Tightwads Tips for Saving on Winona Auto Insurance

Are you sick and tired of not being able to afford each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other drivers in Minnesota.

You have multiple to buy insurance from, and though it is a good thing to have multiple companies, having more makes it harder to compare rates.

This article will instruct you on the most effective way to quote insurance and some tips to save money. If you have car insurance now, you will most likely be able to reduce your rates substantially using these techniques. But Minnesota drivers do need to know the way companies price insurance differently.

More discounts equal less premium

Properly insuring your vehicles can get expensive, but you may find discounts to reduce the price significantly. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of quoting, but some may not be applied and must be asked for before you will receive the discount.

Accident Free - Claim-free drivers pay less when compared to drivers who are more careless.
Payment Method - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can actually save on your bill.
Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with a discount if you purchase a life insurance policy as well.
Paperwork-free - Certain companies will discount your bill up to fifty bucks for buying a policy and signing up over the internet.
Driver Safety - Completing a course in driver safety could save 5% or more if you qualify.
Anti-theft Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more.
Low Mileage Discounts - Fewer annual miles could qualify for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Military Rewards - Being on active duty in the military may qualify for rate reductions.
Homeowners Pay Less - Simply owning a home can help you save on auto insurance due to the fact that maintaining a home demonstrates responsibility.

Consumers should know that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most only cut individual premiums such as comp or med pay. Just because you may think all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will bring down your premiums.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Winona

Smart consumers have a good feel for the different types of things that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to lower auto insurance prices.

The following are some of the items companies use to determine prices.

Do you have a high stress job? - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Careers like real estate brokers, business owners and financial analysts tend to pay higher average rates because of stressful work requirements and lengthy work days. Conversely, jobs such as farmers, engineers and performers have the lowest average rates.
Save money with special equipment - Driving a car with an alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention features such as GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all hinder car theft.
Pleasure use saves money - Driving more miles every year the higher your rate. Most companies apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks left parked in the garage get more affordable rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Make sure your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage.
Pay less if you're married - Getting married can get you a discount on your policy. Having a significant other is viewed as being more mature than a single person and it's proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
Don't get talked into coverage you don't need - There are a ton of extra bells and whistles that can waste your money on your auto insurance policy. Coverages for personal injury protection, accident forgiveness and motor club memberships may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea when you first buy your policy, but if you don't need them eliminate them to save money.
Bundling policies can get discounts - Many insurers provide better rates to customers who buy several policies from them in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, you still need to compare other company rates to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.
Safe vehicles cost less to insure - Cars with high safety ratings can get you lower premiums. The safest vehicles result in less severe injuries and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.

Switch companies and save? Really?

Auto insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO continually stream ads in print and on television. They all make an identical promise that you'll save big after switching to them. How does each company make almost identical claims?

All companies can use profiling for the type of driver that earns them a profit. A good example of a driver they prefer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has great credit. A driver who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and therefore will save when switching.

Potential insureds who do not match these standards will be quoted more money and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save money. That's why companies can advertise the savings.

This emphasizes why drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

More Minnesota auto insurance information

Much more information about auto insurance in Minnesota can be read on the website for the Minnesota Department of Commerce located here. Minnesota consumers can read industry bulletins, view a list of available companies, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and get help finding coverage.

Do the work, save more money

As you prepare to switch companies, never skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are too many instances where an insured dropped full coverage and found out when filing a claim that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.

Discount auto insurance can be purchased online and with local Winona insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.