Tightwads Guide to Saving on Maybee Auto Insurance

No one in their right mind likes having to buy auto insurance, especially knowing the price is too high. Because there are so many options when it comes to auto insurance, it can be impossible to choose the most cost effective company.

It's important to check auto insurance prices occasionally since insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you found the best deal a few years ago you may be paying too much now. So forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because it's time to teach you the proper way to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

Finding Auto Insurance Deals in Maybee, MI

Most major insurance companies provide prices for coverage online. Getting online quotes is fairly straightforward as you just type in your coverage preferences as detailed in the form. Behind the scenes, their system will obtain your credit score and driving record and returns a price determined by many factors. This makes comparing rates easy, but having to visit different websites and type in the same information is monotonous and tiresome. But it's very important to do this if you want to find the best price on auto insurance.

A less time-consuming method to get multiple rate quotes requires only one form that obtains quotes from multiple companies. The form is fast, reduces the work, and makes rate comparisons a little more enjoyable. As soon as you send your information, it gets priced with multiple companies and you can pick any or none of the returned quotes.

If a lower price is quoted, it's easy to complete the application and purchase coverage. The whole process only takes a few minutes and you will find out if you're overpaying now.

To quickly find out if lower rates are available, click here to open in new window and begin entering your coverage information. If you have a policy now, it's recommended you input the insurance coverages as close as possible to your current policy. This way, you will have an apples-to-apples comparison based on similar coverages.

What determines how much you pay?

It's important that you understand the different types of things that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.

Shown below are some of the factors companies use to determine rates.

Where you live can impact rates - Living in a rural area can be a good thing when buying auto insurance. Drivers who live in large cities have to deal with much more traffic and longer commute times. Less people living in that area means fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.
Consolidate policies to earn discounts - Some insurers will give a discount to people who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Lower deductibles cost more - Physical damage coverage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims are a windshield shattered by a rock, damage caused by hail, and rolling your vehicle. Deductibles for physical damage are how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The more money you're willing to pay, the lower your rates will be.
Frequent auto insurance claims increase rates - Car insurance companies in Michigan award discounts to insureds who file claims infrequently. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can look forward to either policy cancellation or increased premiums. Auto insurance is intended to be relied upon for larger claims.

Are you getting all your discounts?

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there are discounts available that you may not know about. Most are applied at the time of purchase, but some must be manually applied prior to receiving the credit. If you don't get every credit you qualify for, you're just leaving money on the table.

Bundle and Save - When you have multiple policies with one insurance company you may earn up to 20% off your total premium.
Anti-theft Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
Multiple Cars - Buying coverage for all your vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Federal Employees - Simply working for the federal government can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
Senior Discount - Older drivers may receive reduced rates.
Safety Course Discount - Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce individual premiums such as collision or personal injury protection. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will help reduce the cost of coverage.

For a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in Michigan, click here to view.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone's situation is a little different so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions might point out whether you could use an agent's help.

What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Michigan?
Should I buy additional glass protection?

If you're not sure about those questions then you might want to talk to an agent. If you don't have a local agent, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It's fast, free and can help protect your family.

Additional information is available on the website for the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation located here. Michigan drivers can view agent and company licensing information, read consumer alerts, report car insurance fraud, and download brochures.

Other useful links include Wikipedia and this Maybee agent directory.

A tidy conclusion

When shopping online for auto insurance, do not reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The ultimate goal is to find the BEST coverage at a price you can afford.

Cheaper auto insurance can be sourced on the web and with local Maybee insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some auto insurance companies do not offer online quoting and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.