How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Ghent

No one likes having to buy auto insurance, particularly when the cost is way too high. Because you have many options when it comes to auto insurance, it can be impossible to locate the right insurer.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Auto insurance companies don't always list all available discounts very well, so we took the time to find both the well known as well as the least known auto insurance savings. If you don't get every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

  • Multi-car Discount - Buying coverage for more than one vehicle on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.
  • Anti-theft Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
  • Accident Forgiveness - Some insurance companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up so long as you haven't had any claims prior to the accident.
  • Passive Restraint Discount - Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts can receive discounts of 20% or more.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most only cut individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like it's possible to get free car insurance, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

What determines how much you pay?

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

  • Lower deductibles cost more - Your deductibles represent how much money you are willing to pay in the event of a claim. Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims would be colliding with a building, collision with an animal, or theft. The higher the amount you're willing to pay, the lower your rates will be.
  • Better credit means lower rates - A driver's credit score is a important factor in determining your rates. If your credit score is lower than you'd like, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your rating. Drivers with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers who have poor credit.
  • Cautious drivers pay less - Good drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Just one moving violation can increase rates twenty percent or more. Drivers with serious tickets like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions are required to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
  • Multi-policy discounts can save money - Most companies will award you with lower prices to insureds who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to compare other company rates to make sure you are getting the best deal.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no perfect coverage plan. Everyone's needs are different so your insurance needs to address that. For instance, these questions might point out whether you will benefit from professional help.

  • Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
  • Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
  • Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation then you might want to talk to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and can help protect your family.

How can Allstate, GEICO and Progressive save drivers who switch?

Consumers in Minnesota get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance by companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies say the same thing about savings if you switch to them.

But how can every company claim to save you money?

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For example, a profitable customer might be between the ages of 40 and 55, owns a home, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Potential customers who are not a match for this ideal profile must pay higher prices which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is "customers that switch" not "everybody who quotes" save money. That is how companies can truthfully state the savings. This illustrates why drivers should quote coverage with many companies. It's impossible to know which company will give you the biggest savings.

Even more information can be found at the Minnesota Department of Commerce website. Visitors are able to report car insurance fraud, find out industry alerts, file complaints about a company, and read consumer alerts.

Also read more on this page for Minnesota auto insurance and this page for help finding agents in Ghent, MN.

Ghent auto insurance quote

In the end, you save

Cheap auto insurance is available both online and with local Ghent insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance companies do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When buying insurance coverage, do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. In too many instances, an insured cut physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your focus should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.

We covered many ways to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Drivers may discover the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a small local company. Regional companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than the large multi-state companies such as .