Consumer Tested Strategies to Save on Des Moines Auto Insurance

I can't think of anyone who enjoys paying for auto insurance, in particular when the cost is way too high.

Because there are so many different company options, it's difficult to locate the best provider.

Finding affordable coverage in Des Moines is easy if you know what you're doing. In a nutshell, everyone who is required by state law to have auto insurance will be able to lower their premiums. But Washington drivers do need to know how insurance companies price online insurance and apply this information to your search.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Car insurance companies don't always advertise all available discounts very well, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and the harder-to-find savings tricks you should be using.

  • Defensive Driver - Taking a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more if you qualify.
  • Anti-lock Brake System - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of more than 20%.
  • Lower Rates for Military - Being on active duty in the military could mean lower rates.
  • Claim Free - Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially when compared with drivers who are more careless.
  • Homeowners Savings - Owning a home in Des Moines can help you save on auto insurance because owning a home is proof that your finances are in order.
  • Driver's Ed - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver's education in school.
  • Student in College - Kids in college who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have a car can receive lower rates.
  • Auto/Home Discount - If you have multiple policies with one company you may earn 10% to 20% off each policy.

Consumers should know that most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don't profit that way.

auto insurance in Des Moines

Tips to Get Lower Des Moines Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay empowers consumers to make smart changes that could result in better auto insurance rates.

  • Don't buy coverages you don't need - There are many additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your auto insurance policy. Things like vanishing deductibles, accidental death and additional equipment coverage may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea when talking to your agent, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
  • High credit ratings translate to low rates - A driver's credit score is a huge factor in determining your rates. If your credit history is lower than you'd like, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your rating. People with high credit ratings tend to be more responsible as compared to drivers with poor credit.
  • Traffic violations increase rates - Only having one moving violation can bump up the cost by twenty percent. Drivers who don't get tickets tend to pay less for car insurance than bad drivers. Drivers with serious tickets like DUI or reckless driving are required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
  • Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance - Safer cars can get you lower premiums. Safe vehicles protect occupants better and lower injury rates means less money paid by your insurance company passed on to you as lower rates.

Insurance agents can help

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Everyone's situation is unique so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions might point out whether your personal situation may require specific advice.

  • Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
  • Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
  • Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
  • Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
  • Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
  • Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
  • Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?

If you're not sure about those questions then you might want to talk to an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, take a second and complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Save $429 a year? Really?

21st Century, Allstate and State Farm constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. All the companies make an identical promise that you'll save big if you switch your coverage to them. But how can every company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For example, a profitable customer could possibly be over the age of 50, owns a home, and has a high credit rating. A driver who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Consumers who don't qualify for this ideal profile must pay higher prices and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. That is how companies can state the savings. This illustrates why drivers should compare as many rates as you can. It is impossible to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

More detailed Washington auto insurance information can be found at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner website. Washington consumers can discover disciplinary actions, find out industry alerts, file complaints about a company, and find disaster information.

Also read more on this resource for Washington auto insurance prices and this link which helps you find a Des Moines agent.

Des Moines auto insurance quote

Shop smart and save

Discount auto insurance can be found online as well as from independent agents in Des Moines, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you restructure your insurance plan, don't be tempted to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that they should have had better coverage. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.

In this article, we presented some good ideas how you can reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the better chance you'll have of finding lower rates. Drivers may discover the biggest savings come from a smaller regional carrier. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates compared to the large companies like .