How to Know You're Spending Too Much for Auto Insurance in Poplar Bluff

Scraping up a payment for overpriced auto insurance can empty your checking account, especially in this economy. Doing a price comparison is a smart way to make sure you're not throwing money away. Companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive increase brand awareness with fancy advertisements and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to shop for the lowest rates and possibly find even better coverage. Finding affordable coverage in Poplar Bluff is easy if you know what you're doing. Missouri vehicle owners just need to know the most efficient way to compare company rates online.

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay helps enable you to make changes that will entitle you to big savings.

Listed below are a few of the "ingredients" that factor into prices.

Special features that cut premiums - Purchasing a vehicle that has an advanced theft prevention system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features such as vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.
Your location affects your rates - Residing in less populated areas can save you money when insuring your vehicles. Fewer drivers means reduced accidents. City drivers regularly have traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Higher commute times means higher likelihood of an accident.
Better credit scores mean better rates - Having a bad credit score is a large factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. If your credit history is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by improving your credit score. Consumers who have excellent credit tend to be less risk to insure as compared to drivers with poor credit.
Don't sacrifice liability coverage - Liability insurance is the protection when a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It provides for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability insurance is quite affordable compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.
Multiple policies with one company can save - Most companies provide better rates to customers who have multiple policies with them such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even though this discount sounds good, you may still want to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't necessarily list every discount in a way that's easy to find, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and the more hidden auto insurance savings. If you aren't receiving every discount you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
Multiple Policy Discount - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you could get a discount of approximately 10% to 15%.
Air Bag Discount - Cars that have air bags or automatic seat belts can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
Organization Discounts - Participating in a civic or occupational organization could qualify you for a break when shopping for auto insurance.
Theft Prevention System - Anti-theft and alarm systems help deter theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Drivers Ed for Students - Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully complete driver's ed class in school.
Low Mileage Discounts - Driving fewer miles can earn lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
No Claims - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially when compared to accident-prone drivers.
Government Employees - Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount with a few auto insurance companies.
Distant Student - Children who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have a car can receive lower rates.

Drivers should understand that most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So even though they make it sound like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies wouldn't make money that way.

To choose insurance companies offering auto insurance discounts in Poplar Bluff, follow this link.

Is there truth in advertising?

Missouri consumers can't ignore all the ads for car insurance savings from companies such as State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all say the same thing that you'll save big if you switch your policy.

How can each company make almost identical claims?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that makes them money. For example, a driver they prefer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no prior claims, and drives newer vehicles. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the requirements will be quoted a higher premium which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. This is how companies can claim big savings. This emphasizes why you should get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a cookie cutter policy. Everyone's needs are different and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. For example, these questions can help discover whether or not you might need an agent's assistance.

Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
What are the best liability limits?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Do I have any recourse if my insurance company denies a claim?
Am I getting all the discounts available?
Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?
Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form or you can also visit this page to select a carrier It is quick, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Learn more about auto insurance in Missouri

More detailed Missouri auto insurance information can be found at the Missouri Department of Insurance website. Missouri consumers can view a list of available companies, view agent and company licensing information, find out industry alerts, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Best coverage at the best price

When trying to cut insurance costs, it's not a good idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where consumers will sacrifice physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that it was a big mistake. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.

You just read a lot of tips how to save on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more providers you compare, the better chance you'll have of finding lower rates. You may even discover the lowest rates come from an unexpected company. Some small companies may only write in your state and offer lower rates compared to the large companies like .