Tightwads Tips for Saving on Manistee Auto Insurance

Tired of trying to scrape together enough money each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other Michigan drivers. Drivers have multiple to pick from, and even though it's nice to have a choice, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

Comprehensive Auto Insurance Comparison in Manistee

Getting better auto insurance pricing doesn't have to be difficult. Consumers just need to spend a few minutes on the computer comparing rate quotes online with multiple companies. This can be done using a couple different methods.

The first (and easiest) way to compare a lot of rates at once is a comparison rater form click to view form in new window. This method prevents you from having to do repetitive form submissions for every auto insurance company. Taking the time to complete one form gets you coverage quotes from multiple companies.

A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online consists of going to the website for every company you want to comare to request a price quote. For instance, let's assume you want rates from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Manistee, click here.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just double check that you are using identical coverages for each price quote. If you are comparing different limits and deductibles on each one then you won't be able to truly determine the lowest rate in Manistee.

auto insurance in Manistee

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

It's important that you understand some of the elements that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

  • Better crash test results mean better rates - Cars with high safety ratings are cheaper to insure. Safe vehicles reduce injuries and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.
  • An active claims history can cost you - Auto insurance companies in Michigan provide lower rates to insureds who are claim-free. If you file claims often, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Auto insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • Where do you drive? - The more you drive every year the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Most insurance companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles left parked in the garage receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your auto insurance policy shows the correct driver usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
  • Men fork out a little more - The statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that men are worse drivers. Women and men have accidents in similar numbers, but the male of the species cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also tend to get cited for more serious violations such as DWI and reckless driving.
  • Traffic violations increase rates - Whether or not you get tickets has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Only having one citation can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers get better rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers with severe tickets like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence are required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to drive a vehicle legally.
  • Extra coverages can waste money - There are a lot of extra bells and whistles that you can get tricked into buying on your auto insurance policy. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, accidental death and term life insurance are examples of these. These may sound like a good investment initially, but if they're wasting money eliminate them to save money.
  • Performance makes a difference - The make and model of the vehicle you are insuring makes a substantial difference in determining your rates. The lowest base rates are generally reserved for small economy passenger vehicles, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Auto insurance companies do not list all available discounts very clearly, so we researched both well-publicized and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings. If you're not getting every credit available, you're just leaving money on the table.

  • Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Keeping the miles down could be rewarded with lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Drivers Education - Require your teen driver to enroll in driver's education in high school.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Simply working for the federal government can save as much as 8% depending on your company.
  • Discount for Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
  • One Accident Forgiven - Certain companies allow you one accident without raising rates so long as you haven't had any claims prior to the accident.
  • Defensive Driving Course - Completing a course in driver safety could save 5% or more depending on where you live.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most credits do not apply to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like it's possible to get free car insurance, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

For a list of insurers with the best auto insurance discounts in Michigan, follow this link.

Even more information is located at the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation website. Michigan consumers can find disaster information, download brochures, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and learn about insurance regulations.

Other useful links include this page for auto insurance prices in Michigan and this page of Manistee insurance agents.

compare Manistee auto insurance rates

In the end, you save

Cheap auto insurance is definitely available online and also from your neighborhood Manistee agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some companies may not provide online quoting and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

While you're price shopping online, make sure you don't reduce needed coverages to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured dropped collision coverage and learned later they didn't purchase enough coverage. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.