Tightwads Guide to Saving on Holt Car Insurance

Tired of scraping the payment together each month for car insurance? You're in the same situation as many other drivers in Missouri.

With consumers having so many online and local companies to choose from, it is very difficult to find the lowest cost company.

Finding affordable car insurance coverage in Holt is not that difficult. Essentially every vehicle owner who has to buy car insurance should be able to reduce their rates. Nevertheless, Missouri car owners do need to know the way insurance companies market on the web and use this information to your advantage.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Holt

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that come into play when calculating your car insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that could result in better car insurance rates.

  • Protect yourself with liability coverage - The liability section of your policy will protect you if you are found to be at fault for damages from an accident. Liability insurance provides for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
  • Never let your coverage lapse - Driving without insurance is illegal and you will pay a penalty because you let your coverage have a gap. And not only will insurance be more expensive, but being ticketed for driving with no insurance can result in a revoked license or a big fine.You may then be required to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the Missouri DMV.
  • Small claims can cost you - If you are a frequent claim filer, you can definitely plan on either higher rates or even cancellation. Auto insurance companies in Missouri award discounts to policyholders who file claims infrequently. Car insurance is meant to be used in the event of major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • What type of vehicle do you drive? - The make and model of the vehicle you are insuring makes a big difference in your rates. The lowest rates are for small economy passenger cars, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
  • How's your driving record? - Whether or not you get tickets has a big impact on rates. Good drivers have lower premiums than people who have multiple driving citations. Even one citation can increase rates by twenty percent. Drivers with severe tickets like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state motor vehicle department in order to drive a vehicle legally.
  • Consolidate policies to earn discounts - The majority of insurers will award you with lower prices to policyholders who buy several policies from them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, you still need to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal. Consumers may find better rates by buying car insurance from a different company.
  • Better crash test results mean better rates - Safer cars can get you lower premiums. Safe vehicles result in less severe injuries and fewer injuries translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims passed on to you as lower rates.
  • With age comes lower rates - Young drivers in Missouri tend to get distracted easily in a vehicle so car insurance rates are higher. Mature drivers are more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and tend to be better behind the wheel.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but you may find discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you get a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be manually applied before you will receive the discount.

  • Organization Discounts - Belonging to a professional or civic organization is a good way to get lower rates when buying car insurance.
  • Seat Belts Save - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt can save 10% or more on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% depending on your company.
  • Sign Early and Save - Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching to them prior to your current policy expiration. It can save you around 10%.
  • Anti-theft System - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
  • Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Keeping the miles down can earn discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
  • Defensive Driving Course - Taking a driver safety course could save 5% or more if your company offers it.

It's important to understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. Even though it may seem like you could get a free car insurance policy, it doesn't quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce your premiums.

To choose insurers with the best car insurance discounts in Missouri, click here to view.

The car insurance bait and switch

Allstate, GEICO and Progressive regularly use ads in print and on television. All the companies make an identical promise of big savings if you move to them. But how can every company make the same claim?

Different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer could be a mature driver, is a homeowner, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer who meets those qualifications gets the lowest rates and therefore will save a lot of money.

Drivers who don't measure up to this ideal profile must pay higher premiums and ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save money. That's why insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do.

This illustrates why you should get as many quotes as possible. Because you never know the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional car insurance information can be found on the website for the Missouri Department of Insurance located here. Consumers can find out which companies have the most complaints, find a variety of consumer forms, download brochures, and learn about specific coverages.

Other informative sites include this link for Missouri car insurance quotes and this link which helps you find a Holt agent.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

Low-cost car insurance is definitely available from both online companies and with local Holt insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some car insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

We just showed you some good ideas how you can save on car insurance. The key concept to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the best price on car insurance is with the least-expected company. Some small companies can often provide lower rates in certain areas as compared to the big name companies such as .