How to Find the Cheapest Byron Center Auto Insurance

Searching for the lowest cost Byron Center auto insurance online is intimidating for people who are new to buying insurance on the web. Since there are so many companies competing online, how can consumers possibly compare them all to find the best available rates?

Take advantage of discounts

Companies that sell car insurance do not list every discount in a way that's easy to find, so we break down both the well known and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving. If you aren't receiving every discount you deserve, you are throwing money away.

  • Claim Free - Drivers who don't have accidents can save substantially when compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Own a Home - Simply owning a home can save you money because of the fact that having a home is proof that your finances are in order.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver's ed class in high school.
  • Pay Upfront and Save - By paying your policy upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save up to 5%.
  • Paperwork-free - Some insurance companies may give you up to $50 for buying your policy digitally online.
  • Defensive Driving Course - Taking a defensive driving course could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like comp or med pay. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

Tips to Get Lower Byron Center Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to better auto insurance rates.

  • Rates may be lower depending on your job - Careers like lawyers, social workers and dentists have the highest average rates in part from high stress levels and long work hours. Other professions such as pilots, historians and the unemployed get better rates.
  • Being married is a good thing - Having a spouse actually saves money on auto insurance. Having a significant other translates into being more responsible it has been statistically shown that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
  • You might want pay the small claims yourself - If you are a frequent claim filer, you can expect either higher rates or even cancellation. Companies in Michigan generally give cheaper rates to insureds who do not file claims often. Car insurance is intended for the bigger claims that can't be paid out-of-pocket.
  • Your car's features help determine rates - Purchasing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft devices like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all aid in stopping auto theft.
  • Policy add-ons can waste money - There are a lot of add-on coverages that can waste your money when buying auto insurance. Insurance for roadside assistance, accident forgiveness and additional equipment coverage are some examples. These may sound like a good investment when talking to your agent, but now you might not need them so eliminate the coverages to reduce your premium.
  • Consolidate policies to earn discounts - The majority of insurance companies provide better rates to insureds who carry more than one policy such as combining an auto and homeowners policy. This can amount to 10 percent or more. Even if you're getting this discount it's in your best interest to compare other company rates to verify if the discount is saving money.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Consumers in Michigan get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings from the likes of Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. They all have a common claim about savings if you move your coverage to them.

How can each company claim to save you money? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For example, a driver they prefer might be a mature driver, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don't qualify for the requirements will be quoted higher prices and this can result in the customer not buying. The ad wording is "drivers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. This emphasizes why drivers should get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Even more information can be found at the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation website. Visitors are able to read industry bulletins, get help finding coverage, and download brochures.

In the end, you save

Drivers who switch companies do it for any number of reasons including high rates after DUI convictions, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, extreme rates for teen drivers and even unfair underwriting practices. No matter why you want to switch, switching auto insurance companies is less work than it seems.

Cheap auto insurance is possible both online as well as from independent agents in Byron Center, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture. Some auto insurance companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and these regional insurance providers work with independent agents.

We covered a lot of techniques to reduce auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more price quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the best price on auto insurance is with a lesser-known regional company.