Easy Methods to Spend Less on Osceola Auto Insurance

Saving money on Osceola auto insurance is hard for consumers not familiar with shopping for insurance online. People have so many options available that it can be more work than you anticipated to locate the lowest price in Osceola.

It's important to get comparison quotes once or twice a year because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest price a year ago you can probably find a better price now. There is a lot of wrong information about auto insurance online, so we're going to give you some great ways to quit paying high auto insurance rates.

Buying car insurance in Osceola is easy if you know what you're doing. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to cut costs considerably using these methods. But Wisconsin consumers do need to know the methods companies use to price insurance differently because it can help you find the best coverage.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that can help you get much lower annual insurance costs.

The following are a partial list of the pieces that factor into your rates.

How many coverages with the same company - Many insurance companies give discounts to insureds who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, you still need to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. You may still find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.
Lower rates with optional equipment - Driving a car with an alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all hinder auto theft.
Your location affects your rates - Being located in small towns and rural areas has it's advantages when talking about auto insurance. Urban drivers regularly have congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Less people living in that area means reduced accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft.
Cautious drivers pay less - Your driving record has a big impact on rates. Drivers with clean records have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Even a single ticket may increase your cost by twenty percent. Drivers who get flagrant violations like hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may be required to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to keep their license.
Low deductibles can be expensive - Physical damage coverage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered would be a windshield shattered by a rock, damage from fire, and windstorm damage. The deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend in the event of a claim. The more the insured has to pay upfront, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
Do you have a high stress job? - Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for auto insurance? Occupations like judges, social workers and stock brokers are shown to have the highest rates because of stressful work requirements and long work days. On the other hand, professions such as farmers, students and performers pay the least.
Do men or women drive better? - The statistics show women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, this does not mean men are WORSE drivers than women. Both sexes tend to get into accidents in similar numbers, but men have costlier accidents. Men also get more serious tickets like DUI and reckless driving. Teenage male drivers are most likely to cause an accident and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.

Save big with these discounts

Auto insurance companies don't always advertise every available discount very well, so we researched both the well known as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving.

Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
Payment Method - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
Multi-policy Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you will save at least 10% off all policies.
Good Students Pay Less - This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.
Homeowners Pay Less - Being a homeowner can save you money due to the fact that maintaining a home shows financial diligence.
No Claims - Claim-free drivers pay much less compared to accident-prone drivers.
One Accident Forgiven - Some insurance companies will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free for a set time period.
Passive Restraint Discount - Vehicles with factory air bags can receive discounts of more than 20%.
Low Mileage - Fewer annual miles could be rewarded with a substantially lower rate.
Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off with certain companies.

Drivers should understand that some credits don't apply to the entire cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way.

To choose providers who offer auto insurance discounts in Wisconsin, click here.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Companies like Allstate and Progressive continually stream ads on TV and radio. All the ads have a common claim that you'll save big after switching your policy. But how can every company claim to save you money?

Insurance companies can use profiling for the right customer that makes them money. For instance, a preferred risk might be over the age of 40, has no tickets, and has excellent credit. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" is entitled to the best price and most likely will save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who fall outside this ideal profile will be charged more money and this can result in the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. That's why companies can make those claims. That is why you should quote coverage with many companies. It's impossible to know the company that will have the lowest rates.

More Wisconsin auto insurance information

More detailed Wisconsin auto insurance information is located at the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance website. Visitors are able to read consumer alerts, view a list of available companies, and view agent and company licensing information.

Other informative sites include BankRate.com's Car Insurance: When not to Skimp and this Osceola agent directory.

Final considerations

While you're price shopping online, don't be tempted to buy poor coverage just to save money. Too many times, an insured dropped collision coverage and learned later they didn't purchase enough coverage. The aim is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Drivers change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as policy non-renewal, unfair underwriting practices, poor customer service or even high rates after DUI convictions. Whatever your reason, choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.

We covered a lot of ways to save on auto insurance. The most important thing to understand is the more quotes you get, the better your comparison will be. Drivers may discover the lowest premiums are with a small local company.