How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance in Belle Plaine

I can't think of a single person who likes having to buy auto insurance, especially knowing their premiums are too high. Drivers have multiple to pick from, and even though it's nice to have a choice, it can be more challenging to compare rates.

It's important to take a look at other company's rates periodically since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the lowest price a year ago you may be paying too much now. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because we're going to demonstrate how to quote online to find great coverage at a great price.

Shopping for the lowest cost auto insurance in Belle Plaine is easy if you know what you're doing. If you have a policy now or need new coverage, you can use these techniques to find better prices while maximizing coverage. Iowa consumers only need to know the best way to compare company rates on the web.

Belle Plaine Auto Insurance Comparisons

Performing a rate comparison can be exhausting if you don't know the easiest way. You could spend your day discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in Belle Plaine, or you can utilize the internet to get prices fast.

All the larger companies enroll in a system that allows shoppers to submit their information once, and at least one company then returns a price quote determined by their information. This prevents consumers from doing quotation requests to each individual auto insurance company.

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

One minor caviat to using this type of system is buyers cannot specifically choose which companies you want to price. So if you prefer to choose from a list of companies to request quotes from, we put together a list of low cost auto insurance companies in Iowa. Click here to view list.

However you get your quotes, be sure to compare identical coverage limits on every quote. If your comparisons have differing limits it will be next to impossible to make a fair comparison in Belle Plaine.

Iowa auto insurance quotes

Belle Plaine Rates are Influenced by These Factors

It's important that you understand the factors that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what impacts premium levels enables informed choices that may reward you with much lower annual insurance costs.

  • Where you reside plays a part - Living in small towns and rural areas can be a good thing when buying auto insurance. Urban drivers have to deal with much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer drivers translates into fewer accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft.
  • Traffic citations inflate rates - Just one citation can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Careful drivers receive lower rates than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who have dangerous citations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with the DMV in their state in order to prevent a license revocation.
  • Policy add-ons can waste money - There are quite a few additional coverages that you can buy if you aren't careful. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and term life insurance are some examples. These may sound like a good investment at first, but if they're wasting money eliminate them to save money.
  • More miles equals more premium - The higher the mileage driven each year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies price each vehicle's coverage based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle, because improper ratings can cost you money.

Be sure to get all your discounts

The price of auto insurance can be rather high, but you can get discounts to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you complete an application, but less common discounts must be specifically requested before they will apply. If you're not getting every credit you qualify for, you're just leaving money on the table.

  • Bundle and Save - When you have multiple policies with one company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.
  • Air Bag Discount - Factory air bags or motorized seat belts may earn rate discounts of 20% or more.
  • Safety Course Discount - Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.
  • New Vehicle Savings - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can save up to 30% because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
  • Pay Now and Pay Less - By paying your policy upfront rather than paying monthly you may reduce your total bill.
  • College Student - Youth drivers who are attending college and don't have a car can receive lower rates.
  • Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems prevent vehicle theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.

A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as collision or personal injury protection. So when it seems like adding up those discounts means a free policy, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will bring down the amount you have to pay.

For a list of companies with discount auto insurance rates in Iowa, click here.

How do I know if I need professional advice?

When it comes to choosing the best auto insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Each situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. For example, these questions may help highlight whether or not you will benefit from professional help.

  • What are the best liability limits?
  • Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
  • Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
  • Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
  • What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
  • What are Iowa no-fault laws?

If you can't answer these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It's fast, free and can provide invaluable advice.

Additional information is located on the website for the Iowa Insurance Division through this link. Iowa drivers can view agent and company licensing information, file complaints about a company, discover disciplinary actions, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Other useful links include Wikipedia and this Belle Plaine agent directory.

Iowa auto insurance

Best coverage at the best price

While you're price shopping online, make sure you don't reduce needed coverages to save money. In many instances, someone dropped liability coverage limits only to discover later they didn't purchase enough coverage. The ultimate goal is to buy enough coverage at an affordable rate.

In this article, we covered a lot of techniques to lower your auto insurance rates. It's most important to understand that the more rate quotes you have, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. You may be surprised to find that the lowest priced auto insurance comes from a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising. Smaller companies may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like .

The cheapest auto insurance is attainable on the web and also from your neighborhood Belle Plaine agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies may not provide online quoting and most of the time these small, regional companies sell through independent agents.