Tightwads Instructions on Saving on Ripon Auto Insurance

Paying for high-priced auto insurance can empty your checking account and make it hard to pay other bills. Comparison shopping is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to lower your monthly bill.

Lots of contend to insure your vehicles, and because of this it can be hard to compare to get the lowest rate

It's important to price shop coverage quite often since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best price on your last policy there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because I'm going to let you in on the secrets to the only way to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that go into determining auto insurance rates. Understanding what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

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

Where you live can impact rates - Residing in small towns and rural areas can be a good thing when buying auto insurance. Fewer people means reduced accidents. City drivers tend to have much more traffic to deal with and longer commute times. Longer commute distances means higher likelihood of an accident.
Teen drivers pay high rates - More mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers. Teenage drivers are statistically proven to be more careless when driving therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
More than one policy can earn a discount - Most insurers will give a discount to people who have multiple policies with them. It's known as a multi-policy discount. This can amount to five, ten or even twenty percent. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
Safer cars cost less to insure - Vehicles with high crash test scores can get you lower premiums. These vehicles have better occupant injury protection and better occupant protection translates into savings for insurance companies and lower rates for you.
Your job and insurance rates - Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Jobs such as lawyers, business owners and accountants are shown to have higher rates than average due to high stress levels and long work days. On the flip side, occupations like pilots, athletes and homemakers pay the least.

Free Ripon Auto Insurance Quotes

There are several ways to compare auto insurance quotes, but one way is easier and takes less work. You can spend your afternoon talking to insurance agencies in Ripon, or you could use online quoting to get pricing more quickly.

Most of the larger companies are enrolled in a marketplace that allows shoppers to only type in their quote data once, and each company then returns a price quote for coverage. This saves time by eliminating quote forms to each individual auto insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

One minor caviat to comparing rates this way is you are unable to specify which providers you want to price. So if you want to choose from a list of companies to compare rates, we put together a list of companies who write auto insurance in Wisconsin. Click here for list of insurance companies in Wisconsin.

It's up to you which method you use, but make darn sure you compare the exact same coverage limits and deductibles on every quote you get. If you use different liability limits then you won't be able to determine which rate is truly the best in Ripon. Quoting even small variations in coverages may result in large price differences. And when comparison shopping, comparing more company's prices will increase your chances of finding the best rates.

Be sure to get all your discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, buy you may qualify for discounts that many people don't even know exist. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you quote, but less common discounts must be inquired about prior to getting the savings.

Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give lower rates if you buy life insurance.
College Student - Kids in college who attend school more than 100 miles from home and do not have a car can receive lower rates.
Theft Prevention Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
Military Discounts - Being on active duty in the military could mean lower rates.
No Claims - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially as compared to accident-prone drivers.
Payment Discounts - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will cut the amount you have to pay.

To choose companies offering auto insurance discounts in Ripon, click here to view.

Is there truth in advertising?

Auto insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. They all seem to make an identical promise about savings if you switch your policy. How do they all say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that makes them money. For example, a desirable insured might be profiled as a mature driver, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. A propective insured who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile will have to pay a higher premium and ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings.

Because of the profiling, you need to get as many quotes as possible. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When buying the right insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different so your insurance should reflect that For example, these questions may help you determine whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
What are Wisconsin no-fault laws?
Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Does my personal policy cover me when driving my company car?
Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?

If you're not sure about those questions, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Additional information can be found on the website for the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance found here. Wisconsin drivers can view agent and company licensing information, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, read consumer alerts, and find disaster information.

Final considerations

When you buy insurance online, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, drivers have reduced physical damage coverage only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at the best price.

Cheaper auto insurance can be found on the web in addition to many Ripon insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who do not provide online price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.