9 Money Saving Ideas Guaranteed to Slash the Cost of Car Insurance Costs in Salem

I can't think of a single person who looks forward to paying for car insurance, especially when the cost is way too high.

Insurance companies such as GEICO and Progressive persitently shower you with fancy advertisements and it can be hard to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates occasionally since rates are constantly changing. If you had the best price a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Ignore everything you know about car insurance because you're about to find out the fastest and easiest way to find great coverage at a great price.

How much can you save with these nine discounts?

Insuring your vehicles can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Some trigger automatically at the time of quoting, but a few need to be manually applied before you will receive the discount.

Accident Forgiveness - A handful of insurance companies permit an accident before raising your premiums as long as you don't have any claims for a set time period.
Bundle and Save - When you combine your home and auto insurance with one company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
Seat Belt Usage - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use a seat belt could save 15% off the personal injury premium cost.
Federal Employees - Being employed by or retired from a federal job could cut as much as 10% off with select insurance companies.
Anti-lock Brakes - Anti-lock brake equipped vehicles prevent accidents and will save you 10% or more.
55 and Retired - Mature drivers can possibly qualify for better car insurance rates.
No Accidents - Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially as compared to bad drivers.
Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront instead of paying each month you may reduce your total bill.
Sign Online - A few companies will give a small break just for signing your application digitally online.

It's important to note that some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you're out of luck. But any discount will reduce the amount you have to pay.

To see a list of companies with the best car insurance discounts in Salem, click here.

Finding Car Insurance in Salem, WI

There are several ways to shop for car insurance, but some are less time-consuming than others. You can waste a lot of time talking to insurance companies in Salem, or you can utilize online quoting to get rate comparisons in just a few minutes.

Many insurance companies enroll in a system that allows shoppers to enter their coverage request one time, and every company then gives them pricing based on the submitted data. This prevents consumers from doing quote forms for each company you want a rate for.

To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

The one downside to using this type of form is you cannot specify which carriers you want pricing from. If you would rather choose from a list of companies to compare rates, we have assembled a list of low cost car insurance companies in Wisconsin. View list of Wisconsin insurance companies.

However you get your quotes, make absolute certain that you use exactly the same coverages with each company. If you enter different limits and deductibles on each one it will be next to impossible to make an equal comparison in Salem. Slightly different limits may cause a big price difference. And when quoting car insurance, remember that obtaining a wide range of quotes will improve the odds of getting lower pricing.

How much car insurance do I need?

When choosing the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a "perfect" insurance plan. Each situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions might point out if your insurance needs would benefit from an agent's advice.

Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
Do I need PIP (personal injury protection) coverage in Wisconsin?
Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?

If you can't answer these questions but a few of them apply, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area.

Save 15 percent in 15 minutes? Is it for real?

Car insurance companies such as State Farm, GEICO and Progressive regularly use television and radio advertisements. They all seem to have a common claim that you can save if you move to their company. How can each company make the same claim?

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that is profitable for them. For example, a desirable insured could be between 25 and 40, owns a home, and has a short commute. Any new insured that hits that "sweet spot" will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who don't meet the requirements will have to pay more money and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ad wording is "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That is how insurance companies can make the claims of big savings.

Because of the profiling, drivers must compare as many rates as you can. It's just too difficult to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

Shop smart and save

Lower-priced car insurance is definitely available from both online companies and also from your neighborhood Salem agents, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers may not provide the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

As you shop your coverage around, it's a bad idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many cases, an insured cut physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate.

For more Wisconsin car insurance information

More information can be found on the website for the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance through this link. Consumers can learn about insurance regulations, read consumer alerts, find a variety of consumer forms, and download brochures.