Buy the Cheapest Granite Falls Car Insurance

Expensive car insurance can empty your bank account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Comparison shopping is a smart way to tighten up your finances.

Online insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive continually bombard you with ad campaigns and it can be hard to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to compare rates quite often due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best price six months ago you can probably find a better price now. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because you're about to find out the fastest and easiest way to reduce your cost while improving coverage.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get lower car insurance prices.

Bad driving skills means higher rates - Careful drivers have lower premiums than people who have multiple driving citations. Just one moving violation can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who get severe violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) to the state department of motor vehicles in order to drive a vehicle legally.
Men fork out a little more - Statistics have proven women are more cautious behind the wheel. However, don't assume that men are worse drivers. Women and men cause accidents in similar percentages, but men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also get cited for more serious violations like DUI and reckless driving.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Occupations like lawyers, architects and dentists tend to have the highest average rates because of high stress levels and lengthy work days. Other jobs such as pilots, historians and the unemployed receive lower rates.
Special features that cut premiums - Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.
With age comes lower rates - More mature drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel. Youthful drivers tend to be more careless when driving and because of this, their car insurance rates are much higher.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but there could be available discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you quote, but less common discounts must be requested specifically prior to getting the savings.

Good Student Discount - This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply up to age 25.
Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for better car insurance rates.
No Accidents - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially compared to accident-prone drivers.
Pay Upfront and Save - If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
Resident Student - Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home without a vehicle on campus may be able to be covered for less.
Discount for Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give better rates if you take out a life insurance policy as well.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most credits do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So even though they make it sound like it's possible to get free car insurance, car insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will reduce your premiums.

To choose providers with the best car insurance discounts in Granite Falls, follow this link.

The car insurance bait and switch

Companies like State Farm and Allstate regularly use ads in print and on television. All the ads say the same thing about savings if you move to their company. How can each company claim to save you money?

All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. For example, a preferred risk might be a mature driver, insures multiple vehicles, and has a high credit rating. Any driver who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the requirements will be charged a higher premium which usually ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. This is how companies can truthfully state the savings.

That is why you should compare as many rates as you can. You cannot predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Everyone's situation is a little different and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. Here are some questions about coverages that may help you determine whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Minnesota?
Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.

Additional information can be found on the website for the Minnesota Department of Commerce located here. Visitors are able to file complaints about a company, learn about insurance regulations, read industry bulletins, and view a list of available companies.

Do the work, save more money

We just presented a lot of information how to save on car insurance. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Drivers may discover the best price on car insurance is with some of the lesser-known companies. Some small companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments as compared to the big name companies such as .

As you restructure your insurance plan, it's not a good idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced physical damage coverage only to discover later that they should have had better coverage. Your goal should be to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.