend time on each company's site to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker.

To view a list of companies in Bloomingdale, click here.
The most time-consuming way of comparing rate quotes is driving around to and from local Bloomingdale insurance agencies. The internet eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you want the trained guidance of a licensed agent. It is possible to find lower rates online and still use a local agent and we'll touch on that later.

Whichever method you choose, make darn sure you compare the exact same coverages on every quote you get. If you enter different limits and deductibles on each one then you won't be able to determine which rate is truly the best in Bloomingdale. Slightly different coverages can make a big difference in price. And when comparison shopping, quoting more will enable you to find lower pricing.

Save big with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't necessarily list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we break down some of the best known and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving.

More Vehicles More Savings - Insuring multiple cars or trucks with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
Senior Discount - If you're over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for reduced rates.
Accident Free - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially when compared with accident-prone drivers.
Organization Discounts - Affiliation with certain professional organizations may earn a discount when buying auto insurance.
Government Employees - Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% depending on your company.
Passive Restraints - Vehicles equipped with air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of 20% or more.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some credits don't apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only cut specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like you could get a free auto insurance policy, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

To choose insurers with the best auto insurance discounts in Bloomingdale, click here.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Allstate, GEICO and Progressive regularly use ads on TV and radio. All the companies have a common claim about savings if you move to them. How do they all say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer might be profiled as between 25 and 40, insures multiple vehicles, and has excellent credit. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will cut their rates substantially.

Drivers who fall outside the "perfect" profile must pay a higher premium and this can result in business not being written. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save money. This is how companies can truthfully make those claims. This illustrates why you need to get as many quotes as possible. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When buying adequate coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions may help you determine if your situation would benefit from an agent's advice.

Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
Do I qualify for additional discounts?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?

If you can't answer these questions, you might consider talking to an agent. If you want to speak to 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 Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation website. Michigan drivers can report car insurance fraud, learn about insurance regulations, read industry bulletins, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Affordable insurance is out there

Cheap auto insurance is definitely available on the web and with local Bloomingdale insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best selection. Some companies do not offer online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

While you're price shopping online, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, drivers have reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your focus should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.