Tightwads Tips for Saving on Ketchum Auto Insurance

No one likes having to buy auto insurance, especially knowing they are paying too much.

You have so many to pick from, and although it's nice to have a selection, lots of choices makes it harder to compare rates.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Ketchum is quite easy. Essentially everyone who has to buy auto insurance will be able to save money. Nevertheless, Idaho vehicle owners do need to know how big insurance companies determine prices.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always publicize all available discounts very clearly, so the following is a list of some of the best known as well as the least known auto insurance savings.

Defensive Driving Course - Taking a course teaching defensive driving skills can save you 5% or more and easily recoup the cost of the course.
Anti-theft System - Anti-theft and alarm systems prevent vehicle theft and will save you 10% or more.
Pay Upfront and Save - If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you could save 5% or more.
New Vehicle Savings - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can be considerably cheaper compared to insuring an older model.
Drivers Education - Have your child enroll in driver's education in high school.
No Claims - Good drivers with no accidents pay less when compared with bad drivers.
Paperless Signup - Some insurance companies give back up to $50 simply for signing over the internet.
Fewer Miles Equal More Savings - Keeping the miles down could qualify for lower rates on the low mileage vehicles.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only apply to individual premiums such as liability and collision coverage. So despite the fact that it appears you could get a free auto insurance policy, companies don't profit that way.

To see a list of insurers with the best auto insurance discounts in Idaho, follow this link.

Finding Auto Insurance in Ketchum, ID

Shopping for lower auto insurance rates can take hours if you aren't aware of the most efficient way. You can waste a lot of time talking about coverages with local insurance agents in Ketchum, or you could save time and use the internet to get prices fast.

Many insurance companies are enrolled in a marketplace that enables customers to enter their coverage request one time, and at least one company provides a quote for coverage. This eliminates the need for quote requests to each individual auto insurance company.

To submit your quote information now, click to open in new window.

The one disadvantage to using this type of system is that consumers can't choose which carriers to get pricing from. If you would rather choose individual companies to request quotes from, we have a listing of auto insurance companies in Idaho. View list of Idaho insurance companies.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just make absolute certain that you use identical deductibles and coverage limits on every quote. If you use different values for each quote it will be impossible to make a fair comparison in Ketchum. Just a small difference in coverage limits may result in large price differences. And when quoting auto insurance, remember that comparing more company's prices helps you find better pricing.

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that come into play when calculating auto insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that could result in better auto insurance rates.

Do you need the policy add-ons? - There are a lot of additional coverages that you can get tricked into buying if you aren't careful. Coverages for personal injury protection, accidental death and membership fees are examples of these. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
How many coverages with the same company - The majority of companies will award you with lower prices to people who buy several policies from them in the form of a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, you still need to compare rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
Car features impact rates - Owning a car with an alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Anti-theft devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems can help prevent your car from being stolen.
Pleasure use saves money - The more you drive each year the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. The majority of insurers price each vehicle's coverage determined by how the vehicle is used. Vehicles that are left in the garage get more affordable rates as compared to vehicles used primarily for driving to work. Verify your auto insurance policy shows the correct driver usage.

Your personal situation dictates your coverage

When choosing coverage for your vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Everyone's needs are different and a cookie cutter policy won't apply. Here are some questions about coverages that might point out whether or not you might need professional guidance.

Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
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?
Who is covered when they drive my vehicle?
Is my cargo covered for damage or theft?
Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or go to this page to view a list of companies.

The auto insurance bait and switch

21st Century, Allstate and State Farm regularly use ads in print and on television. All the companies say the same thing of big savings if you move your policy. How does each company say the same thing?

Different companies have a certain "appetite" for the right customer that is profitable for them. A good example of a profitable customer might be profiled as between 30 and 50, owns a home, and has excellent credit. A propective insured who fits that profile is entitled to the best price and therefore will save when switching.

Consumers who don't measure up to these standards must pay higher rates which usually ends up with business not being written. The ads state "customers that switch" not "everyone that quotes" save that kind of money. That is how insurance companies can confidently make those claims. This illustrates why drivers must get as many quotes as possible. It's not possible to predict which company will have the lowest rates.

Shop smart and save

Cost effective auto insurance is possible on the web in addition to many Ketchum insurance agents, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis. Some companies do not provide the ability to get a quote online and usually these small insurance companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

While you're price shopping online, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are a lot of situations where an insured cut collision coverage and discovered at claim time they didn't purchase enough coverage. The proper strategy is to buy a smart amount of coverage at a price you can afford while not skimping on critical coverages.

More tips and info about auto insurance can be read at the Idaho Department of Insurance website. Idaho drivers can discover disciplinary actions, read consumer alerts, view a list of available companies, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Additional helpful sites include this resource for Idaho auto insurance prices and this link which helps you find a Ketchum agent.