Easy Methods to Pay Less on Groton Auto Insurance

Are you intimidated by the dozens of auto insurance company choices in Groton? You're not the only one! You have so many choices that it can turn into a real challenge to find better rates.

It's important to compare rates every six months because prices are constantly changing. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest price last year there is a good chance you can find better rates now. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding auto insurance online but we're going to give you some great ways to reduce your auto insurance bill.

Finding the best rates in Groton is easy if you know what you're doing. Just about every driver who is required by state law to have auto insurance will be able to cut their insurance bill. But South Dakota drivers do need to know how big insurance companies compete online because it can help you find the best coverage.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of some of the elements that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively controls the rates you pay enables informed choices that can help you get lower auto insurance prices.

Bundling policies can get discounts - Many companies give discounts to customers who consolidate policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even though this discount sounds good, you still need to comparison shop to ensure the best deal. You may still find a better deal by buying insurance from more than one company.
Do you know your deductibles? - Physical damage coverage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Some instances where coverage would apply could be a windshield shattered by a rock, damage caused by hail, and rolling your vehicle. Your deductibles are the amount of money you are required to spend in the event of a claim. The more you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your auto insurance will be.
Teen drivers pay high rates - Teen drivers in South Dakota are known to be less responsible when behind the wheel so auto insurance rates are higher. Older insureds tend to be more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and get fewer tickets.
Proper usage rating affects rates - Driving more miles in a year the higher your rates will be. Most insurance companies apply a rate based on how the vehicle is used. Vehicles left parked in the garage receive lower rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Make sure your auto insurance coverage properly reflects the proper vehicle usage, because improper ratings can cost you money.
Careful drivers pay lower rates - Your driving record has a big impact on rates. Even a single citation can boost insurance rates by as much as thirty percent. Careful drivers have lower premiums compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who get flagrant violations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to submit a SR-22 form with their state DMV in order to keep their license.
Optional equipment can affect rates - Choosing a vehicle with an alarm system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention features such as tamper alarm systems, vehicle immobilizer technology and General Motors OnStar can thwart your car from being stolen.

How to Compare Auto Insurance Quotes in Groton, South Dakota

All major auto insurance companies give prices online. This process is quite easy as you simply enter the coverages you want as detailed in the form. After the form is submitted, the company's rating system will obtain your credit score and driving record and returns pricing information based on many factors.

This simplifies rate comparisons, but the time it takes to visit different websites and complete many quote forms gets old quite quickly. But it's very important to compare as many rates as possible in order to get better auto insurance pricing.

The easy way to compare rates

The preferred way to lower your rates uses one form to return rates from more than one company. The form is fast, reduces the work, and makes online price comparison much more efficient. After sending your information, your coverage is rated and you can select any or none of the resulting price quotes. If a lower price is quoted, you simply finish the application and buy the new coverage. This process can be completed in a matter of minutes and may result in a nice savings.

To find out what other companies charge, click here to open in new window and begin entering your coverage information. If you have coverage now, it's recommended you enter deductibles and limits identical to your current policy. This makes sure you're receiving an apples-to-apples comparison for the exact same coverage.

These discounts can lower your rates

Car insurance companies don't necessarily list every available discount very well, so we researched both well-publicized as well as the least known auto insurance savings.

Anti-theft Discount - Anti-theft and alarm systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
Multiple Vehicles - Buying coverage for multiple vehicles with the same company may reduce the rate for each vehicle.
Resident Student - Children who are attending college and do not have access to a covered vehicle can be insured at a reduced rate.
Discount for New Cars - Adding a new car to your policy can cost up to 25% less since new cars are generally safer.
Discount for Good Grades - This discount can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you well after school through age 25.
Payment Method - If you pay your bill all at once instead of making monthly payments you may reduce your total bill.
Discount for Life Insurance - Select insurance companies reward you with a break if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
Low Mileage - Fewer annual miles could be rewarded with lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.
Service Members Pay Less - Having a deployed family member may qualify for rate reductions.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to individual premiums such as comprehensive or collision. Just because it seems like it's possible to get free car insurance, companies don't profit that way.

To choose providers who offer auto insurance discounts in South Dakota, follow this link.

Are you falling for claims of savings?

Companies like Allstate and Progressive continually stream ads on television and other media. All the ads say the same thing that you'll save big after switching to their company. But how can every company make almost identical claims?

All companies are able to cherry pick for the driver that makes them money. For instance, a preferred risk could possibly be between 30 and 50, has no driving citations, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Consumers who are not a match for this ideal profile will be charged higher prices which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "customers that switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That's the way companies can advertise the savings. That is why you need to compare as many rates as you can. It's impossible to know which auto insurance company will give you the biggest savings.

More detailed South Dakota auto insurance information is located at the South Dakota Division of Insurance website. South Dakota consumers can read consumer alerts, report car insurance fraud, and read enforcement actions against agents and companies.

Other informative sites include BankRate.com's Car Insurance: When not to Skimp and this Groton agent directory.

Shop smart and save

As you prepare to switch companies, do not reduce coverage to reduce premium. Too many times, someone sacrificed collision coverage and learned later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. The aim is to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford, not the least amount of coverage.

Discount auto insurance can be bought online and also from your neighborhood Groton agents, so compare prices from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. There are still a few companies who may not provide online price quotes and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent insurance agents.

Consumers change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as policy cancellation, lack of trust in their agent, not issuing a premium refund or even delays in paying claims. Regardless of your reason for switching companies, choosing a new insurance company is easier than you think.