How to Know You're Wasting Money for Auto Insurance in Wausau

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced auto insurance policy? Believe me when I say there are a lot of people in Wausau just like you who feel imprisoned by their auto insurance policy. 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.

It's important to compare prices at least once a year because insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the lowest rates two years ago you can probably find a better price now. Starting now, block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you're about to learn the tricks you need to know to find lower rates on auto insurance.

Finding affordable auto insurance coverage in Wausau is not that difficult. If you are insured now or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to find better prices and possibly find even better coverage. Wisconsin drivers only need an understanding of the most effective way to find the lowest price online.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that come into play when calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what determines base rates enables informed choices that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

Traffic violations increase rates - Your driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Even a single moving violation can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who get severe violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to drive a vehicle legally.
Drive a safer car and pay less - Safer cars get lower rates. Safer cars reduce injuries and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts and thus lower rates.
Optional equipment can affect rates - Choosing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart auto theft.
Sex matters - Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. However, don't assume that men are worse drivers. Men and women cause accidents in similar percentages, but men cause more damage and cost insurance companies more money. Men also get more serious tickets such as DWI and reckless driving.
Don't get talked into coverage you don't need - There are a lot of extra coverages you can purchase on your auto insurance policy. Coverages for personal injury protection, better glass coverage and term life insurance are some examples. They may seem good when talking to your agent, but if they're wasting money eliminate them to save money.
Multi-policy discounts can save money - The majority of insurance companies give discounts to customers who buy several policies from them in the form of a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, it's in your best interest to comparison shop to ensure the best deal. Consumers may find a better deal by buying auto insurance from a different company.
Rates may be lower depending on your job - Occupations like lawyers, social workers and financial analysts tend to have higher average rates in part from job stress and long work hours. Conversely, jobs such as actors, engineers and the unemployed receive lower rates.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you can get discounts to help offset the cost. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you purchase, but lesser-known reductions have to be specially asked for before being credited. If you're not getting every credit possible, you are paying more than you should be.

Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts of up to 25% or more.
Low Mileage - Keeping the miles down can earn a substantially lower rate.
Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
Save over 55 - If you're over the age of 55, you can possibly qualify for better auto insurance rates.
No Charge for an Accident - Certain companies will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.
Drivers Education - Cut your cost by having your teen driver take driver's ed class in high school.
Service Members Pay Less - Being deployed with a military unit can result in better rates.
No Accidents - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially compared to accident-prone drivers.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply the the whole policy. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. Just because you may think you could get a free auto insurance policy, companies don't profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down your premiums.

To choose providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Wisconsin, click here.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Wisconsin consumers can't ignore all the ads that promise big savings by State Farm and Allstate. All the ads have a common claim of big savings if you move to their company.

How does each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that makes them money. For example, a preferred risk could possibly be a mature driver, has no tickets, and chooses high deductibles. A driver that hits that "sweet spot" will get the preferred rates and therefore will save when switching.

Consumers who don't measure up to these standards will be charged higher prices and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "drivers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That's the way insurance companies can confidently state the savings.

That is why you should get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict which auto insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

Additional auto insurance information can be found on the website for the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. Click here for link. Wisconsin consumers can file complaints about a company, find disaster information, view a list of available companies, and learn about insurance regulations.

Best coverage at the best price

In this article, we presented a lot of techniques to save on auto insurance. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the best price on auto insurance is with a lesser-known regional company. Some small companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates as compared to the big name companies such as .

Cost effective auto insurance is possible online and also from your neighborhood Wausau agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.