How to Know You're Paying Too Much for Car Insurance in Ellisville

No one in their right mind likes having to buy car insurance, particularly when they are paying too much.

You have multiple to pick from, and although it's nice to have a choice, having more makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to do rate comparisons occasionally due to the fact that insurance rates are constantly changing. If you had the best deal six months ago you may be paying too much now. Starting now, forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because I'm going to teach you the only way to remove unneeded coverages and save money.

Finding Car Insurance in Ellisville, MS

There are several ways of comparing rates from different Ellisville insurance companies. The recommended way to compare insurance prices is to perform an online rate comparison. This can be accomplished in several different ways.

The first (and easiest) way to get the best comparison quotes is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This method saves time by eliminating boring form submissions for each company. A single form will return price quotes from all major companies.

A slightly less efficient method to compare rate quotes consists of visiting each company website to complete a price quote. For examples sake, let's assume you want to compare , and . You would have to take the time to go to each site to enter your coverage information, which is why the first method is quicker. To view a list of companies in Ellisville, click here.

The least efficient method of comparing rate quotes is to spend time driving to insurance agents' offices. The internet makes this process obsolete unless you want the trained guidance of a licensed agent. You can, however, compare the best prices online and still use a local agent and you'll learn how to do that later.

Whichever way you use, make absolute certain that you use identical deductibles and coverage limits with each company. If the quotes have different values for each quote you can't possibly make an equal comparison in Ellisville. Just a small difference in coverages can mean a large discrepancy in price. And when quoting car insurance, remember that more quotes helps you find better pricing.

Why some people pay less for insurance in Ellisville

It's important that you understand some of the elements that come into play when calculating the rates you pay for car insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get better car insurance rates.

Bad driving skills means higher rates - Good drivers get better rates than people who have multiple driving citations. Just one moving violation can increase rates twenty percent or more. Drivers who get severe violations such as DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to file a SR-22 to the state department of motor vehicles in order to drive a vehicle legally.
Do you qualify for a multi-policy discount? - The majority of companies give discounts to insureds who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Save money with special equipment - Owning a car with a theft deterrent system can get you a discount on your car insurance. Anti-theft devices like GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can help prevent your car from being stolen.
Where you live can impact rates - Living in a small town has it's advantages when talking about car insurance. City drivers have to deal with congested traffic and longer commutes to work. Fewer people means fewer accidents and also fewer theft and vandalism claims.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but you may find discounts to help offset the cost. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time of quoting, but lesser-known reductions have to be requested specifically before you will receive the discount.

Sign Early and Save - Some companies give discounts for buying a policy before your current policy expires. It can save you around 10%.
Anti-theft System - Anti-theft and alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and earn discounts up to 10%.
Pay Upfront and Save - If you pay your bill all at once rather than paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.
Discount for Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
Resident Student - Children who live away from home without a vehicle on campus may qualify for this discount.
Low Mileage - Keeping the miles down can qualify you for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.

A little note about advertised discounts, most of the big mark downs will not be given to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. So despite the fact that it appears you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won't be that lucky. Any amount of discount will bring down your overall premium however.

For a list of providers with the best car insurance discounts in Mississippi, follow this link.

How to know if you need help

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a perfect coverage plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else's so your insurance needs to address that. These are some specific questions might point out whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.

Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?
Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
When does my teenage driver need to be added to my policy?
What are Mississippi no-fault laws?
Does my personal auto insurance policy cover using my vehicle for business use?
Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?

If you don't know the answers to these questions but you know they apply to you, you may need to chat with an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, fill out this quick form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area.

Additional information is available on the website for the Mississippi Insurance Department found here. Visitors are able to file complaints about a company, read consumer alerts, view a list of available companies, and view agent and company licensing information.

Other useful links include III.org's auto insurance page and this directory of insurance agents in Ellisville Mississippi.

Do the work, save more money

We just presented many ways to lower your car insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more you quote, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Consumers could even find that the best prices are with a small mutual company. Smaller companies may cover specific market segments cheaper than their larger competitors like .

As you restructure your insurance plan, make sure you don't reduce needed coverages to save money. There have been many cases where an insured cut comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that they should have had better coverage. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.