How to Get Cheaper Thompson Auto Insurance

If price shopping auto insurance online is new to you, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the large number of auto insurance companies competing for business in Thompson.

It's important to compare prices periodically because insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest price on your last policy the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. There is a lot of bad information regarding auto insurance online, so I'm going to show you some great ways to save money.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you should be able to cut costs considerably using these methods. Shopping for affordable coverage in Thompson is easy if you know what you're doing. Nevertheless, North Dakota drivers do need to know how insurance companies price online insurance because it can help you find the best coverage.

Save big with these discounts

Car insurance companies don't always list all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so we researched both well-publicized and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance.

Bundle and Save - When you combine your home and auto insurance with the same company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
Early Signing - Some companies give discounts for switching policies before your current expiration date. This can save 10% or more.
Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems can help prevent theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
Memberships - Participating in certain professional organizations could trigger savings on auto insurance.
Drive Less and Save - Driving fewer miles could be rewarded with better rates on cars that stay parked.
Defensive Driver - Successfully completing a course in driver safety can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
Accident Forgiveness - A few companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums as long as you don't have any claims for a set time period.

It's important to understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire policy premium. Most only cut specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. So even though it sounds like adding up those discounts means a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way.

To see a list of companies offering auto insurance discounts in Thompson, click this link.

Thompson Auto Insurance Comparisons

There are several ways of comparing rate quotes from different Thompson insurance companies. The best method to find competitive insurance rates consists of obtaining rate quotes online. This can be done in a couple of different ways.

The best way to compare a lot of rates at once is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This form eliminates the need for separate quote forms for each company you want a rate for. Just one form compares rates from many national carriers. This is perfect if you don't have a lot of time.
A less efficient way to get quotes online is going to the website for each individual company and fill out their own quote form. For sake of this example, let's say you want to compare , and . To get each rate you have to spend time on each company's site and enter your information, which is why the first method is quicker.

To view a list of companies in Thompson, click here.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just be sure to compare the exact same coverage limits and deductibles for every quote you compare. If you enter different liability limits you can't possibly determine the best price in Thompson. Having just a slight variation in coverage limits can result in a big premium difference. Keep in mind that comparing a large number of companies will enable you to find the best rates.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Understanding what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

More people means more accidents - Living in small towns and rural areas can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Fewer people means a lower chance of having an accident as well as less vandalism and auto theft. Urban drivers regularly have much more traffic to deal with and a longer drive to work. Higher commute times means more change of being in an accident.
Traffic violations increase rates - Just one citation can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers who don't get tickets get better rates than bad drivers. Drivers who have serious citations like DUI or reckless driving may need to file a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
More than one policy can earn a discount - Most auto insurance companies will give a discount to customers who carry more than one policy. It's known as a multi-policy discount. Discounts can amount to ten or even up to twenty percent in some cases. If you currently are using one company, it's still a good idea to compare rates to verify if the discount is saving money.
Protect yourself with liability coverage - Liability insurance is the coverage that protects you if ever a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. It will provide legal defense which can be incredibly expensive. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no one size fits all plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's.

These are some specific questions may help highlight if your situation may require specific advice.

What are the best liability limits?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
Are rental cars covered under my policy?
Is my nanny covered when driving my vehicle?
Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?

If it's difficult to answer those questions, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, simply complete this short form.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Auto insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. They all seem to make the same claim of big savings if you switch your coverage to them. How do they all make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of customer that is profitable for them. For instance, a desirable insured could possibly be over the age of 50, a clean driving record, and has great credit. A driver who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who fall outside the "perfect" profile will have to pay higher prices which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. That is how insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, drivers must get as many comparisons as possible. It is impossible to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

Do the work, save more money

When you buy insurance online, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, someone dropped collision coverage and learned later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. The ultimate goal is to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price.

In this article, we presented some good ideas how to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better your comparison will be. You may even find the biggest savings come from a small mutual company.

Low-cost auto insurance can be found online as well as from independent agents in Thompson, and you should be comparing both so you have a total pricing picture. There are still a few companies who don't offer the ability to get a quote online and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.

Additional North Dakota consumer information

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the North Dakota Insurance Department website. North Dakota consumers can view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about a company, and read consumer alerts.