Easy Methods to Cut Costs on Solway Auto Insurance

Comparing Solway auto insurance rates online can seem like an uphill battle if you are a beginner to online price comparisons. Don't let that stop you because using the internet to shop for auto insurance is actually quite easy.

If you have a current auto insurance policy or need a new policy, you can learn to shop for the lowest rates while maximizing coverage. The purpose of this post is to familiarize you with the most effective way to quote insurance. Minnesota drivers only need an understanding of the most efficient way to compare company rates over the internet.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies don't necessarily list all available discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of some of the best known as well as the least known auto insurance savings. If they aren't giving you every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

  • Homeowners Savings - Owning a home in Solway may trigger a auto insurance policy discount due to the fact that maintaining a home demonstrates responsibility.
  • Good Student - Performing well in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The good student discount can last well after school through age 25.
  • Senior Discount - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get a discount up to 10%.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Affiliation with certain professional organizations could qualify you for a break when buying auto insurance.
  • No Claims - Good drivers with no accidents pay less when compared with drivers who are more careless.
  • Military Discounts - Having a deployed family member may qualify for rate reductions.
  • Anti-lock Brake Discount - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes can reduce accidents and will save you 10% or more.
  • Passive Restraint Discount - Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts can get savings of up to 25% or more.

Consumers should know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to the entire policy premium. Most only reduce individual premiums such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don't profit that way.

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that help determine auto insurance rates. Understanding what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that could result in big savings.

The following are some of the items that factor into premiums.

  • What are your deductibles? - Your deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend before a claim is paid by your company. Insurance for physical damage to your car, also known as collision and other-than-collision, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some examples of claims that would be covered are colliding with a building, damage caused by hail, and rolling your vehicle. The more expense the insured has to pay upfront, the lower your rates will be.
  • A clean driving record saves money - Only having one ticket may increase your cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers with clean records have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers with flagrant tickets such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions are required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to keep their license.
  • Older drivers pay less - Older drivers are more responsible, file fewer claims and are safer drivers. Teenage drivers are known to get distracted easily behind the wheel therefore auto insurance rates are much higher.
  • Protect your assets with liability insurance - Liability coverage is the coverage that protects you if a jury decides you are liable for damages caused by your negligence. It provides you with a defense in court which can cost thousands of dollars. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so buy as much as you can afford.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When it comes to buying coverage for your vehicles, there is no single plan that fits everyone. Everyone's needs are different.

For example, these questions may help highlight whether or not you might need an agent's assistance.

  • When do I need to add a new car to my policy?
  • Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Minnesota?
  • Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?
  • Do I qualify for additional discounts?
  • What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
  • Am I covered when pulling a rental trailer?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, you might consider talking to a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and can help protect your family.

Is there truth in advertising?

Minnesota drivers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance from companies such as Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies say the same thing of big savings after switching your policy.

How do they all say the same thing?

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the right customer that earns them a profit. A good example of a profitable customer might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A propective insured who fits that profile will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the "perfect" profile must pay higher prices which usually ends up with business not being written. The ads state "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. That is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do. This illustrates why drivers should compare many company's rates. It's not possible to predict which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional Minnesota consumer information

More tips and info about auto insurance can be read at the Minnesota Department of Commerce website. Minnesota drivers can report car insurance fraud, file complaints about a company, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Minnesota auto insurance

Best coverage at the best price

Cost effective auto insurance can be bought on the web in addition to many Solway insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some auto insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

Throughout this article, we presented many ways to reduce auto insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from a small local company.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. In too many instances, someone dropped full coverage and found out when filing a claim that the savings was not a smart move. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.