Proven Ways to Save on Menomonie Auto Insurance

Scraping up a payment for overpriced auto insurance can dwindle your savings account and make it hard to pay other bills. Doing a price comparison is a smart way to make sure you're not throwing money away. Having so many choices, it is hard for the average consumer to find the best company.

It's important to compare rates yearly since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best rates a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding auto insurance online but we're going to give you some great ways to reduce your auto insurance bill.

This article will teach you the most effective way to quote insurance. If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to reduce your rates substantially using these methods. Wisconsin vehicle owners just need to know the most efficient way to get comparison rates online.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

Listed below are some of the items auto insurance companies consider when setting your rates.

How credit affects auto insurance rates - Your credit score is a large factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. So if your credit is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by improving your rating. Drivers who have excellent credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims as compared to drivers with poor credit.
Your location affects your rates - Residing in a rural area has it's advantages when buying auto insurance. City drivers regularly have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents and a lower car theft rate.
Consolidate policies to earn discounts - Most companies give discounts to people who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, you may still want to comparison shop to ensure the best deal.
Teen drivers pay high rates - Teenage drivers in Wisconsin are statistically proven to be less responsible when driving so auto insurance rates are higher. Having to add a teenage driver to your auto insurance policy can break the bank. More mature drivers tend to be more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.
Don't sacrifice liability coverage - Liability insurance is the protection in the event that a jury decides you are liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. It will provide you with a defense in court starting from day one. Liability is cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.

Compare Auto Insurance Today

Reducing your insurance rates can be relatively painless. You just have to invest a little time to get quotes from different insurance companies. This can be accomplished in several different ways.

The fastest way to find the lowest comparison rates is to use a rate comparison form (click to open form in new window). This method saves time by eliminating separate quotes for every auto insurance company. A single, simple form compares rates instantly.
A less efficient way to get quotes online is going to the website for each individual company to complete a price quote. For example, let's assume you want comparison quotes from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to visit each site and enter your information, which is why most consumers use the first method. To view a list of companies in Menomonie, click here.

Which method you use is up to you, but make sure you use apples-to-apples coverage limits and deductibles with each company. If you have different liability limits it will be impossible to make an equal comparison in Menomonie.

Save big with these discounts

Car insurance is not cheap, but there could be available discounts that many people don't even know exist. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of quoting, but some may not be applied and must be manually applied before you will receive the discount. If you don't get every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

Anti-lock Brake Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.
Multi-policy Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you could get a discount of up to 20% off your total premium.
Anti-theft Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Discount for Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with a break if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
Resident Student - Children living away from home attending college and do not have a car may qualify for this discount.
E-sign - Certain companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up online.
Organization Discounts - Affiliation with a professional or civic organization could qualify you for a break on your policy.
Government Employees - Employees or retirees of the government can save as much as 8% with certain companies.
Own a Home - Being a homeowner may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because owning a home demonstrates responsibility.
Service Members Pay Less - Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.

Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way. But all discounts will help reduce your overall premium however.

To choose providers offering auto insurance discounts in Wisconsin, follow this link.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Wisconsin drivers can't ignore all the ads for car insurance savings by Allstate and Progressive. All the ads say the same thing that you'll save big if you switch to their company.

But how can every company say the same thing?

All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that makes them money. A good example of a preferred risk might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A propective insured who fits that profile will get very good rates and most likely will save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who fall outside this ideal profile will be charged more money which usually ends up with business not being written. The ads say "people who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. This is how companies can advertise the way they do.

That is why you need to get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is no one size fits all plan. Everyone's needs are different and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. These are some specific questions can help discover if your situation might need an agent's assistance.

Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in Menomonie?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?

If you don't know the answers to these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area. It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Much more information about auto insurance in Wisconsin can be read on the website for the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance through this link. Wisconsin drivers can find out industry alerts, view agent and company licensing information, read consumer alerts, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Other informative sites include BankRate.com's Car Insurance: When not to Skimp and this directory of Menomonie insurance agents.

A tidy conclusion

When shopping online for auto insurance, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, consumers will sacrifice collision coverage and discovered at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The aim is to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.

Budget-conscious auto insurance can be found on the web and also from your neighborhood Menomonie agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.