Free Guide to Spending Less for Farmington Auto Insurance Online

Sick and tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as the majority of other car owners in Missouri. Big-name insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive all promote huge savings with ad campaigns and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

It's important to get comparison quotes once or twice a year since insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest rates a few years ago you can probably find a better price now. So just forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because it's time to teach you the tricks you need to know to save on auto insurance.

If you have a current auto insurance policy or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to shop for the lowest rates while maximizing coverage. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Farmington is easy if you know what you're doing. Missouri vehicle owners just need to know the most efficient way to find the lowest price over the internet.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that help determine auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" that factor into rates.

Rate your vehicle for proper use - Driving more miles every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. The majority of insurers price each vehicle's coverage based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Double check that your auto insurance coverage is rated on the proper vehicle usage.
Theft deterrents lower rates - Driving a car with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder your car from being stolen.
Men pay higher rates - The statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, this does not mean men are WORSE drivers than women. Both sexes cause accidents in similar percentages, but the males have costlier accidents. They also get cited for more serious violations like reckless driving and DUI. Teenage male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
Keep rates low by being claim-free - Car insurance companies in Missouri provide cheaper rates to people who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you frequently file small claims, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Don't cancel a policy without a new one in place - Allowing your auto insurance policy to lapse will be a guaranteed way to increase your auto insurance rates. And not only will insurance be more expensive, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance may earn you a steep fine or even jail time.
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 lawyers, architects and dentists are shown to have the highest average rates because of stressful work requirements and long work days. Other jobs such as farmers, historians and performers pay the least.
Policy add-ons can waste money - There are a ton of extra bells and whistles that you can buy if you aren't careful. Insurance for personal injury protection, towing coverage and membership fees are examples of these. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but your needs may have changed so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always list all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we break down some of the best known as well as the least known auto insurance savings. If you aren't receiving every discount available, you are paying more than you should be.

New Vehicle Savings - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Payment Method - If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
Senior Discount - If you're over the age of 55, you may be able to get a discount up to 10%.
Drivers Ed for Students - Cut your cost by having your teen driver complete a driver education course if it's offered in school.
Use Seat Belts - Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could save 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off with select insurance companies.
No Claims - Claim-free drivers can save substantially as compared to accident-prone drivers.
Multiple Vehicles - Having multiple vehicles with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Organization Discounts - Affiliation with a civic or occupational organization could qualify you for a break on auto insurance.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don't profit that way.

To choose companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Farmington, follow this link.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Missouri drivers can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance from companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to say the same thing that you'll save big after switching your policy.

How can each company say the same thing?

Insurance companies can use profiling for the right customer that makes them money. For example, a desirable insured might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A propective insured who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Drivers who don't measure up to the requirements will have to pay higher premiums which usually ends up with business not being written. The ads state "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that kind of money. That's why companies can advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, you should get as many quotes as possible. It's not possible to predict the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More Missouri auto insurance information

More detailed Missouri auto insurance information can be found at the Missouri Department of Insurance website. Missouri drivers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, view a list of available companies, learn about insurance regulations, and download brochures.

A tidy conclusion

When shopping online for auto insurance, it's not a good idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The ultimate goal is to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford.

Discount auto insurance can be bought on the web in addition to many Farmington insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies do not provide online price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.