Top Ways to Save on Oshkosh Auto Insurance

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can empty your savings account and put a big crunch on your finances. Comparison shopping is a great way to reduce premiums and put more money in your pocket.

Big companies like GEICO and Progressive all promote huge savings with fancy advertisements and it is difficult to sift through the bull and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates on a regular basis since insurance rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best rates a couple years back you will most likely find a better rate today. You'll find quite a bit of inaccurate information about auto insurance online but I'm going to show you some great ways to put money back in your pocket.

If you have car insurance now, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using this information. Finding affordable coverage in Oshkosh is not that difficult. Although Wisconsin vehicle owners do need to know the way companies compete online.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Companies that sell car insurance don't necessarily list all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so the following is a list of some of the best known and the more hidden discounts you could be receiving.

  • College Student - Youth drivers living away from home attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
  • Sign Online - Certain companies give back up to $50 for buying your policy digitally online.
  • Senior Discount - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may be able to get better auto insurance rates.
  • Seat Belt Usage - Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could save 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
  • Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with select insurance companies.
  • Payment Method - By paying your policy upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you may reduce your total bill.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to complete a driver education course if it's offered in school.

A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. Just because it seems like it's possible to get free car insurance, you won't be that lucky.

Oshkosh auto insurance comparison

Is there truth in advertising?

Auto insurance companies such as Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all seem to have a common claim about savings after switching to their company. How can each company say the same thing?

All companies have a preferred profile for the driver that earns them a profit. A good example of a desirable insured might be profiled as between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don't measure up to the requirements will have to pay a higher premium and this can result in business not being written. The ad wording is "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, you should get quotes from several different companies. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Even more information can be read at the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance website. Wisconsin drivers can read enforcement actions against agents and companies, get help finding coverage, learn about insurance regulations, and find a variety of consumer forms.

Affordable insurance is out there

As you go through the steps to switch your coverage, it's a bad idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are many occasions where drivers have reduced collision coverage and discovered at claim time that the savings was not a smart move. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate.

The cheapest auto insurance can be bought on the web and also from your neighborhood Oshkosh agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.