Top Ways to Save on Linn Auto Insurance

Tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than millions of other consumers.

There are many to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to be able to choose, it makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to check auto insurance prices once or twice a year since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest price six months ago you can probably find a better price now. There is a lot of bad information regarding auto insurance on the web, but I'm going to show you some great ways to quit paying high auto insurance rates.

Finding the best rates in Linn is quite easy. If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to cut costs considerably using this strategy. Nevertheless, Missouri vehicle owners do need to know the way companies price insurance differently because it can help you find the best coverage.

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine auto insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

The following are a partial list of the pieces companies use to determine rates.

More miles equals more premium - Driving more miles every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most companies price each vehicle's coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars that are left in the garage receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Verify your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Theft deterrents lower rates - Driving a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention features like GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all hinder auto theft.
Low deductibles can be expensive - Coverage for physical damage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims are colliding with a building, collision with an animal, and rolling your vehicle. The deductibles are how much you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. The more you're willing to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
Better credit means lower rates - Credit history is a large factor in your rate calculation. If your credit is not that good, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers with excellent credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with lower credit scores.
Do you have a high stress job? - Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Jobs such as judges, social workers and financial analysts tend to pay higher average rates attributed to job stress and long work hours. Conversely, occupations such as farmers, engineers and performers have the lowest average rates.
Being married is a good thing - Having a wife or husband can get you a discount on auto insurance. It is viewed as being more mature and responsible and it's statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
Drive a safer car and pay less - Safer cars get lower rates. These vehicles result in less severe injuries and better occupant protection translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.

These discounts can lower your rates

Companies don't always list all their discounts very clearly, so we researched some of the best known and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving.

New Vehicle Savings - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
Payment Method - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you can actually save on your bill.
Life Insurance Discount - Larger companies have a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in Linn can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% with select insurance companies.
Air Bag Discount - Factory air bags may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
Accident Free - Claim-free drivers pay much less as compared to accident-prone drivers.

It's important to understand that some of the credits will not apply to the entire cost. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free auto insurance policy, it doesn't quite work that way.

To choose companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Missouri, click here.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Auto insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive continually stream ads on television and other media. They all seem to have a common claim of big savings after switching to them. How does each company say the same thing?

Different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that makes them money. For instance, a desirable insured might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has a high credit rating. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" will get the preferred rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Drivers who are not a match for these standards will have to pay higher premiums and this can result in business not being written. The ads state "people who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save money. That's why insurance companies can confidently state the savings. Because of the profiling, you should compare many company's rates. It's not possible to predict the company that will have the lowest rates.

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the Missouri Department of Insurance website. Missouri drivers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, view a list of available companies, report car insurance fraud, and find out industry alerts.

Shop smart and save

As you restructure your insurance plan, never buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, an insured dropped collision coverage and learned later that they should have had better coverage. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate.

Low-cost auto insurance can be purchased on the web and with local Linn insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.