Top Ways to Save on Dowagiac Auto Insurance

Nobody looks forward to paying for auto insurance, in particular when the price is too high.

Big-name insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive increase brand awareness with TV and radio ads and it can be hard to sift through the bull and find the best price available.

It's important to price shop coverage periodically because prices are constantly changing. Just because you found the best deal a few years ago you will most likely find a better rate today. Starting now, forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the proper way to lower your annual insurance bill.

If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to save some money using these methods. Buying car insurance in Dowagiac is easy if you know what you're doing. But Michigan drivers do need to know the methods companies use to sell online and take advantage of how the system works.

Save big with these discounts

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, buy you may qualify for discounts that you may not know about. Most are applied at quote time, but some must be manually applied in order for you to get them.

Discount for New Cars - Adding a new car to your policy is cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
Good Student - Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.
Homeowners Savings - Owning a house in Dowagiac can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home requires personal responsibility.
Payment Method - By paying your policy upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.
Clubs and Organizations - Participating in a civic or occupational organization may earn a discount on auto insurance.
Drivers Ed for Students - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course if it's offered in school.
Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles can qualify you for a substantially lower rate.
Military Discounts - Being deployed with a military unit may qualify for rate reductions.
Anti-lock Brakes - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. So even though it sounds like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will reduce your overall premium however.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Every situation is different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions may help highlight if your situation could use an agent's help.

Should I file a claim if it's only slightly more than my deductible?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Michigan?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
Am I getting all the discounts available?
Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?

If you can't answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. If you don't have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Auto insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm continually stream ads on TV and radio. They all seem to have a common claim that you'll save big after switching your policy. How can each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies have a certain "appetite" for the right customer that earns them a profit. An example of a desirable insured could possibly be over the age of 40, a clean driving record, and has a short commute. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" will get very good rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who fall outside the requirements will have to pay more money and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. That is how companies can make the claims of big savings.

Because of the profiling, you should compare as many rates as you can. It's impossible to know which company will fit your personal profile best.

Much more information about auto insurance in Michigan is available on the website for the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation found here. Michigan consumers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, file complaints about a company, get help finding coverage, and view a list of available companies.

Do the work, save more money

As you shop your coverage around, it's not a good idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are many occasions where someone dropped liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage at the best price.

You just read a lot of techniques to reduce auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the better your comparison will be. Drivers may discover the lowest premiums are with some of the smallest insurance companies. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than their larger competitors like .

Discount auto insurance can be sourced online in addition to many Dowagiac insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance providers do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.