8 Tricks to Save on Car Insurance in St Joseph

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Believe me when I say many consumers are feeling buyer's remorse and feel like there's no way out. Having so many different company options, it is hard for the average consumer to find the cheapest insurance company.

It's important to compare rates at least once a year since rates are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the best deal last year you can probably find a better price now. So block out anything you think you know about car insurance because we're going to show you the only way to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but there could be available discounts to cut the cost considerably. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of quoting, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for before you will receive the discount. If you don't get every credit possible, you are paying more than you should be.

Life Insurance - Some companies give a break if you buy auto and life insurance together.
Driver Safety - Taking part in a defensive driving course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
College Student - Kids in college who live away from home and do not have access to a covered vehicle can receive lower rates.
Anti-lock Brake System - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can reduce accidents and will save you 10% or more.
Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with one company you may save approximately 10% to 15%.
Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles can qualify you for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Seat Belts Save - Using a seat belt and requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could save 15% on the medical payments or PIP coverage costs.
Save with a New Car - Insuring a new car can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.

It's important to note that most discounts do not apply the the whole policy. Most only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you're out of luck. But any discount will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

To choose companies who offer car insurance discounts in Louisiana, click here to view.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Consumers in Louisiana can't ignore all the ads that promise big savings by GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. They all seem to make an identical promise that you can save after switching to their company.

But how can every company claim to save you money?

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that makes them money. An example of a desirable insured might be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and drives newer vehicles. Any new insured who meets those qualifications will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who don't qualify for this ideal profile will have to pay more money and ends up with the customer not buying. The ads state "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much. That's the way insurance companies can claim big savings.

Because of the profiling, you should quote coverage with many companies. It's just too difficult to predict which car insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

Find out more about car insurance

More information is available on the website for the Louisiana Department of Insurance through this link. Visitors are able to file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, discover disciplinary actions, read enforcement actions against agents and companies, and find out industry alerts.

Other informative sites include Auto Insurance 101 and this page where you can research St Joseph insurance agents.

Best coverage at the best price

When trying to cut insurance costs, do not buy poor coverage just to save money. In many instances, an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that it was a big mistake. The ultimate goal is to get the best coverage possible at an affordable rate.

Lower-priced car insurance can be bought both online and also from your neighborhood St Joseph agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. A few companies may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these smaller companies sell through independent agents.