Free Guide to Spending Less for Ankeny Auto Insurance Online

Nobody looks forward to paying for auto insurance, particularly when the cost is way too high.

Big companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly blast consumers with advertising and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and find the best price available.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates periodically because prices are constantly changing. Just because you found the best price two years ago you can probably find a better price now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're about to find out the quickest way to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to lower your premiums substantially using these techniques. Choosing the best insurance company for you in Ankeny is not that difficult. Although Iowa consumers do need to know the way insurance companies sell online and apply this information to your search.

Ankeny Rates are Influenced by These Factors

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

Shown below are a few of the "ingredients" auto insurance companies consider when setting your rates.

Performance influences rates - The type of car you drive makes a huge difference in your rates. Economy passenger cars generally receive the lowest base rates, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
Cautious drivers pay less - Careful drivers get better rates than their less careful counterparts. Even a single moving violation can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Drivers who get dangerous 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) to the state department of motor vehicles in order to prevent a license revocation.
Don't skimp on liability - Your policy's liability coverage is the coverage that protects you in the event that you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability insurance provides for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not skimp.
Lower rates with optional equipment - Owning a car with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Theft prevention devices like tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can help prevent auto theft.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that you may not know about. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied at quote time, but a few need to be specially asked for in order for you to get them.

Discount for Swiching Early - Some companies give discounts for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiration. The savings is around 10%.
Good Student - This discount can save 20 to 25%. This discount can apply up until you turn 25.
Organization Discounts - Being a member of a civic or occupational organization may earn a discount on your policy.
Pay Now and Pay Less - By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
E-sign - Some insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy digitally online.
Senior Citizens - If you're over the age of 55, you may receive better auto insurance rates.
No Accidents - Good drivers with no accidents can save substantially compared to accident-prone drivers.

A little note about advertised discounts, some credits don't apply to the entire policy premium. Most cut specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So even though they make it sound like you could get a free auto insurance policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will reduce your premiums.

To choose providers with discount auto insurance rates in Ankeny, click here.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Companies like State Farm and Allstate consistently run ads in print and on television. All the ads have a common claim about savings if you change to their company. How can each company claim to save you money? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies have a certain "appetite" for the driver that makes them money. For example, a preferred risk might be a mature driver, a clean driving record, and chooses high deductibles. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" gets the lowest rates and therefore will save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to the requirements will be charged more money and this can result in the customer not buying. The ads say "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much. That is how companies can truthfully state the savings.

That is why you should get as many quotes as possible. It's impossible to know which company will give you the biggest savings.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Every situation is different and your policy should reflect that. Here are some questions about coverages that may help highlight whether or not you would benefit from professional advice.

Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
Am I getting all the discounts available?
What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
Does medical payments coverage apply to all occupants?
Am I covered by my employer's commercial auto policy when driving my personal car for business?

If you can't answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.

Additional information can be found on the website for the Iowa Insurance Division found here. Visitors are able to learn about specific coverages, file complaints about a company, find out which companies have the most complaints, and view a list of available companies.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

We covered a lot of ways to save on auto insurance. It's most important to understand that the more you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may be surprised to find that the best price on auto insurance is with some of the smallest insurance companies. Some small companies may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as .

The cheapest auto insurance can be sourced both online and also from your neighborhood Ankeny agents, and you need to price shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.

When buying insurance coverage, it's not a good idea to buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many cases where someone dropped physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that their decision to reduce coverage ended up costing them more. Your goal should be to purchase plenty of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.