Tightwads Guide for Saving on Traverse City Car Insurance

No one in their right mind looks forward to paying for car insurance, particularly when the cost is way too high. Insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive continually bombard you with ads and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

It's important to get comparison quotes occasionally due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best price last year there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because you're about to find out one of the easiest ways to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that can help you get big savings.

The list below includes a few of the "ingredients" that factor into your rates.

  • Clean credit earns discounts - Your credit rating is a big factor in determining your rates. Consumers who have high credit scores tend to be less risk to insure as compared to drivers with lower credit scores. So if your credit score can use some improvement, you could save money insuring your by improving your credit score.
  • Multiple policies with one company can save - The majority of companies give discounts to insureds who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to comparison shop to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
  • More claims means more premium - If you are a frequent claim filer, you can look forward to higher rates. Insurance companies in Michigan provide cheaper rates to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. Insurance coverage is intended for larger claims.
  • Equipment add-ons that lower car insurance rates - Owning a car with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can help prevent your car from being stolen.

Traverse City car insurance quote

Finding Car Insurance in Traverse City, MI

Reducing your insurance rates is not a difficult process. You just have to take a couple of minutes to compare quotes from different insurance companies. It is quite easy and can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

  1. The fastest way consumers can analyze rates is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This method eliminates the need for separate quotation requests to each individual car insurance company. A single form will return price quotes from car insurance companies with the best prices.
  2. A slightly less efficient method to get quotes online consists of visiting the website for each individual company and request a quote. For instance, we'll pretend you want to compare , and . To find out each rate you need to go to every website to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker.

    To view a list of companies in Traverse City, click here.
  3. The least efficient method of comparing rate quotes to insurance agents' offices. The ability to buy insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you want the trained guidance only provided by licensed Traverse City agents. You can, however, find lower rates online and still use a local agent and you'll learn how to do that later.

Which method you use is up to you, but make absolute certain that you use exactly the same deductibles and coverage limits with every price quote. If your comparisons have different values for each quote you can't possibly find the best deal in Traverse City.

Save big with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't necessarily list every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so we took the time to find both the well known and also the lesser-known car insurance savings. If you aren't receiving every discount you qualify for, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Anti-lock Brake Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control prevent accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Theft Prevention System - Anti-theft and alarm systems help deter theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Cut your cost by having your teen driver take driver's ed class in high school.
  • Pay Upfront and Save - If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
  • Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for a discount up to 10%.
  • Federal Employees - Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount with certain companies.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. A few only apply to specific coverage prices like comprehensive or collision. So despite the fact that it appears having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you won't be that lucky.

To choose providers with the best car insurance discounts in Traverse City, follow this link.

Car insurance ads bend the truth

Consumers in Michigan can't ignore all the ads for cheaper car insurance from companies such as Allstate and Progressive. All the ads say the same thing about savings if you move your policy.

How can each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies have a certain "appetite" for the right customer that makes them money. For example, a preferred risk might be over the age of 40, owns a home, and drives newer vehicles. Any driver who fits that profile receives the best rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who fall outside the requirements will be charged a more expensive rate which usually ends up with the customer not buying. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that kind of money. That is how companies can truthfully claim big savings. That is why you need to get as many quotes as possible. You cannot predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. These are some specific questions might point out if your situation could use an agent's help.

  • Can I get a multi-policy discount for packaging my home and auto coverage?
  • Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
  • Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
  • What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
  • Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
  • Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
  • What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It is quick, free and you can get the answers you need.

Even more information can be found at the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation website. Visitors are able to find out industry alerts, read consumer alerts, download brochures, and view a list of available companies.

Traverse City car insurance quote

And the best car insurance company is...

When trying to cut insurance costs, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, an insured cut physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that it was a big mistake. The aim is to buy enough coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Cheaper car insurance is possible both online in addition to many Traverse City insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection. A few companies do not provide online price quotes and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.