How to Know You're Throwing Money Away for Auto Insurance in Urbandale

Are you sick and tired of not being able to afford each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as many other Iowa consumers. Companies like GEICO and Progressive promote their brand names with fancy advertisements and it is difficult to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies that sell car insurance don't always publicize every discount in a way that's easy to find, so we researched both well-publicized and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings. If you aren't receiving every discount available, you are throwing money away.

  • Use Seat Belts - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to use their safety belts could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
  • Claim Free - Claim-free drivers pay much less when compared to drivers who are more careless.
  • Defensive Driving Course - Taking part in a course in driver safety could save 5% or more if you qualify.
  • Save over 55 - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you can possibly qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to successfully complete driver's ed class in high school.

Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Some only apply to specific coverage prices like comp or med pay. Just because it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn't work that way.

How can Progressive, Allstate and GEICO save drivers who switch?

Iowa consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for the lowest price auto insurance from the likes of Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. They all say the same thing that you can save if you move your coverage to them.

How can each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a driver they prefer could possibly be over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and drives newer vehicles. A driver who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save when they switch companies.

Consumers who are not a match for the requirements will be quoted higher rates which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much money. That's why insurance companies can claim big savings. This emphasizes why you should get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

Learn more today

Additional detailed information is located at the Iowa Insurance Division website. Iowa consumers can find a variety of consumer forms, read industry bulletins, discover disciplinary actions, and learn about insurance regulations.

A tidy conclusion

Affordable auto insurance is definitely available online as well as from independent agents in Urbandale, and you need to comparison shop both to get a complete price analysis. A few companies don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

When trying to cut insurance costs, it's a bad idea to buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are too many instances where an accident victim reduced collision coverage and learned later that it was a big mistake. Your strategy should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price while still protecting your assets.