Minnesota City Auto Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Are you intimidated by the number of auto insurance choices in Minnesota City? Lot's of other consumers are too. You have so many options that it can turn into a ton of work to locate the lowest price.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to save some money using these methods. Buying affordable coverage in Minnesota City is simple if you know the tricks. Although Minnesota vehicle owners do need to know how insurance companies price online insurance and take advantage of how the system works.

Take advantage of discounts

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but companies offer discounts that many people don't even know exist. Some discounts apply automatically when you purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be specifically requested before being credited.

  • No Claims - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can earn big discounts when compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Multi-car Discount - Insuring more than one vehicle on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
  • Multiple Policy Discount - If you have multiple policies with the same company you may save approximately 10% to 15%.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver's ed class in school.
  • New Vehicle Savings - Buying coverage on a new vehicle is cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
  • Low Mileage Discounts - Driving fewer miles can qualify you for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
  • Paperwork-free - A handful of insurance companies give back up to $50 for buying your policy digitally online.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will reduce your overall premium however.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to big savings.

  • Your job and insurance rates - Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Careers like doctors, architects and dentists are shown to have the highest average rates attributed to high stress levels and lots of time spent at work. Other professions such as actors, historians and homemakers pay the least.
  • Do you know your deductibles? - Your deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay before your auto insurance pays a claim. Physical damage coverage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered are running into the backend of another car, collision with an animal, and rolling your vehicle. The more money the insured has to pay upfront, the less your auto insurance will be.
  • How many coverages with the same company - Most companies provide better rates to people who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. Discounts can be anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you're getting this discount you may still want to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still be able to find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
  • More claims means more premium - Companies in Minnesota provide cheaper rates to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can look forward to either higher rates or even cancellation. Insurance coverage is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
  • More miles equals more premium - The more miles you rack up on your car in a year the higher your rate. The majority of insurers price each vehicle's coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles not used for work or commuting can get a lower rate than those used for commuting. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy is rated on how each vehicle is driven, because it can save money.
  • Add-on coverages can add up - There are many extra coverages that can waste your money if you aren't careful. Insurance for roadside assistance, accident forgiveness and membership fees are examples of these. These may sound like a good investment at first, but your needs may have changed so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Auto insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. They all say the same thing about savings if you switch your policy. How can each company say the same thing?

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that earns them a profit. An example of a driver they prefer might be profiled as over the age of 50, has no driving citations, and has excellent credit. A propective insured who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Consumers who don't qualify for the requirements will be quoted higher prices which usually ends up with business not being written. The ad wording is "people who switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. That's the way companies can truthfully make those claims.

This emphasizes why drivers should get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates.

Learn more about Minnesota auto insurance

Additional information is available on the Minnesota Department of Commerce website through this link. Minnesota drivers can read industry bulletins, report car insurance fraud, and read consumer alerts.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

Consumers switch companies for many reasons like high rates after DUI convictions, lack of trust in their agent, policy non-renewal and even extreme rates for teen drivers. No matter why you want to switch, finding the right auto insurance provider is less work than it seems.

The cheapest auto insurance can be found on the web in addition to many Minnesota City insurance agents, and you should be comparing both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and these smaller companies work with independent agents.

While you're price shopping online, it's a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where someone sacrificed comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time they didn't purchase enough coverage. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.