How to Find Low-Cost Winter Auto Insurance

Are you intimidated by the wide range of auto insurance options in Winter? You have a lot of company. Drivers have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a real hassle to compare prices.

It's important to get comparison quotes every six months because insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best rates a few years ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding auto insurance online, so we're going to give you some great ways to save money.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies that sell car insurance do not list every available discount very well, so the following is a list of both well-publicized and also the lesser-known ways to save on auto insurance. If you don't get every credit possible, you're paying more than you need to.

Discount for Good Grades - A discount for being a good student can save 20 to 25%. The good student discount can last up to age 25.
Memberships - Participating in a professional or civic organization could trigger savings on your policy.
Military Discounts - Having a family member in the military can result in better rates.
Anti-theft System - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
Federal Government Employee - Being employed by or retired from a federal job can earn a discount up to 10% with certain companies.
No Charge for an Accident - Some insurance companies allow you one accident before raising your premiums if you are claim-free for a certain period of time.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only apply to specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So despite the fact that it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

To see a list of providers with the best auto insurance discounts in Wisconsin, click this link.

Comprehensive Winter Auto Insurance Comparison

Finding cheaper auto insurance prices is not a difficult process. Consumers just need to spend a few minutes on the computer comparing price quotes from different insurance companies. This can be accomplished using a couple different methods.

The best way consumers can analyze rates is a comparison rater form click here to open form in new window. This form keeps you from doing repetitive form entry for each company. Filling out one form will return price quotes direct from many companies. This is by far the quickest method.
A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online consists of visiting each company website and fill out their own quote form. For instance, let's assume you want to compare rates from , and . You would have to go to every website to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Winter, click here.

It's up to you how you get prices quotes, just ensure you are comparing apples-to-apples deductibles and coverage limits for each comparison quote. If you use different values for each quote you can't possibly determine the lowest rate in Winter.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

An important part of buying insurance is that you know the rating factors that come into play when 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.

Traffic violations increase rates - Your driving record has a big impact on rates. Even a single ticket may increase your cost forty percent or more. Drivers with clean records get better rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Drivers who get severe violations such as hit and run, DWI or reckless driving convictions may be required to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to drive a vehicle legally.
Liability coverage protects you - The liability section of your policy provides coverage in the event that a court rules you are at fault for damages caused by your negligence. It provides you with a defense in court up to the limits shown on your policy. Liability is cheap compared to insuring for physical damage coverage, so drivers should carry high limits.
Optional equipment can affect rates - Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can help lower your rates. Anti-theft devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.
Discounts for multiple policies - The majority of auto insurance companies give discounts to customers who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to compare rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. Consumers may find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
Safer cars cost less to insure - Safer cars tend to have better insurance rates. Safer cars have better occupant injury protection and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts passed on to you as lower rates.
Rates may be lower depending on your job - Occupations like real estate brokers, executives and stock brokers are shown to have the highest rates due to high stress levels and long work hours. On the other hand, occupations like actors, students and the unemployed pay the least.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Wisconsin consumers can't get away from ads that promise big savings from companies such as State Farm and Allstate. All the ads make the same claim about savings if you move your policy.

But how can every company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that is profitable for them. A good example of a preferred risk could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no driving citations, and has a short commute. A driver who matches those parameters is entitled to the best price and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Consumers who don't qualify for this ideal profile will be charged higher prices which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. That's the way companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings. That is why drivers must get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict which auto insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

A tidy conclusion

In this article, we presented some good ideas how to compare auto insurance prices online. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers could even find that the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a small mutual company.

Cheap auto insurance is possible online in addition to many Winter insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance providers do not provide the ability to get a quote online and many times these small insurance companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

Insureds who switch companies do it for a variety of reasons including poor customer service, questionable increases in premium, unfair underwriting practices or policy non-renewal. No matter why you want to switch, finding a new auto insurance company is actually quite simple.

Even more information can be read at the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance website. Wisconsin consumers can file complaints about a company, find out which companies have the most complaints, and view a list of available companies.

Additional helpful sites include NAIC.org's Understanding your Policy and this directory of insurance agents in Winter Wisconsin.