Tightwads Guide to Saving on Corydon Auto Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an overpriced auto insurance policy? Trust us when we tell you many Corydon consumers feel financially strained by their auto insurance policy.

Since consumers have many options when it comes to auto insurance, it is very difficult to locate the lowest cost company.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but companies offer discounts that can drop the cost substantially. Some trigger automatically when you get a quote, but a few must be manually applied before you will receive the discount.

Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Keeping the miles down could be rewarded with lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Military Discounts - Having a deployed family member can result in better rates.
Federal Government Employee - Active or retired federal employment can earn a discount up to 10% depending on your company.
Anti-theft System - Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
Driver's Ed - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver's education in high school.
Use Seat Belts - Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given the the whole policy. Some only apply to the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So when it seems like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will help reduce the cost of coverage.

Understand what determines the rate you pay

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels helps enable you to make changes that could result in better auto insurance rates.

The list below includes a partial list of the pieces that factor into premiums.

Choose a safe vehicle and save - Safer cars are cheaper to insure. Safe vehicles have better occupant injury protection and better occupant protection means lower claim amounts passed on to you as lower rates.
You might want pay the small claims yourself - Auto insurance companies in Iowa provide discounts to insureds who do not rely on their insurance for small claims. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can pretty much guarantee higher rates. Car insurance is intended to be relied upon for the large, substantial claims.
A lapse in coverage is a bad thing - Driving without insurance can get your license suspended and your next policy will cost more because you let your insurance lapse. And not only will your rates increase, but not being able to provide proof of insurance can result in a steep fine or even jail time.You may then be required to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with the Iowa motor vehicle department.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Occupations such as judges, architects and stock brokers are shown to have the highest rates in part from high stress levels and long work hours. On the other hand, occupations such as actors, students and the unemployed pay the least.
Older drivers pay less - Teenage drivers in Iowa tend to get distracted easily when behind the wheel so auto insurance rates are higher. Older insureds are more responsible, tend to cause fewer accidents and get fewer tickets.
Where you live can impact rates - Choosing to live in a small town is a positive aspect when buying auto insurance. City drivers tend to have more traffic problems and a longer drive to work. Lower population means reduced accidents as well as less vandalism and auto theft.
Consolidate policies to earn discounts - The majority of companies will award you with lower prices to people who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount it's in your best interest to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible. Consumers may find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.

How can 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm save drivers who switch?

21st Century, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads on television and other media. All the companies say the same thing about savings if you move your policy. But how can every company say the same thing? This is how they do it.

Different companies are able to cherry pick for the right customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a profitable customer might be profiled as between 25 and 40, has no tickets, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A propective insured who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Drivers who are not a match for this ideal profile must pay higher premiums which usually ends up with business not being written. The ad wording is "drivers who switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that kind of money. That's the way companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

This illustrates why drivers should get as many comparisons as possible. It's not possible to predict which auto insurance company will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Additional information is located on the website for the Iowa Insurance Division. Click here for link. Iowa drivers can find disaster information, download brochures, find a variety of consumer forms, and read industry bulletins.

Also read more on this resource for Iowa auto insurance prices and this page of Corydon insurance agents.

Shop smart and save

Cheaper auto insurance is definitely available on the web in addition to many Corydon insurance agents, so you should compare both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some auto insurance companies do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When shopping online for auto insurance, do not skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where an insured dropped collision coverage and learned later that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The proper strategy is to get the best coverage possible for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.