Consumer Tested Strategies to Save on Winner Car Insurance

Nobody looks forward to buying car insurance, particularly when the price is too high.

Consumers have many to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, it can be more difficult to compare rates.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies do not advertise all available discounts very clearly, so here is a list both the well known and also the lesser-known car insurance savings.

Defensive Driver - Successfully completing a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more if you qualify.
Anti-lock Brake Discount - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Good Student - Performing well in school can earn a discount of 20% or more. The discount lasts until age 25.
Student in College - Children who live away from home and do not have a car can be insured at a reduced rate.
Discount for Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase life insurance.
Save with a New Car - Buying coverage on a new vehicle is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky.

You have some control over your rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are some of the factors car insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

Little extras can really add up - There are many additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying when buying car insurance. Coverages for rental car reimbursement, accidental death and term life insurance are examples of these. These may sound like a good investment initially, but if they're wasting money eliminate them to save money.
How credit affects car insurance rates - A driver's credit score is a big factor in determining your rates. If your credit score is lower than you'd like, you could potentially save money when insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers who have good credit tend to be better drivers and file fewer claims than drivers who have poor credit.
Poor driving leads to higher costs - Careful drivers get better rates than bad drivers. Just one moving violation can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Drivers with serious tickets such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence are required to submit a SR-22 form to the state department of motor vehicles in order to continue driving.
Older drivers pay less - Youthful drivers in South Dakota are statistically proven to get distracted easily behind the wheel so they pay higher car insurance rates. If you've ever had to add a young driver to your car insurance policy can be very expensive. Older drivers are more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets.

Tailor your coverage to you

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a "best" method to buy coverage. Every situation is different so your insurance needs to address that. For instance, these questions might point out whether you might need an agent's assistance.

Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in South Dakota?
Do I pay less if my vehicle is kept in my garage?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?

If you don't know the answers to these 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.

How can 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm save drivers who switch?

21st Century, Allstate and State Farm constantly bombard you with ads on television and other media. All the companies say the same thing about savings if you switch to their company. How does each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that earns them a profit. An example of a profitable customer might be between the ages of 30 and 50, owns a home, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any new insured who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when switching.

Potential insureds who are not a match for these standards must pay more money which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. This illustrates why drivers should compare many company's rates. It's just too difficult to predict which company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

For more South Dakota car insurance information

Even more information is available at the South Dakota Division of Insurance website. Visitors are able to discover disciplinary actions, find out industry alerts, file complaints about a company, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Affordable insurance is out there

Cheaper car insurance is available both online and also from your neighborhood Winner agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some car insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When shopping online for car insurance, it's very important that you do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage only to find out that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.

We just covered many ways 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. Consumers may even find the lowest rates come from some of the smallest insurance companies. Regional companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than the large multi-state companies such as .