Proven Ways to Save on Sheldon Auto Insurance

Expensive auto insurance can dwindle your bank account and force you to make sacrifices. Shopping your coverage around is a great way to lower your monthly bill.

Insurance companies such as GEICO and Progressive all promote huge savings with catchy ads and it can be hard to sift through the bull and find the best price available.

It's important to compare prices quite often since insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you think you had the best deal last year a different company probably has better rates today. Starting right now, ignore everything you know about auto insurance because it's time to teach you the only way to find lower rates on auto insurance.

Save big with these discounts

Car insurance companies don't necessarily list every available discount in a way that's easy to find, so here is a list some of the best known and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving.

Good Student Discount - Performing well in school can save 20 to 25%. The discount lasts up until you turn 25.
Senior Discount - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive better auto insurance rates.
Service Members Pay Less - Being deployed with a military unit could be rewarded with lower premiums.
Seat Belt Usage - Requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts can save up to 15% off your PIP or medical payments premium.
No Accidents - Drivers who don't have accidents can earn big discounts compared to drivers who are more careless.

It's important to note that some of the credits will not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Most only reduce specific coverage prices like medical payments or collision. Even though it may seem like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you're out of luck.

Good Decisions Result in Lower Rates

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that play a part in calculating auto insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates enables informed choices that can help you get better auto insurance rates.

Shown below are some of the factors auto insurance companies consider when setting your rates.

A clean driving record saves money - Even a single speeding ticket can boost insurance rates twenty percent or more. Careful drivers get better rates than their less careful counterparts. Drivers who get dangerous violations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may be required to file a SR-22 with the DMV in their state in order to prevent a license revocation.
Men are more aggressive - Statistics have proven women are more cautious behind the wheel. Now that doesn't mean men are worse drivers. Men and women tend to get into accidents at about the same rate, but men tend to have more serious accidents. Men also get more serious tickets like reckless driving and DUI.
Drive a safer car and pay less - Safer cars get lower rates. Safer cars reduce injuries and better occupant protection translates into savings for insurance companies and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Don't let your coverage lapse - Driving your car without having proper coverage can get your license suspended and auto insurance companies will penalize you for letting your coverage lapse. Not only will you pay more, getting caught without coverage can result in a license revocation or jail time.
Your stress level may be raising your rates - Occupations like doctors, social workers and dentists tend to have the highest average rates due to high stress and long work hours. Other professions such as pilots, historians and retirees receive lower rates.

But I don't know anything about car insurance

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there really is not a single plan that fits everyone. Every situation is different and your policy should reflect that. These are some specific questions may help you determine if your situation could use an agent's help.

Do I need to file an SR-22 for a DUI in Missouri?
Should I buy additional glass protection?
Am I covered when delivering products for my home-based business?
Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?
Will I be non-renewed for getting a DUI or other conviction?
Does my liability insurance cover pulling a trailer or camper?
Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
Does my car insurance cover rental cars?

If you can't answer these questions, then you may want to think about talking to a licensed insurance agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, complete this form or click here for a list of auto insurance companies in your area.

Auto insurance ads bend the truth

Companies like State Farm and Allstate consistently run ads on TV and radio. All the ads have a common claim that you can save if you change to their company. How can each company say the same thing? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the driver that earns them a profit. An example of a preferred risk might be profiled as over the age of 40, insures multiple vehicles, and has great credit. A propective insured that hits that "sweet spot" will get the preferred rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential insureds who fall outside the requirements will be charged more money and this can result in business not being written. The ads state "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much. This is how insurance companies can advertise the savings. That is why drivers should get as many comparisons as possible. It's not possible to predict which insurance companies will give you the biggest savings.

Additional detailed information is available at the Missouri Department of Insurance website. Missouri drivers can file complaints about a company, learn about insurance regulations, find disaster information, and find a variety of consumer forms.

Final considerations

Throughout this article, we presented a lot of techniques to reduce auto insurance prices online. It's most important to understand that the more you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even find the lowest premiums are with some of the smallest insurance companies. Regional companies often have lower prices on specific markets than their larger competitors like .

As you prepare to switch companies, it's a bad idea to skimp on coverage in order to save money. There have been many cases where drivers have reduced comprehensive coverage or liability limits to discover at claim time that the small savings ended up costing them much more. Your goal should be to get the best coverage possible at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

Lower-priced auto insurance is attainable on the web and also from your neighborhood Sheldon agents, and you need to comparison shop both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who may not provide you the ability to get quotes online and many times these smaller companies only sell through independent insurance agents.