Bay City Auto Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Shopping online for Bay City auto insurance is challenging if you have never used online quotes. But don't let that discourage you because there is an easy way to compare rates.

It's important to shop coverage around occasionally since insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the lowest price a few years ago you can probably find a better price now. Block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate the proper way to properly buy coverages while reducing your premium.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Bay City is not that difficult. If you have car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to cut costs considerably using these techniques. Although Michigan vehicle owners do need to know the way companies sell insurance online because it can help you find the best coverage.

Tips to Get Lower Bay City Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that go into determining auto insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

Listed below are a partial list of the pieces used by your company to calculate your rates.

A clean driving record saves money - Even a single citation can bump up the cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who don't get tickets get better rates than bad drivers. Drivers who get serious violations like DUI or reckless driving may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with the DMV in their state in order to continue driving.
High credit ratings translate to low rates - Your credit score is a big factor in determining your rates. Therefore, if your credit is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. People with good credit tend to be more responsible than drivers who have poor credit.
Are you male or female? - Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn't necessarily mean that women are BETTER drivers than men. Women and men cause accidents in similar numbers, but men cause more damage. Men also get cited for more serious violations like reckless driving and DUI. Youthful male drivers are the most expensive to insure and are penalized with high auto insurance rates.
Higher safety ratings means cheaper insurance - Cars with high safety ratings are cheaper to insure. Safer cars protect occupants better and better occupant protection means less money paid by your insurance company and thus lower rates.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't always advertise every available discount very clearly, so we researched some of the best known and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings.

Early Signing - Some companies give discounts for signing up prior to your current policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.
Anti-lock Brake Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
Good Student - This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.
Senior Discount - If you're over the age of 55, you may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
Claim Free - Good drivers with no accidents pay much less compared to accident-prone drivers.
Low Mileage - Driving fewer miles could be rewarded with lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Defensive Driver - Completing a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more if your company offers it.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So even though they make it sound like all the discounts add up to a free policy, you won't be that lucky.

To choose providers offering auto insurance discounts in Michigan, follow this link.

The auto insurance bait and switch

Companies like State Farm and Allstate constantly bombard you with ads in print and on television. All the ads say the same thing about savings if you switch your coverage to them. How does each company say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that makes them money. For instance, a preferred risk might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, owns a home, and has a short commute. A propective insured who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and therefore will save when switching.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to these standards will be charged more money which usually ends up with business not being written. The ads state "customers who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that much money. That is how companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings. That is why you should get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When buying the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a single plan that fits everyone. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's.

Here are some questions about coverages that might point out whether or not you might need an agent's assistance.

Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Does my insurance cover a custom paint job?
Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Michigan?
Should I put collision coverage on all my vehicles?
Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with an insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form.

For more Michigan car insurance information

Even more information is located at the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation website. Michigan drivers can file complaints about a company, find out industry alerts, and learn about insurance regulations.

Do the work, save more money

Throughout this article, we presented a lot of tips how to save on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the better chance you'll have of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest rates come from a small mutual company.

As you shop your coverage around, it's very important that you do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many cases where an insured cut liability coverage limits only to discover later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your goal should be to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Consumers switch companies for a variety of reasons including high prices, policy cancellation, poor customer service or even denial of a claim. Regardless of your reason, finding a new auto insurance company is easier than you think.