Free Guide to Paying Less for Ely Auto Insurance Online

Having to pay for overpriced auto insurance can take a big chunk out of your checking account and make it hard to pay other bills. Comparing price quotes is a smart way to help make ends meet. Drivers have so many to pick from, and although it's a good thing to have multiple companies, too many choices makes it more difficult to compare rates.

Shopping for the cheapest coverage in Ely is easy if you know what you're doing. If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you can learn to find the best rates while maximizing coverage. Iowa drivers only need an understanding of the proper methods to compare rates online.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Insuring your fleet can be pricey, but discounts can save money and there are some available that many people don't even know exist. A few discounts will automatically apply when you purchase, but a few must be manually applied before being credited. If you're not getting every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save up to 5%.
Accident Waiver - Certain companies will forgive one accident before your rates go up if your claims history is clear for a set time period.
Anti-lock Brake Discount - Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
New Vehicle Savings - Putting insurance coverage on a new car is cheaper because new vehicles have to meet stringent safety requirements.
Claim Free - Drivers who don't have accidents pay much less when compared to drivers who are more careless.
Multi-car Discount - Buying insurance for more than one vehicle on one policy may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Senior Discount - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for a small decrease in premiums.
Use Seat Belts - Drivers who require all occupants to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.

Consumers should know that most of the big mark downs will not be given to all coverage premiums. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, companies don't profit that way. Any qualifying discounts will bring down the amount you have to pay.

How to Lower your Auto Insurance Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining auto insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates empowers consumers to make smart changes that will entitle you to much lower annual insurance costs.

Optional equipment can affect rates - Purchasing a vehicle with an alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft features like LoJack tracking devices, vehicle tamper alarm systems or GM's OnStar system all aid in stopping your car from being stolen.
Battle of the sexes - Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. That doesn't necessarily mean that women are BETTER drivers than men. Both sexes have accidents in similar numbers, but the men cause more damage. Men also statistically get cited for more serious violations like reckless driving and DUI. Male drivers age 16 to 19 are most likely to cause an accident and therefore are the most expensive to insure.
Do you know you're credit rating? - Having a bad credit score is a important factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. If your credit is lower than you'd like, you could potentially save money when insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. People with high credit scores tend to be more responsible than drivers with poor credit.
Pleasure use saves money - The more miles you rack up on your car in a year's time the higher your rate. Almost all companies price each vehicle's coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles used primarily for pleasure use receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your auto insurance policy shows how each vehicle is driven, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Your job and insurance rates - Did you know your auto insurance rates can be affected by your occupation? Careers like judges, architects and financial analysts have higher average rates because of job stress and long work days. Conversely, occupations like pilots, engineers and homemakers get better rates.
High deductibles save money - Your deductibles define the amount you are willing to pay if you file a covered claim. Physical damage insurance, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, covers damage that occurs to your car. A few examples of covered claims are running into the backend of another car, collision with an animal, and rolling your vehicle. The more you have to pay, the bigger discount you will receive.

Save $429 a year? Really?

Iowa drivers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings from the likes of State Farm, Allstate and GEICO. They all say the same thing of big savings if you switch your coverage to them.

How does each company say the same thing?

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a driver they prefer might be profiled as between 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has a short commute. A propective insured who fits that profile gets the lowest rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Consumers who don't qualify for these standards will be quoted higher prices which usually ends up with business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. This is how insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings.

This emphasizes why drivers should get as many quotes as possible. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

For more Iowa auto insurance information

Additional auto insurance information is located on the website for the Iowa Insurance Division located here. Iowa drivers can view a list of available companies, learn about insurance regulations, find out industry alerts, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Also read more on this site for auto insurance rates in Iowa and this list of insurance agents in Ely, IA.

A tidy conclusion

Cost effective auto insurance can be found on the web as well as from independent agents in Ely, so compare prices from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance providers don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and these small, regional companies work with independent agents.

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don't skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many situations where drivers have reduced collision coverage and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to buy the best coverage you can find at a price you can afford while still protecting your assets.