How to Get Cheap Elkhart Lake Car Insurance

Searching for low-cost Elkhart Lake car insurance online can seem to be rather challenging for beginners to online price comaprisons. When there are so many companies competing online, how can consumers possibly compare every one to find the best available rates?

Buying car insurance in Elkhart Lake is quite easy. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to cut costs considerably using these methods. Nevertheless, Wisconsin car owners do need to know the way companies market on the web because it can help you find the best coverage.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that come into play when calculating your car insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates enables informed choices that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces car insurance companies consider when setting prices.

  • Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Careers like judges, social workers and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates in part from job stress and long work days. Conversely, professions such as pilots, engineers and the unemployed receive lower rates.
  • High deductibles save money - The deductibles define the amount you are required to spend out-of-pocket if you file a covered claim. Physical damage insurance, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are running into the backend of another car, vandalism, and windstorm damage. The more you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the bigger discount you will receive.
  • With age comes lower rates - Young drivers in Wisconsin tend to be careless and easily distracted when driving so they pay higher car insurance rates. Parents adding a teen driver to your car insurance policy can be very expensive. More mature drivers are more cautious drivers, statistically cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations.
  • Being married is a good thing - Having a wife or husband actually saves money on car insurance. Having a significant other means you're more mature and responsible it has been statistically shown that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • Men fork out a little more - Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that men are worse drivers. Both sexes tend to get into accidents in similar numbers, but the men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also statistically get more serious tickets such as reckless driving.
  • Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? - The majority of insurance companies provide better rates to policyholders who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, it's in your best interest to comparison shop to ensure the best deal.

Take advantage of discounts

Companies don't always advertise every discount very clearly, so we researched some of the more common and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving.

  • No Accidents - Drivers who don't have accidents pay much less when compared to accident-prone drivers.
  • Own a Home - Simply owning a home can save you money because of the fact that having a home shows financial diligence.
  • Government Employees - Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off with a few car insurance companies.
  • New Car Discount - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Good Student Discount - This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you up to age 25.
  • Paperwork-free - A few companies will give a small break simply for signing over the internet.
  • Accident Waiver - Certain companies will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
  • Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don't profit that way.

To choose insurance companies with the best car insurance discounts in Wisconsin, click here.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Car insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO regularly use ads on TV and radio. They all have a common claim of big savings if you move to their company. How does each company make the same claim? This is how they do it.

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. For instance, a driver they prefer could be between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has a high credit rating. A customer that hits that "sweet spot" will get very good rates and most likely will save when switching.

Potential customers who don't qualify for these standards will be quoted a higher premium and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ads say "drivers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. This is how insurance companies can confidently state the savings. This emphasizes why you should compare many company's rates. Because you never know which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

For more Wisconsin car insurance information

More tips and info about car insurance is located at the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance website. Consumers can read industry bulletins, report car insurance fraud, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Final considerations

Drivers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including high rates after DUI convictions, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, not issuing a premium refund or even denial of a claim. No matter why you want to switch, switching car insurance companies is easier than you think.

Cost effective car insurance is definitely available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Elkhart Lake agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

As you restructure your insurance plan, it's very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There are too many instances where drivers have reduced collision coverage and learned later that they should have had better coverage. Your strategy should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.