7 Ways to Save on Car Insurance in North Oaks Minnesota

Nobody cherishes buying car insurance, particularly when they are paying too much. You have multiple to buy insurance from, and although it's a good thing to be able to choose, having more makes it harder to compare rates.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but you may find discounts to cut the cost considerably. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you purchase, but a few must be asked for before being credited. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

Driver Safety - Taking a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.
Anti-lock Brakes - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can reduce accidents and will save you 10% or more.
Student in College - Youth drivers who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
Accident Forgiveness - Certain companies allow you one accident before hitting you with a surcharge so long as you haven't had any claims for a certain period of time.
Auto/Home Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you may earn 10% to 20% off each policy.
Life Insurance Discount - Some companies give a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
Early Switch Discount - Some companies give discounts for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiration. It's a savings of about 10%.

Keep in mind that some credits don't apply to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates you could get a free car insurance policy, it just doesn't work that way. But any discount will bring down the amount you have to pay.

To choose insurers who offer car insurance discounts in Minnesota, click here.

Is there truth in advertising?

Consumers in Minnesota can't ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance by companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies have a common claim that you can save after switching to them.

How does each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of driver that makes them money. For instance, a profitable customer might be between the ages of 40 and 55, owns a home, and has great credit. Any new insured that hits that "sweet spot" will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Consumers who don't measure up to these standards must pay higher prices and this can result in the customer not buying. The ads state "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That is how insurance companies can advertise the savings.

This illustrates why you should compare as many rates as you can. It's just too difficult to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When buying the best car insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a "best" method to buy coverage. Every situation is different and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions might point out whether or not you will benefit from professional help.

Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Minnesota?
Why does it cost so much to insure a teen driver in North Oaks?
I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
What are the financial responsibility laws in Minnesota?

If you can't answer these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.

More information is located on the website for the Minnesota Department of Commerce found here. Visitors are able to discover disciplinary actions, read consumer alerts, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and get help finding coverage.

And the best car insurance company is...

Affordable car insurance can be bought both online and with local North Oaks insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who do not offer online price quotes and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, never buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut collision coverage and learned later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

We just covered a lot of ways to save on car insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the lowest priced car insurance comes from some of the smallest insurance companies. Some small companies can often insure niche markets at a lower cost compared to the large companies like .