5 Ways to Save on Car Insurance in Oswego

If you are a novice to online car insurance shopping, it's easy to be confused by the large number of car insurance companies all offering big savings in Oswego.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates periodically since rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best price a year ago a different company probably has better rates today. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because we're going to demonstrate one of the best ways to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

More discounts equal less premium

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you can get discounts to cut the cost considerably. Some discounts apply automatically at the time you complete a quote, but less common discounts must be specifically requested prior to getting the savings.

Bundle and Save - If you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you may earn up to 20% off your total premium.
Good Student - Performing well in school can get you a discount of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
College Student - Any of your kids who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle may be able to be covered for less.
Auto/Life Discount - Some companies give a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Senior Citizens - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get better car insurance rates.

Keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it just doesn't work that way. But any discount will bring down your premiums.

It's not one size fits all

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a "best" method to buy coverage. Every situation is different.

Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight if you may require specific advice.

What are the best liability limits?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Kansas?
Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Car insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive continually stream ads in print and on television. They all seem to make the same claim that you can save after switching to their company. How does each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that earns them a profit. For example, a desirable insured might be over the age of 50, a clean driving record, and has excellent credit. Any new insured who matches those parameters gets the lowest rates and therefore will save when switching.

Potential customers who do not match these standards will have to pay a more expensive rate which leads to the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That is how insurance companies can make those claims.

Because of the profiling, drivers should get quotes from several different companies. It's just too difficult to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

Additional Kansas consumer information

More information can be found on the Kansas Insurance Department website found here. Visitors are able to view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about a company, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Also read more on Wikipedia and this Oswego agent directory.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

While you're price shopping online, make sure you don't skimp on coverage in order to save money. In many instances, someone dropped physical damage coverage only to discover later they didn't purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price.

We just covered some good ideas how to reduce car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from some of the smallest insurance companies.

Affordable car insurance can be bought both online and also from your neighborhood Oswego agents, and you should be comparing both to have the best rate selection. Some companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.