How to Know You're Throwing Money Away for Auto Insurance in Fair Grove

Are you sick and tired of scraping the payment together each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other drivers in Missouri. Consumers have many to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

It's important to compare rates before your policy renews since insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price two years ago a different company probably has better rates today. Forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate one of the best ways to reduce your cost while improving coverage.

Finding affordable coverage in Fair Grove is quite easy. If you are paying for car insurance now, you will most likely be able to cut costs considerably using this information. Missouri drivers only need an understanding of how to compare rates over the internet.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies that sell car insurance don't necessarily list all their discounts very clearly, so we researched some of the best known as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using. If you're not getting every credit available, you are throwing money away.

Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in Fair Grove can help you save on auto insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
Employee of Federal Government - Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.
College Student - Kids in college who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
Bundle and Save - If you have multiple policies with one company you will save approximately 10% to 15%.
Drivers Education - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course if it's offered in school.
Life Insurance - Larger companies have a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
Payment Method - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.

It's important to understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. A few only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because you may think all those discounts means the company will pay you, it doesn't quite work that way.

You have some control over your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that help determine auto insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

The following are a partial list of the pieces auto insurance companies consider when setting rates.

Bump up deductibles to save - Coverage for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply are a windshield shattered by a rock, vandalism, or theft. Deductibles for physical damage are how much you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. The more you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
Your auto insurance rates can be influenced by your job - Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Jobs such as judges, business owners and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates because of job stress and lots of time spent at work. Conversely, occupations like farmers, engineers and performers receive lower rates.
Older drivers pay less - Teenage drivers in Missouri are known to be more careless in a vehicle so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, file fewer claims and are safer drivers.
High numbers of claims are not good - Car insurance companies in Missouri award lower rates to policyholders who are claim-free. If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Insurance coverage is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
How credit affects auto insurance rates - Credit history is a important factor in your rate calculation. If your credit is not that good, you could potentially save money when insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers who have high credit scores tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers with lower credit scores.
Proper usage rating affects rates - Driving more miles every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies price each vehicle's coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks not used for work or commuting receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Ask your agent if your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Special features that cut premiums - Driving a car with an alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention features like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all hinder car theft.
Safer occupants lowers premiums - Vehicles with good safety scores can get you lower premiums. These vehicles reduce injuries and better occupant protection translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Missouri drivers get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance by State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to make an identical promise of big savings after switching to their company.

How does each company say the same thing?

All the different companies can use profiling for the driver that earns them a profit. For instance, a desirable insured might be profiled as over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and chooses high deductibles. A propective insured who meets those qualifications receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential customers who don't qualify for these standards will have to pay a higher premium and ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That's why insurance companies can confidently state the savings. Because of the profiling, drivers should get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Learn more today

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the Missouri Department of Insurance website. Missouri drivers can report car insurance fraud, read industry bulletins, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and download brochures.

In the end, you save

Low-cost auto insurance can be bought on the web and also from your neighborhood Fair Grove agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection. Some insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

When buying insurance coverage, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many cases, an accident victim reduced liability coverage limits only to discover later that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your aim should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford.