Tightwads Guide to Saving on Indianola Auto Insurance

Expensive auto insurance can dwindle your savings account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Comparison shopping is free, only takes a few minutes, and is a good way to lower your monthly bill. Having so many auto insurance companies to choose from, it is hard for the average consumer to locate the lowest cost insurance company.

Be sure to get all your discounts

Insurance can cost an arm and a leg, but discounts can save money and there are some available that can drop the cost substantially. Certain discounts will be applied at the time of quoting, but less common discounts must be asked for before you will receive the discount. If you don't get every credit you deserve, you are throwing money away.

  • More Vehicles More Savings - Buying insurance for multiple cars or trucks on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
  • Own a Home - Owning a home in Indianola can help you save on auto insurance because of the fact that having a home shows financial diligence.
  • Government Employees - Active or retired federal employment could cut as much as 10% off depending on your company.
  • Theft Prevention Discount - Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and earn discounts up to 10%.
  • Clubs and Organizations - Participating in a professional or civic organization is a good way to get lower rates when buying auto insurance.
  • Life Insurance - Companies who offer life insurance give a break if you buy life insurance.

As a disclaimer on discounts, most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, auto insurance companies aren't that generous. Any amount of discount will help reduce the amount you have to pay.

Is there truth in advertising?

Iowa consumers get pounded daily by advertisements for car insurance savings from the likes of Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. All the companies make an identical promise about savings if you move your coverage to them.

But how can every company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

Insurance companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a profitable customer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. A customer getting a price quote who meets those qualifications will get the preferred rates and is almost guaranteed to save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who don't measure up to this ideal profile must pay more money and ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads state "customers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the savings.

This illustrates why you should get quotes from several different companies. It's impossible to know which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

For more Iowa auto insurance information

Additional information is located on the website for the Iowa Insurance Division found here. Iowa consumers can find out which companies have the most complaints, report car insurance fraud, download brochures, and read consumer alerts.

Also read more on this link for Iowa auto insurance quotes and this page for help finding agents in Indianola, IA.

And the best car insurance company is...

Cheap auto insurance is definitely available online as well as from independent agents in Indianola, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. There are still a few companies who don't offer you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you prepare to switch companies, do not buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. In too many instances, drivers have reduced liability coverage limits only to discover later that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your focus should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price while not skimping on critical coverages.