Williamston Auto Insurance For Less Than You're Paying Now

Are you overwhelmed by the wide range of auto insurance companies in Williamston? You're not the only one! People have so many options available that it can turn into more work than you anticipated to find better rates.

It's important to get comparison quotes at least once a year because prices are constantly changing. Just because you found the best rates a few years ago you may be paying too much now. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding auto insurance online but we're going to give you some great ways to slash your auto insurance rates.

Compare the Market for Auto Insurance in Williamston

There are multiple methods to compare auto insurance prices and some are less time-consuming than others. You could spend your day talking about coverages with agents in Williamston, or you could save time and use online quotes to get the quickest rates.

All the larger companies participate in a marketplace that enables customers to submit one quote, and every company can provide price quotes. This saves time by eliminating quote requests to each individual auto insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click here (opens in new window).

The one disadvantage to using this type of form is you can't choose which companies you will receive quotes from. So if you want to select individual companies for rate comparison, we put together a list of auto insurance companies in Michigan. Click here to view list.

It's up to you which method you use, but compare apples-to-apples quote information for every company. If you compare mixed coverages it's impossible to decipher which rate is best in Williamston. Quoting even small variations in coverages could mean much higher rates. Just keep in mind that having more price comparisons provides better odds of finding a better price.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

It's important that you understand the different types of things that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

Shown below are some of the items that factor into your rates.

Careful drivers pay lower rates - Your driving record has a big impact on rates. Even a single ticket may increase your cost by twenty percent. Drivers with clean records have lower premiums than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who get dangerous violations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to prevent a license revocation.
High crash test scores lower rates - Safer cars can get you lower premiums. Safer cars have better occupant injury protection and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts passed on to you as lower rates.
Adjust deductibles and save - Physical damage coverage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Some examples of claims that would be covered could be a windshield shattered by a rock, collision with an animal, and burglary. Deductibles for physical damage are the amount of money you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The more expense the insured has to pay upfront, the less your auto insurance will be.
Consolidate policies to earn discounts - Some insurers give discounts to customers who buy several policies from them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you still need to shop around to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. Drivers may still find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
Liability coverage protects you - Your policy's liability coverage provides coverage in the event that a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. Liability insurance provides you with a defense in court up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability is cheap as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not cut corners here.
Do you work long hours in a high stress job? - Occupations like real estate brokers, business owners and stock brokers are shown to have the highest rates because of high stress levels and long work hours. On the other hand, jobs such as actors, students and retirees pay the least.
Lower rates with optional equipment - Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can thwart car theft.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Auto insurance companies don't always list every available discount very well, so the following is a list of both well-publicized as well as the least known savings tricks you should be using.

Passive Restraint Discount - Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can receive discounts of 20% or more.
Low Mileage - Low mileage vehicles could qualify for discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Multiple Cars - Having all your vehicles on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Anti-theft System - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
Club Memberships - Participating in a professional or civic organization is a good way to get lower rates on your policy.
No Claims - Drivers with accident-free driving histories pay less compared to frequent claim filers.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given the the whole policy. Most cut individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. Just because it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

For a list of providers with discount auto insurance rates in Michigan, click here to view.

Even more information can be read at the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation website. Michigan consumers can file complaints about a company, find disaster information, and report car insurance fraud.

Other useful links include NAIC.org's Understanding your Policy and this directory of Williamston insurance agents.

Affordable insurance is out there

You just read some good ideas how you can lower your auto insurance rates. It's most important to understand that the more you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the lowest rates come from some of the lesser-known companies.

Cheap auto insurance can be sourced online in addition to many Williamston insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. Some auto insurance companies do not provide online quoting and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

When shopping online for auto insurance, do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many cases where an insured dropped full coverage and found out when filing a claim that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your goal should be to purchase plenty of coverage at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.