How to Know You're Wasting Money for Auto Insurance in Shelbina

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Trust us, you're not alone. Numerous battle for your hard-earned dollar, so it can be very hard to choose a and get the best coverage at the lowest rate

If you are insured now or are looking for a new policy, you will benefit by learning to shop for the lowest rates while maintaining coverages. Finding affordable coverage in Shelbina is quite easy. Missouri drivers only need an understanding of the best way to compare rates online.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

  • Protect yourself with liability coverage - The liability section of your policy provides coverage if you are found liable for damages caused by your negligence. It provides legal defense coverage starting from day one. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
  • Safer cars cost less to insure - Cars with high safety ratings can get you lower premiums. Safe vehicles have better occupant injury protection and any reduction in injury severity means lower claim amounts and lower rates for you.
  • Lower rates with optional equipment - Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can save you a little every year. Anti-theft devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can thwart car theft.
  • Do you need those extra coverages? - There are a lot of extra coverages that you can get tricked into buying when buying auto insurance. Coverages like vanishing deductibles, accidental death and membership fees may be costing you every month. They may seem good initially, but your needs may have changed so get rid of them and save.
  • Adjust deductibles and save - Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are required to spend out-of-pocket before a claim is paid by your company. Physical damage coverage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered would be colliding with a building, vandalism, or theft. The more money the insured has to pay upfront, the less your auto insurance will be.
  • Rates may be lower depending on your job - Occupations such as doctors, business owners and accountants are shown to have higher rates than average due to job stress and lengthy work days. On the flip side, occupations like actors, athletes and the unemployed pay the least.
  • Sex matters - Statistics demonstrate that men are more aggressive behind the wheel. However, don't assume that men are WORSE drivers than women. Women and men have accidents at about the same rate, but the male of the species cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also tend to receive more costly citations like DUI and reckless driving.

How to Compare Shelbina Auto Insurance Costs

Reducing your insurance rates is not a difficult process. Consumers just need to take a few minutes comparing rate quotes online with multiple companies. This is very easy and can be done using a couple different methods.

  1. The fastest way consumers can analyze rates is a comparison rater form click here to open form in new window. This easy form saves time by eliminating a different quote for every auto insurance company. Completing one form will return price quotes .
  2. A slightly less efficient method to shop for auto insurance online consists of visiting each individual company website to complete a price quote. For instance, let's say you want to compare rates from , and . To get rate quotes you would need to go to every website to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker.

    For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Shelbina, click here.
  3. The least recommended method of comparing rate quotes is to spend your day driving to insurance agents' offices. The ability to buy insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you want the professional guidance of a local Shelbina agent. However, consumers can find lower rates online but buy from a local insurance agent. We'll cover that shortly.

It's up to you which method you use, but compare the exact same deductibles and coverage limits for every company. If you use different values for each quote you can't possibly decipher which rate is best in Shelbina.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Car insurance companies don't always publicize all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so here is a list both the well known and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using. If they aren't giving you every credit possible, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Organization Discounts - Being a member of certain professional organizations is a good way to get lower rates when buying auto insurance.
  • Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Keeping the miles down can qualify you for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
  • Student Driver Training - Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll in driver's education in high school.
  • Homeowners Discount - Owning a home in Shelbina can help you save on auto insurance because of the fact that having a home requires personal responsibility.
  • Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for a discount up to 10%.
  • Pay Upfront and Save - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
  • More Vehicles More Savings - Buying insurance for multiple cars or trucks with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.

It's important to understand that most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like you can get free auto insurance, it doesn't quite work that way.

To choose insurers with the best auto insurance discounts in Shelbina, click here to view.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Consumers in Missouri can't ignore all the ads that promise big savings from companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies make an identical promise of big savings if you move your policy.

How do they all claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

All companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that makes them money. An example of a profitable customer might be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no tickets, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Potential insureds who don't qualify for the "perfect" profile must pay more money and ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. That's the way insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. This illustrates why you need to get as many comparisons as possible. It's impossible to know which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

More tips and info about auto insurance is available at the Missouri Department of Insurance website. Visitors are able to find out which companies have the most complaints, find disaster information, view a list of available companies, and discover disciplinary actions.

auto insurance in Shelbina

A tidy conclusion

Low-cost auto insurance is possible both online in addition to many Shelbina insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some auto insurance companies do not provide online price quotes and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, you should never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your focus should be to buy enough coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.