Tightwads Guide for Saving on Mallard Auto Insurance

I can't think of anyone who looks forward to paying for auto insurance, particularly when the price is too high.

Big-name insurance companies like GEICO and Progressive constantly blast consumers with TV and radio ads and it is challenging if not impossible to sift through the bull and do the work needed to find the best deal.

It's important to compare prices periodically because prices are constantly changing. Just because you had the best deal a year ago there may be better deals available now. So forget anything you know (or think you know) about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the proper way to find lower rates on auto insurance.

If you currently have a car insurance policy, you will be able to save some money using these methods. Buying car insurance in Mallard is easy if you know what you're doing. But Iowa consumers do need to know how big insurance companies sell insurance online and take advantage of how the system works.

Iowa auto insurance

Take advantage of discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always advertise every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list both the well known and the harder-to-find discounts you could be receiving.

  • Early Signing - Select companies give a discount for buying a policy before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
  • Passive Restraints and Air Bags - Vehicles with factory air bags or motorized seat belts can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
  • E-sign - A few companies may give you up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up digitally online.
  • Club Memberships - Being a member of a civic or occupational organization may earn a discount on your policy.
  • Drivers Ed for Students - Require your teen driver to take driver's ed class in school.
  • Defensive Driver - Successfully completing a defensive driving course can save you 5% or more depending on where you live.
  • Theft Prevention Discount - Vehicles with anti-theft systems help deter theft and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
  • Lower Rates for Military - Being deployed with a military unit could mean lower rates.
  • Anti-lock Brakes - Vehicles with anti-lock braking systems are safer to drive and earn discounts up to 10%.

Consumers should know that some of the credits will not apply to the entire policy premium. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. So even though they make it sound like adding up those discounts means a free policy, companies don't profit that way.

For a list of providers offering auto insurance discounts in Mallard, click here.

How to Get Mallard Auto Insurance Comparison Quotes

There are several ways of comparing rates from different Mallard insurance companies. The recommended way to compare insurance prices is to use the internet to compare rates. This can be accomplished in a couple of different ways.

One of the best ways to compare a lot of rates at once is to use a rate comparison form like this one (opens in new window). This type of form eliminates the need for repetitive form submissions for each company you want a rate for. Just one form will return quotes from multiple companies.

A slightly less efficient method to compare rate quotes is to take the time to go to each company website and request a quote. For example, we'll pretend you want to compare , and . To get each rate you have to visit each site and enter your information, and that's why the first method is more popular.

To view a list of companies in Mallard, click here.

The most time-consuming method to compare rates is to spend time driving to insurance agents' offices. Shopping for auto insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you have a need for the personal advice that only a license agent can provide. It is possible to compare online quotes and still use a local agent. We'll cover that shortly.

However you get your quotes, be sure to compare exactly the same coverages and limits with every price quote. If you have different deductibles it will be very difficult to find the best deal in Mallard. Slightly different insurance coverages can result in a big premium difference. Keep in mind that comparing a large number of companies will improve the odds of getting a lower rate.

How to know if you need help

When it comes to choosing proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there really is not a perfect coverage plan. Everyone's situation is unique and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions may help highlight whether your personal situation might need professional guidance.

  • Does my car insurance cover rental cars?
  • Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
  • Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
  • Am I getting all the discounts available?
  • Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
  • Do I really need UM/UIM coverage?

If you can't answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, then you may want to think about talking to an insurance agent. If you don't have a local agent, take a second and complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.

Affordable insurance is out there

We covered a lot of techniques to get a better price on auto insurance. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even discover the best prices are with a smaller regional carrier. These companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than their larger competitors like .

Discount auto insurance is available both online as well as from independent agents in Mallard, so compare prices from both to have the best rate selection. Some companies don't offer online quoting and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.