Consumer Tested Strategies to Save on Harrold Auto Insurance

Are you sick and tired of trying to scrape together enough money each month for car insurance? You're in the same situation as millions of other consumers. With consumers having so many auto insurance companies to choose from, it can be challenging to find the best company.

This information will let you in on how to effectively get price quotes. If you currently have a car insurance policy, you should be able to lower your premiums substantially using this information. South Dakota drivers only need an understanding of how to compare company rates online.

What determines how much you pay?

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that go into determining auto insurance rates. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

Listed below are a few of the "ingredients" companies use to determine premiums.

Safer occupants lowers premiums - Vehicles with high crash test scores tend to have better insurance rates. Safe vehicles result in less severe injuries and better occupant protection translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims passed on to you as lower rates.
Keep rates low by being claim-free - Auto insurance companies in South Dakota give discounts to policyholders who file claims infrequently. If you file claims often, you can expect either higher rates or even cancellation. Your insurance policy is intended to be relied upon for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Better credit means lower rates - A driver's credit score is a important factor in your rate calculation. If your credit is lower than you'd like, you could save money insuring your by improving your rating. Drivers with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with poor credit.
Consolidate policies to earn discounts - Most auto insurance companies will award you with lower prices to people who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, you still need to comparison shop to make sure you are getting the best deal. You may still be able to find better rates by buying auto insurance from a different company.
The type of vehicle makes a difference - The make and model of the car you are insuring makes a significant difference in determining your rates. The lowest rates are for small economy passenger models, but the final cost of insurance is determined by many other factors.
Discounts for married couples - Having a spouse can actually save you money on your auto insurance policy. Having a spouse is viewed as being more mature and responsible and it's proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
Little extras can really add up - There are many extra bells and whistles that you can get tricked into buying if you aren't careful. Things like vanishing deductibles, accidental death and motor club memberships may be wasting your money. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but if you don't need them remove them from your policy.
Proper usage rating affects rates - The more miles you rack up on your car every year the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. Most companies price each vehicle's coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Autos used primarily for pleasure use qualify for better rates compared to those used for work or business. Double check that your auto insurance policy properly reflects how each vehicle is driven.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but there are discounts available that many people don't even know exist. Most are applied at the time you complete a quote, but a few need to be manually applied prior to getting the savings. If you don't get every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

Military Rewards - Having a family member in the military could mean lower rates.
Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government could cut as much as 10% off depending on your company.
Braking Control Discount - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control are safer to drive and will save you 10% or more.
Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen less frequently and will save you 10% or more.
Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for signing up prior to your current policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.
Paperless Signup - A few companies give back up to $50 simply for signing online.
Defensive Driver - Successfully completing a course teaching defensive driving skills could save 5% or more if your company offers it.

It's important to understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. A few only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. Just because it seems like all the discounts add up to a free policy, it doesn't quite work that way. Any qualifying discounts will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

To choose insurers offering auto insurance discounts in South Dakota, click this link.

Is there truth in advertising?

South Dakota drivers can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like 21st Century, Allstate and State Farm. All the companies make the same claim of big savings if you switch to them.

But how can every company say the same thing?

Insurance companies can use profiling for the type of driver that makes them money. For example, a profitable customer might be profiled as over the age of 40, is a homeowner, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A propective insured who matches those parameters receives the best rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Potential customers who don't measure up to this ideal profile must pay a more expensive rate which leads to business not being written. Company advertisements say "customers that switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save money. That's why insurance companies can confidently advertise the way they do.

This illustrates why you should get a wide range of price quotes. It's not possible to predict the company that will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Learn more today

Additional auto insurance information can be found on the website for the South Dakota Division of Insurance located here. South Dakota drivers can find disaster information, download brochures, find out industry alerts, and read consumer alerts.

Other informative sites include this page for auto insurance prices in South Dakota and this page of Harrold insurance agents.

In the end, you save

Low-cost auto insurance can be found on the web and with local Harrold insurance agents, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best rate selection. Some auto insurance companies do not offer online price quotes and usually these regional insurance providers provide coverage only through local independent agents.

When shopping online for auto insurance, do not buy poor coverage just to save money. There are a lot of situations where an accident victim reduced physical damage coverage only to regret at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. The proper strategy is to buy enough coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.