How to Know You're Spending Too Much for Car Insurance in Lone Tree

Paying for high-priced car insurance can overdraw your checking account and force you to prioritize other expenses. Comparison shopping is a great way to help make ends meet. Numerous battle for your hard-earned dollar, and because of this it can be hard to compare to get the lowest rate

It's important to shop coverage around yearly because rates are constantly changing. If you had the best rates a few years ago you can probably find a better price now. You can find a lot of wrong information about car insurance on the web, but I'm going to show you some great ways to quit paying high car insurance rates.

Tips to Get Lower Lone Tree Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that come into play when calculating your car insurance rates. Understanding what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with big savings.

The list below includes some of the items used by your company to calculate rates.

Being married is a good thing - Getting married actually saves money on car insurance. It translates into being more responsible and it's proven that married drivers get in fewer accidents.
Rate your vehicle for proper use - The more you drive in a year's time the more you will pay for car insurance. Almost all companies rate vehicles based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars not used for work or commuting get more affordable rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Ask your agent if your car insurance policy is showing the correct driver usage.
Rates may be higher depending on your occupation - Jobs such as real estate brokers, social workers and accountants have higher rates than average because of high stress levels and lots of time spent at work. On the flip side, occupations such as pilots, athletes and the unemployed get better rates.
Extra coverages can waste money - There are a lot of add-on coverages that you can buy on your policy. Coverages like rental car reimbursement, towing coverage and additional equipment coverage are some examples. These may sound like a good investment when you first buy your policy, but now you might not need them so get rid of them and save.
How's your driving record? - Drivers who don't get tickets have lower premiums than people who have multiple driving citations. Even a single moving violation can bump up the cost by as much as thirty percent. Drivers who have severe citations such as DUI or reckless driving may need to submit a SR-22 form with their state motor vehicle department in order to drive a vehicle legally.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies offering auto insurance don't always list all their discounts in an easy-to-find place, so the following is a list of some of the more common as well as the least known discounts you could be receiving. If they aren't giving you every credit you deserve, you are paying more than you should be.

Accident Waiver - A few companies will forgive one accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don't have any claims for a particular time prior to the accident.
New Car Discount - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.
Claim Free - Drivers who don't have accidents pay less as compared to accident-prone drivers.
Defensive Driving Course - Taking part in a driver safety course could cut 5% off your bill if your company offers it.
Passive Restraint Discount - Factory air bags or automatic seat belts can get savings of 20% or more.
Theft Prevention System - Vehicles with anti-theft systems can help prevent theft and will save you 10% or more.

A little note about advertised discounts, some of the credits will not apply to your bottom line cost. Some only apply to individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So even though they make it sound like all those discounts means the company will pay you, you won't be that lucky.

To choose companies with the best car insurance discounts in Lone Tree, click here.

How can State Farm, GEICO and Progressive save drivers who switch?

Consumers can't ignore all the ads for car insurance savings from the likes of State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to have a common claim about savings if you move your coverage to them.

How do they all make the same claim?

All the different companies have a preferred profile for the type of customer that makes them money. A good example of a desirable insured could be over the age of 40, has no prior claims, and drives less than 7,500 miles a year. A customer that hits that "sweet spot" will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably cut their rates substantially.

Drivers who are not a match for the "perfect" profile will have to pay a higher premium and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ad wording is "customers that switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much money. This is how companies can truthfully advertise the way they do. Because of the profiling, you should get as many quotes as possible. Because you never know which insurance companies will provide you with the cheapest rates.

Tailor your coverage to you

When buying coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no best way to insure your cars. Coverage needs to be tailored to your specific needs and your policy should reflect that. For instance, these questions can help discover whether you could use an agent's help.

I have good health insurance, so how much medical payments coverage do I need?
Can I still get insurance after a DUI?
Are there companies who specialize in insuring high-risk drivers?
Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
Can I rate high risk drivers on liability-only vehicles?
Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?
Am I covered when renting a car or should I buy coverage from the car rental agency?

If you can't answer these questions but one or more may apply to you, you might consider talking to an insurance agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, fill out this quick form or you can go here for a list of companies in your area. It is quick, free and can help protect your family.

Learn more about car insurance in Iowa

Even more information can be read at the Iowa Insurance Division website. Consumers can get help finding coverage, file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, read industry bulletins, and discover disciplinary actions.

Best coverage at the best price

Cheaper car insurance is definitely available from both online companies as well as from independent agents in Lone Tree, and you need to comparison shop both to have the best selection. Some car insurance companies don't offer online price quotes and most of the time these small insurance companies sell through independent agents.

When shopping online for car insurance, you should never buy poor coverage just to save money. In many cases, consumers will sacrifice collision coverage and discovered at claim time that a couple dollars of savings turned into a financial nightmare. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible at a price you can afford.