Tightwads Tips for Saving on St James Auto Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can dwindle your personal savings and make it impossible to make ends meet. Comparing price quotes is a great way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket. Drivers have so many to buy insurance from, and although it's a good thing to be able to choose, too many choices makes it more difficult to compare rates.

Pricing the lowest cost protection in St James is quite easy. If you have a current auto insurance policy or need a new policy, you will benefit by learning to find the best rates while maintaining coverages. Minnesota drivers only need an understanding of the best way to compare company rates over the internet.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine the rates you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices.

Do you have a high stress job? - Did you know your occupation can influence how much you pay for auto insurance? Careers like lawyers, social workers and financial analysts have higher average rates in part from job stress and lengthy work days. Conversely, occupations like pilots, engineers and performers get better rates.
Having a spouse can save you money - Having a spouse can get you a discount on auto insurance. Having a significant other translates into being more mature and responsible it has been statistically shown that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Lower miles equals lower premium - Driving more miles in a year's time the higher your rate. Almost all companies charge to insure your cars determined by how the vehicle is used. Cars left parked in the garage qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Make sure your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage.
High deductibles save money - The deductibles define the amount you are required to spend if you file a covered claim. Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, covers damage that occurs to your car. A few examples of covered claims would be running into the backend of another car, damage caused by hail, or theft. The higher the amount you have to pay, the bigger discount you will receive.
Choose a safe vehicle and save - Cars with high safety ratings get lower rates. The safest vehicles protect occupants better and any reduction in injury severity translates into savings for insurance companies and thus lower rates.
Save money with special equipment - Purchasing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention features like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all aid in stopping auto theft.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but discounts can save money and there are some available to reduce the price significantly. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at the time of quoting, but a few need to be asked about before you will receive the discount. If you're not getting every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

Claim Free - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially when compared to accident-prone drivers.
Accident Waiver - Certain companies will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.
Life Insurance Discount - Larger companies have a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Paperwork-free - Certain companies may give you up to $50 simply for signing over the internet.
Multiple Vehicles - Buying insurance for multiple vehicles with the same company qualifies for this discount.
Low Mileage Discounts - Fewer annual miles can earn a substantially lower rate.
Payment Method - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save up to 5%.

It's important to understand that some credits don't apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down the amount you have to pay.

To choose insurance companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Minnesota, click here.

Is there truth in advertising?

Consumers in Minnesota can't ignore all the ads for car insurance savings from the likes of Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. They all have a common claim of big savings after switching your coverage to them.

How does each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

All companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that makes them money. For example, a driver they prefer might be between the ages of 40 and 55, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to these standards will be quoted more money and this can result in the customer not buying. The ad wording is "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. This is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do.

This emphasizes why you should compare many company's rates. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

For more Minnesota auto insurance information

Additional auto insurance information can be found on the website for the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Click here for link. Visitors are able to read industry bulletins, get help finding coverage, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and report car insurance fraud.

Best coverage at the best price

Low-cost auto insurance can be purchased both online as well as from independent agents in St James, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies don't offer online price quotes and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, never buy poor coverage just to save money. There are too many instances where drivers have reduced physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.