Tightwads Guide for Saving on Deer Lodge Auto Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Trust us, you're not alone.

Online insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly blast consumers with ad campaigns and it is difficult to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to compare prices every six months because prices are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best deal a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the proper way to find lower rates on auto insurance.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

The following are some of the factors used by your company to calculate your rates.

Discounts for multiple policies - Many insurance companies give discounts to insureds who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can be 10 percent or more. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money. You may still find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
Do you know your deductibles? - Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. A few examples of covered claims would be collision with another vehicle, damage caused by hail, or theft. The deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend before your auto insurance pays a claim. The more money you have to pay, the less your auto insurance will be.
Men pay higher rates - Statistics demonstrate women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Women and men have accidents at about the same rate, but men have costlier accidents. Men also get more serious tickets like DUI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are the most expensive to insure and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
Car features impact rates - Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention features like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system can thwart auto theft.
Being married is a good thing - Being married can get you a discount on auto insurance. Marriage translates into being more responsible and statistics show being married results in fewer claims.
Liability coverage protects you - Liability coverage provides coverage in the event that you are found liable for personal injury or accident damage. It provides legal defense coverage starting from day one. Liability is cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not skimp.

Compare Quotes for Deer Lodge Auto Insurance

There are several ways to compare auto insurance prices and some are more efficient than others. You can spend your afternoon driving to insurance companies in Deer Lodge, or you could use online quoting to get rates in a matter of minutes.

Most of the larger companies belong to a marketplace that allows shoppers to send in one quote, and at least one company can give them a price for coverage. This prevents consumers from doing 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 system is you can't choose which providers you want to price. If you prefer to choose specific providers to compare prices, we put together a list of companies who write auto insurance in Montana. Click to view list.

However you get your quotes, ensure you are comparing exactly the same coverage information on every quote. If you use unequal deductibles or liability limits you can't possibly make a fair comparison in Deer Lodge. Slightly different coverages can result in a big premium difference. Just remember that comparing a large number of companies will increase your chances of finding the best offered rates.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Auto insurance companies don't always advertise every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list both the well known and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving.

Anti-theft Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
Multiple Vehicles - Buying insurance for multiple vehicles with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
Payment Method - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save up to 5%.
E-sign - Certain companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy digitally online.
Low Mileage - Fewer annual miles can qualify you for a substantially lower rate.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears all the discounts add up to a free policy, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

To choose providers who offer auto insurance discounts in Deer Lodge, click here.

Is there truth in advertising?

Companies like Allstate and Progressive continually stream television and radio advertisements. All the ads have a common claim about savings after switching your coverage to them. How can each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

All companies are able to cherry pick for the type of customer that makes them money. An example of a preferred risk might be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no driving citations, and has a short commute. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Consumers who don't measure up to the requirements will be charged higher rates and this can result in the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. That's the way companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings. That is why you need to quote coverage with many companies. It's impossible to know which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Even more information is available at the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance website. Visitors are able to read consumer alerts, report car insurance fraud, learn about insurance regulations, and view a list of available companies.

Final considerations

As you shop your coverage around, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, someone sacrificed liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The aim is to buy enough coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Cheap auto insurance can be bought both online as well as from independent agents in Deer Lodge, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers don't offer online price quotes and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.