Zeeland Car Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Are you overwhelmed by the wide range of car insurance choices in Zeeland? You're not alone. Consumers have so many options that it can turn into a real challenge to find the lowest price.

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that go into determining your car insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that will entitle you to big savings.

Your car's features help determine rates - Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Anti-theft features like GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can thwart car theft.
Don't get talked into coverage you don't need - There are many extra coverages that can waste your money on your policy. Coverages for roadside assistance, accident forgiveness and motor club memberships may be costing you every month. These may sound like a good investment initially, but if you don't need them eliminate them to save money.
How many coverages with the same company - Most insurers provide better rates to policyholders who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still be able to find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
With age comes lower rates - Young drivers in Michigan are statistically proven to be careless and easily distracted when behind the wheel so they pay higher car insurance rates. Older insureds are more cautious drivers, file fewer claims and receive fewer citations.
High performance equals high price - The performance level of the car you are buying insurance for makes a big difference in the rate you pay. The lowest base rates are generally reserved for low performance passenger cars, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
Better credit means lower rates - Having a bad credit score is a big factor in calculating your car insurance rates. So if your credit rating is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. Drivers with good credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers who have poor credit.
More claims means more premium - If you tend to file frequent claims, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Companies in Michigan award lower rates to insureds who file claims infrequently. Insurance coverage is meant to be used in the event of the large, substantial claims.

Save big with these discounts

Car insurance companies don't necessarily list every discount very clearly, so the following is a list of some of the more common and also the lesser-known savings tricks you should be using.

Drivers Education - Cut your cost by having your teen driver successfully complete driver's ed class in school.
Defensive Driver - Taking part in a driver safety course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
Anti-lock Brake System - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.
New Car Discount - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
Early Signing - Some companies give discounts for switching to them prior to your current policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.
Passive Restraints - Cars that have air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply the the whole policy. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like liability and collision coverage. Just because you may think having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, car insurance companies aren't that generous.

To choose insurance companies offering car insurance discounts in Michigan, click here to view.

Car insurance ads bend the truth

Car insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and GEICO constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. They all make an identical promise about savings if you switch to them. How does each company make the same claim? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that makes them money. A good example of a driver they prefer could be between 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has excellent credit. A customer who meets those qualifications gets the lowest rates and most likely will save when switching.

Potential customers who fall outside these standards will be quoted higher prices and ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save money. That's the way companies can truthfully make those claims. This emphasizes why you should get as many comparisons as possible. Because you never know which car insurance company will have the lowest rates.

Find out more about car insurance

Even more information can be read at the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation website. Consumers can view a list of available companies, discover disciplinary actions, and read consumer alerts.

Shop smart and save

People switch companies for a variety of reasons including extreme rates for teen drivers, questionable increases in premium, policy cancellation or even not issuing a premium refund. Whatever your reason, finding a new car insurance company is easier than you think.

Cheap car insurance can be found from both online companies and with local Zeeland insurance agents, so compare prices from both so you have a total pricing picture. Some companies do not offer online price quotes and these small insurance companies work with independent agents.

While you're price shopping online, it's very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where an insured dropped collision coverage and discovered at claim time they didn't purchase enough coverage. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price while still protecting your assets.