Easy Ways to Pay Less on Jenison Car Insurance

Buying cheap Jenison car insurance on the web can seem to be impossible for beginners to shopping for insurance online. With so many choices of online companies, how can consumers effectively compare every one to find the best pricing?

It's important to compare prices yearly since rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the best price a year ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because we're going to demonstrate the proper way to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Jenison is quite easy. Essentially anyone who has to buy car insurance will most likely be able to reduce their rates. Nevertheless, Michigan car owners do need to know how insurance companies sell insurance online and apply this information to your search.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't list all their discounts very clearly, so we took the time to find some of the more common and also the lesser-known ways to save on car insurance.

  • Auto/Life Discount - Larger companies have a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
  • Bundle and Save - When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same insurance company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
  • Good Student Discount - A discount for being a good student can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
  • Accident Waiver - Certain companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums as long as you don't have any claims prior to the accident.
  • Anti-theft Discount - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Sign Online - Certain companies will give a small break simply for signing over the internet.
  • Memberships - Belonging to a qualifying organization could trigger savings on car insurance.

It's important to understand that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Even though it may seem like you can get free auto insurance, it doesn't quite work that way.

To see a list of companies offering car insurance discounts in Michigan, click this link.

Michigan car insurance quotes

How to Get Cheap Car Insurance in Jenison, MI

Comparing car insurance rates can be challenging if you aren't aware of the best way to get rate quotes. You can waste a lot of time talking to local insurance agents in Jenison, or you could use the internet to achieve your goal.

Many insurance companies enroll in a system that enables customers to enter their policy data once, and every company then returns a price quote based on that data. This system prevents you from having to do quote forms to each individual car insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

One minor caviat to using this type of form is you don't know exactly which carriers you want to price. If you wish to select specific providers to receive pricing from, we have a listing of companies who write car insurance in Michigan. Click here for list of insurance companies in Michigan.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just make sure you use identical coverages and limits with each company. If you have different deductibles then you won't be able to make an equal comparison in Jenison. Having just a slight variation in coverage limits may cause a big price difference. And when comparing car insurance rates, know that obtaining a wide range of quotes helps locate a lower rate.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that go into determining your car insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates enables informed choices that may reward you with lower car insurance prices.

  • More people means more accidents - Residing in a rural area can be a good thing when it comes to car insurance. Drivers in populated areas have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer people translates into fewer accidents.
  • Tickets mean higher rates - Careful drivers get better rates than bad drivers. Only having one citation can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who have serious citations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
  • How many coverages with the same company - Most car insurance companies will give a discount to policyholders who buy several policies from them in the form of a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, it's still a good idea to compare rates to ensure the best deal.
  • Being married can save on car insurance - Having a spouse can actually save you money on your car insurance policy. It means you're more mature and responsible and statistics show married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • Are you male or female? - Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn't necessarily mean that men are worse drivers. Women and men cause accidents in similar percentages, but the males cause more damage. They also have more aggressive citations such as reckless driving. Male drivers age 16 to 19 are the most expensive to insure and therefore have the most expensive car insurance rates.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a "perfect" insurance plan. Every situation is different.

Here are some questions about coverages that can help discover whether or not you may require specific advice.

  • When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
  • What are the best liability limits?
  • Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Michigan?
  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
  • Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
  • Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, simply complete this short form.

The car insurance bait and switch

Car insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads in print and on television. They all seem to make the same claim of big savings if you switch to their company. How does each company make the same claim? It's all in the numbers.

All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that is profitable for them. For example, a desirable insured could be over the age of 50, has no prior claims, and has excellent credit. Any new insured who matches those parameters will get very good rates and therefore will save when switching.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to these standards will have to pay more money which leads to business going elsewhere. The ads say "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. This is how insurance companies can confidently make those claims. Because of the profiling, drivers must get a wide range of price quotes. It's just too difficult to predict which insurance companies will have the lowest rates.

Final considerations

While you're price shopping online, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to discover later they didn't purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to find the BEST coverage at the best price.

You just learned many ideas to compare car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even discover the biggest savings come from some of the smallest insurance companies.

Low-cost car insurance is available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Jenison agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies may not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

Michigan car insurance quotes

More tips and info about car insurance can be found at the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation website. Consumers can view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about a company, and read consumer alerts.