Free Guide to Spending Less for Alburnett Car Insurance Online

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an underperforming, overpriced car insurance policy? Trust us, many consumers are feeling buyer's remorse and feel like there's no way out.

There are many to buy insurance from, and even though it's nice to be able to choose, it makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to check car insurance prices at least once a year because rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the best deal on your last policy there is a good chance you can find better rates now. Starting now, block out anything you think you know about car insurance because you're going to learn the only way to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that help determine your car insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get big savings.

The following are some of the factors companies use to determine your rates.

How's your driving record? - Your driving record has a lot to do with how much you pay for insurance. Good drivers receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Just one moving violation can increase rates forty percent or more. Drivers who get flagrant violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
Add-on coverages can add up - There are a ton of extra coverages you can purchase on your policy. Coverages for personal injury protection, better glass coverage and motor club memberships are examples of these. These may sound like a good investment at first, but if you don't need them eliminate them to save money.
More miles equals more premium - Driving more miles in a year the higher your rates will be. Most companies rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Vehicles not used for work or commuting can get a lower rate as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Ask your agent if your car insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage, because it can save money.
Do men or women drive better? - Statistics demonstrate that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean women are better drivers. They both cause accidents at about the same rate, but men have costlier accidents. Men also get cited for more serious violations such as reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are several times more likely to be in an accident and are penalized with high car insurance rates.
More performance means more cost - The performance level of the vehicle you drive makes a big difference in your rates. The most favorable rates are generally reserved for low performance passenger vehicles, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
Liability coverage is cheap - Liability coverage provides coverage in the event that you are found to be at fault for damages from an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense coverage which can cost thousands of dollars. Liability is cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so buy as much as you can afford.
Teen drivers pay high rates - Young drivers in Iowa are known to be less responsible when behind the wheel so they pay higher car insurance rates. Older insureds tend to be more responsible, file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel.

Quick Alburnett Car Insurance Quotes

There are multiple methods to compare car insurance prices but one way is less labor-intensive and much quicker. You can spend your afternoon driving to insurance companies in Alburnett, or you can utilize online quoting to achieve your goal.

Most of the larger companies participate in an industry program that enables customers to submit one quote, and each participating company can provide price quotes determined by their information. This eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions to each individual car insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click here to open in new window.

The only drawback to doing it this way is you can't choose which providers you will receive quotes from. So if you want to select specific insurance companies to compare prices, we put together a list of low cost car insurance companies in Iowa. Click to view list.

Which method you use is up to you, but compare identical information for each price quote. If your comparisons have higher or lower deductibles it will be next to impossible to truly determine the lowest rate in Alburnett. Just a small difference in coverages can make a big difference in price. Just keep in mind that quoting more helps locate the best price.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always publicize every available discount very clearly, so here is a list some of the more common and the more hidden car insurance savings.

Air Bag Discount - Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.
Driver Safety - Taking part in a driver safety course could possibly earn you a 5% discount if your company offers it.
Discount for Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase auto and life insurance together.
No Charge for an Accident - Certain companies permit an accident before hitting you with a surcharge if you are claim-free for a particular time prior to the accident.
Early Switch Discount - A few companies offer discounts for switching to them prior to your current policy expiration. It's a savings of about 10%.
Discount for Good Grades - This discount can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. The discount lasts well after school through age 25.

A little note about advertised discounts, most credits do not apply the the whole policy. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won't be that lucky.

To choose providers who offer car insurance discounts in Iowa, follow this link.

The car insurance bait and switch

Companies like State Farm and Allstate continually stream ads in print and on television. All the ads say the same thing about savings after switching to them. How does each company make the same claim?

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that makes them money. An example of a preferred risk could be between the ages of 30 and 50, has no tickets, and has great credit. A customer who fits that profile receives the best rates and therefore will save when switching.

Drivers who don't measure up to these standards will be charged higher premiums which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. Company advertisements say "people who switch" not "everyone that quotes" save money. That's the way companies can truthfully advertise the savings. That is why you need to get a wide range of price quotes. Because you never know which car insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Even more information is available at the Iowa Insurance Division website. Consumers can file complaints about a company, discover disciplinary actions, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, and learn about insurance regulations.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

We just showed you a lot of information how to compare car insurance prices online. The most important thing to understand is the more you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even discover the lowest rates come from a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising. These smaller insurers may cover specific market segments cheaper as compared to the big name companies such as .

Cheaper car insurance can be purchased from both online companies and with local Alburnett insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who do not offer online price quotes and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

When you buy insurance online, never reduce coverage to reduce premium. There have been many cases where an insured dropped comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your goal should be to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate, not the least amount of coverage.