Tightwads Guide to Saving on Alden Car Insurance

Sick and tired of scraping the payment together each month for car insurance? You're in the same situation as many other drivers in Iowa. With consumers having so many choices, it's difficult to find the lowest price company.

It's important to compare rates before your policy renews due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the lowest rates a few years ago you can probably find a better price now. Starting right now, forget all the misinformation about car insurance because I'm going to teach you the tricks you need to know to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

Buying car insurance in Alden is easy if you know what you're doing. If you have a policy now or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to find better prices while maintaining coverages. Iowa vehicle owners just need to know the proper methods to get comparison rates on the web.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the different types of things that play a part in calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

Bump up deductibles to save - Physical damage coverage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply would be colliding with a building, damage from fire, and windstorm damage. Deductibles for physical damage are how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
Your stress level may be raising your rates - Jobs such as lawyers, business owners and stock brokers tend to have the highest rates attributed to stressful work requirements and long work days. On the other hand, professions such as farmers, students and retirees receive lower rates.
Policy add-ons can waste money - There are quite a few extra bells and whistles that you can buy when buying car insurance. Things like roadside assistance, towing coverage and term life insurance may be costing you every month. They may seem like a good idea at first, but if they're wasting money remove them from your policy.
Consolidate policies to earn discounts - Some insurers will give a discount to insureds who carry more than one policy, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, you may still want to comparison shop to ensure the best deal. Drivers may still find better rates by buying insurance from more than one company.
With age comes lower rates - Youthful drivers in Iowa have a tendency to be more careless in a vehicle so car insurance rates are higher. Mature drivers are viewed as being more responsible, statistically cause fewer accidents and receive fewer citations.
Your location affects your rates - Being located in small towns and rural areas can be a good thing when talking about car insurance. Drivers who live in large cities regularly have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents.
The more you drive the more you pay - The higher the mileage driven every year the more you will pay for car insurance. Most insurance companies charge to insure your cars based on how the vehicle is used. Cars and trucks used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Double check that your car insurance declarations sheet properly reflects the correct usage for each vehicle.
Safer cars are cheaper to insure - Vehicles with high crash test scores can get you lower premiums. These vehicles reduce injuries and any reduction in injury severity translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims passed on to you as lower rates.

Save big with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't list all their discounts very well, so we break down both the well known and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using. If you don't get every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in Alden can help you save on car insurance because maintaining a house is proof that your finances are in order.
No Accidents - Claim-free drivers can save substantially as compared to accident-prone drivers.
Safety Course Discount - Successfully completing a defensive driving course could save 5% or more if your company offers it.
Anti-lock Brake System - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can avoid accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.
College Student - Kids in college who attend school more than 100 miles from home and don't have a car may qualify for this discount.
Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with a break if you buy life insurance.
Drive Less and Save - Low mileage vehicles can earn discounted rates on garaged vehicles.
Organization Discounts - Being a member of a professional or civic organization is a good way to get lower rates on car insurance.
Pay Now and Pay Less - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
Bundle and Save - If you insure your home and vehicles with the same company you will save at least 10% off all policies.

Drivers should understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies wouldn't make money that way.

To choose companies with discount car insurance rates in Iowa, click here to view.

Car insurance ads bend the truth

Consumers in Iowa can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to make an identical promise that you'll save big if you change to their company.

But how can every company claim to save you money?

Insurance companies can use profiling for the driver that makes them money. For example, a desirable insured might be between 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. Any driver who meets those qualifications will get very good rates and most likely will save a lot of money.

Consumers who fall outside this ideal profile will have to pay higher prices and ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say "people who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. That's why companies can advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, you should get as many quotes as possible. You cannot predict the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Learn more today

More detailed Iowa car insurance information can be found at the Iowa Insurance Division website. Visitors are able to report car insurance fraud, read industry bulletins, discover disciplinary actions, and read consumer alerts.

Other informative sites include this page for Iowa car insurance and this page for help finding agents in Alden, IA.

And the best car insurance company is...

Budget-conscious car insurance is attainable both online and also from your neighborhood Alden agents, so compare prices from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some car insurance companies may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

When shopping online for car insurance, do not buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate.