Car Insurance in St Michael Minnesota - 9 Discounts You Might be Losing Out On

Nobody likes having to buy car insurance, especially when the cost is way too high. Consumers have many to pick from, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

The purpose of this post is to introduce you to how to effectively get price quotes and some money-saving tips. If you are paying for car insurance now, you should be able to lower your premiums substantially using these techniques. Minnesota consumers only need to know the most efficient way to shop their coverage around online.

More discounts equal less premium

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but there could be available discounts that many people don't even know exist. Certain discounts will be applied when you complete an application, but a few need to be manually applied before they will apply. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you are throwing money away.

Defensive Driver - Taking part in a driver safety course can save you 5% or more if you qualify.
Braking Control Discount - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Auto/Home Discount - If you have multiple policies with the same insurance company you may earn approximately 10% to 15%.
Passive Restraints - Vehicles equipped with air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.
Federal Employees - Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount depending on your company.
Good Student - Performing well in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
Paperless Signup - A handful of insurance companies will give a small break for buying your policy over the internet.
Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Driving fewer miles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
Payment Discounts - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to your bottom line cost. Most only cut specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will bring down your premiums.

It's not one size fits all

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a "perfect" insurance plan. Every situation is different so this has to be addressed. Here are some questions about coverages that might point out if you might need an agent's assistance.

Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
What are the best liability limits?
Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?

If it's difficult to answer those questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or go to this page to view a list of companies. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and you can get the answers you need.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for cheaper car insurance by 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies make the same claim about savings if you switch to their company.

How does each company make the same claim? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that earns them a profit. For example, a profitable customer could be between the ages of 30 and 50, owns a home, and has a short commute. Any new insured who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and therefore will save when switching.

Consumers who do not match these standards must pay higher rates which leads to business going elsewhere. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings.

This illustrates why drivers should get as many comparisons as possible. It's just too difficult to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

For more Minnesota car insurance information

Additional information can be found on the website for the Minnesota Department of Commerce found here. Consumers can discover disciplinary actions, find out industry alerts, view agent and company licensing information, and download brochures.

Also read more on this resource for Minnesota car insurance prices and this link which helps you find a St Michael agent.

In the end, you save

The cheapest car insurance can be found from both online companies and also from your neighborhood St Michael agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don't skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

You just learned some good ideas how to reduce car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get rates for, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even find the lowest rates come from some of the smallest insurance companies. Regional companies may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as .