Car Insurance in Colton, SD - 6 Discounts You Might be Losing Out On

If you are a novice to online car insurance shopping, it's easy to be confused because of the huge number of car insurance companies all offering big savings in Colton.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Auto insurance companies don't always advertise every discount in an easy-to-find place, so we took the time to find both the well known and the more hidden car insurance savings.

  • Federal Employees - Active or retired federal employment can save as much as 8% with a few car insurance companies.
  • Early Signing - A few companies offer discounts for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.
  • Anti-theft Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems can help prevent theft and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Defensive Driver - Completing a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more if you qualify.
  • Multiple Policy Discount - If you have multiple policies with one company you may earn up to 20% off your total premium.
  • Accident Forgiveness - A few companies permit an accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear prior to the accident.

Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut the cost of specific coverages such as comp or med pay. So when the math indicates you can get free auto insurance, it just doesn't work that way.

Insurance agents can help

When it comes to buying the right insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no "best" method to buy coverage. Everyone's needs are different.

For example, these questions may help highlight whether your personal situation might need an agent's assistance.

  • Am I covered if I drive in a foreign country?
  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
  • Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
  • What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but a few of them apply, you might consider talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Car insurance providers like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO constantly bombard you with television and radio advertisements. They all say the same thing that you can save if you switch to them. How do they all claim to save you money?

All companies have a certain "appetite" for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For example, a driver they prefer might be between the ages of 30 and 50, a clean driving record, and has great credit. Any new insured who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to cut their rates substantially.

Potential customers who don't qualify for the "perfect" profile will be quoted a more expensive rate which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ad wording is "people who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That is how insurance companies can advertise the savings. This emphasizes why you should quote coverage with many companies. It's just too difficult to predict which company will give you the biggest savings.

Additional detailed information can be found at the South Dakota Division of Insurance website. Visitors are able to download brochures, file complaints about a company, and read consumer alerts.

South Dakota car insurance

Final considerations

Consumers switch companies for many reasons like extreme rates for teen drivers, high prices, policy non-renewal and even delays in responding to claim requests. No matter why you want to switch, finding the right car insurance provider is less work than it seems.

We just covered a lot of tips how to reduce car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more price quotes you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. Drivers may discover the lowest rates come from an unexpected company.

As you prepare to switch companies, you should never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are too many instances where someone dropped physical damage coverage only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at an affordable rate while still protecting your assets.