How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Smith Center

No one in their right mind looks forward to buying auto insurance, in particular when the cost is way too high.

Drivers have multiple to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

This information will introduce you to how to effectively get price quotes. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will most likely be able to lower your premiums substantially using this strategy. Although Kansas drivers do need to know the way companies sell insurance online and apply this information to your search.

Smith Center Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

  • Lower deductibles cost more - Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. Coverage for physical damage, also known as collision and other-than-collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be colliding with a building, collision with an animal, and burglary. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the lower your rates will be.
  • Credit scores impact auto insurance rates - A driver's credit score is a big factor in determining your rates. If your credit history is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers who have good credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have poor credit.
  • Careful drivers pay lower rates - Only having one moving violation can boost insurance rates by twenty percent. Careful drivers get better rates than bad drivers. Drivers with serious tickets like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence are required to submit a SR-22 form with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
  • Teen drivers pay high rates - Teen drivers in Kansas are statistically proven to get distracted easily behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. If you've ever had to add a youthful driver to your auto insurance policy can be very expensive. Older drivers are more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets.

Smith Center Auto Insurance Quote Comparison

All major auto insurance companies like Allstate, GEICO and Progressive provide coverage prices on their websites. This process is pretty painless as you just enter your coverage preferences as detailed in the form. After the form is submitted, the company's rating system will obtain your credit score and driving record and returns a price quote based on these and other factors. Being able to quote online helps simplify price comparisons, but the process of having to visit different websites and type in the same information is repetitive and time-consuming. But it's very important to have as many quotes as possible if you want to find better auto insurance pricing.

The preferred way to get multiple rate quotes uses one form to get prices from more than one company. The form is fast, reduces the work, and makes quoting online much more enjoyable. Immediately after you send the form, it gets priced and you can choose any one of the resulting price quotes.

If you find a better price you can click and sign and purchase coverage. The whole process takes 15 minutes at the most and you will find out if you're overpaying now.

To find out what other companies charge, click here to open in new window and enter your vehicle and coverage information. If you currently have coverage, we recommend you type in as close as possible to your current policy. This makes sure you will receive a price comparison for the exact same coverage.

These discounts can lower your rates

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but you can get discounts that you may not even be aware of. Certain discounts will be applied when you purchase, but a few need to be asked about before being credited.

  • Multi-car Discount - Buying coverage for more than one vehicle with the same company can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • Anti-lock Brake System - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • Good Student - This discount can earn a discount of 20% or more. This discount can apply until age 25.
  • Save over 55 - If you're over the age of 55, you may qualify for better auto insurance rates.
  • Drivers Education - Cut your cost by having your teen driver enroll in driver's education in school.
  • Theft Prevention Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • No Accidents - Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially when compared with accident-prone drivers.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. Just because it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will bring down the cost of coverage.

To choose insurers offering auto insurance discounts in Kansas, click here to view.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on television and other media. All the companies make an identical promise about savings if you switch to their company. How does each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, owns a home, 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 as a result will probably save when switching.

Consumers who are not a match for these standards must pay higher prices and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

This illustrates why you need to get a wide range of price quotes. It's impossible to know which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Different people need different coverages

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a cookie cutter policy. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's so your insurance should reflect that For instance, these questions might point out whether you might need an agent's assistance.

  • Am I covered when driving on a suspended license?
  • Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
  • Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Kansas?
  • Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
  • Can I afford to buy a different vehicle if my vehicle is totaled?
  • Should I buy additional glass protection?
  • Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?

If you're not sure about those questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

Additional information can be found on the website for the Kansas Insurance Department found here. Kansas consumers can report car insurance fraud, find out industry alerts, file complaints about a company, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Smith Center auto insurance quote

Affordable insurance is out there

The cheapest auto insurance is available online and also from your neighborhood Smith Center agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some auto insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's very important that you do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. In too many instances, an insured cut physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your focus should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

You just read many tips how you can compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from a small mutual company. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as .