Tightwads Tips for Saving on Sioux Rapids Auto Insurance

Are you sick and tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul each month for car insurance? Your situation is no different than many other Iowa consumers.

You have so many to pick from, and though it is a good thing to be able to choose, lots of choices makes it harder to compare rates.

It's important to shop coverage around before your policy renews because prices are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest rates a few years ago there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So just forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're going to get a crash course in the tricks you need to know to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

Tips to Get Lower Sioux Rapids Rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

The following are a few of the "ingredients" used by your company to calculate rates.

Please use or commuting - Driving more miles every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Almost all companies apply a rate based upon how you use the vehicle. Cars that are left in the garage qualify for better rates than those used for commuting. Verify your auto insurance coverage shows the proper vehicle usage.
Small claims can cost you - Car insurance companies in Iowa generally give lower rates to insureds who do not file claims often. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can expect either a policy non-renewal or much higher rates. Car insurance is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
Big city or small town - Being located in a small town can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Urban drivers regularly have much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer people means a lower chance of having an accident.
Liability coverage protects you - Liability coverage will protect you if ever a court rules you are at fault for personal injury or accident damage. It will provide for a legal defense up to the limits shown on your policy. This coverage is very inexpensive when compared with rates for comp and collision, so do not skimp.
Better crash test results mean better rates - Safer cars get lower rates. These vehicles protect occupants better and lower injury rates translates into fewer and smaller insurance claims and thus lower rates.
High credit ratings translate to low rates - Credit history is a big factor in your rate calculation. So if your credit history is not that good, you could save money insuring your by spending a little time repairing your credit. People with good credit tend to be more responsible than drivers who have lower credit scores.
Performance makes a difference - The make and model of the vehicle you own makes a substantial difference in the rate you pay. The lowest base rates are generally reserved for small economy passenger cars, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
Discounts for multiple policies - Many insurance companies will give a discount to customers who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount it's still a good idea to comparison shop to verify if the discount is saving money. You may still find better rates by insuring with multiple companies.

Compare Sioux Rapids Auto Insurance Costs

There are several ways of comparing price quotes and find the best price. One of the best ways to find competitive insurance rates consists of shopping online. This is very easy and can be done in several different ways.

The fastest way to find low rates is to use a rate comparison form click to view form in new window. This type of form eliminates the need for repetitive form entry for each company. In just a few minutes this one form gets rate comparisons direct from many companies.
A more difficult way to compare rate quotes is spending the time to visit the website for each individual company and fill out their own quote form. For instance, let's assume you want rates from , and . You would have to go to every website and enter your policy data, which is why the first method is quicker.

To view a list of companies in Sioux Rapids, click here.
The most time-consuming way to get comparison rates is driving around to local Sioux Rapids insurance agencies. Shopping for auto insurance online eliminates the need for an insurance agent unless you want the trained guidance of a licensed agent. It is possible to find lower rates online and still use a local agent. We'll cover that shortly.

Whichever method you choose, ensure you're using identical information for every quote you compare. If you are comparing higher or lower deductibles you can't possibly determine the best price in Sioux Rapids. Slightly different coverages may result in large price differences. And when price shopping your coverage, comparing more company's prices helps you find the best price.

Take advantage of discounts

Auto insurance companies don't always list all their discounts very clearly, so we break down both well-publicized and also the lesser-known discounts you could be receiving.

Discount for New Cars - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can cost up to 25% less compared to insuring an older model.
Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government can earn a discount up to 10% with select insurance companies.
Life Insurance Discount - Companies who offer life insurance give a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
Organization Discounts - Participating in a qualifying organization may earn a discount on auto insurance.
Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles can earn a substantially lower rate.
Anti-lock Brakes - Vehicles equipped with ABS or steering control can reduce accidents and earn discounts up to 10%.

As a disclaimer on discounts, some credits don't apply to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce specific coverage prices like collision or personal injury protection. Just because you may think you could get a free auto insurance policy, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

To choose companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Iowa, click here.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Auto insurance companies such as GEICO, State Farm and Progressive continually stream ads on TV and radio. They all seem to have a common claim about savings after switching your coverage to them. How does each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

Different companies can use profiling for the type of customer that makes them money. For example, a desirable insured could possibly be between 25 and 40, is a homeowner, and has a short commute. A customer getting a price quote that hits that "sweet spot" gets the lowest rates and most likely will save when switching.

Potential customers who don't qualify for these standards will have to pay higher prices and this can result in the driver buying from a lower-cost company. Company advertisements say "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save that much money. That's why companies can truthfully make the claims of big savings. Because of the profiling, you need to quote coverage with many companies. It's impossible to know the company that will fit your personal profile best.

Even more information can be found at the Iowa Insurance Division website. Iowa consumers can file complaints about an insurance agent or broker, download brochures, view agent and company licensing information, and find out which companies have the most complaints.

Other informative sites include Auto Insurance 101 and this page where you can research Sioux Rapids insurance agents.

The best insurance company isn't always the cheapest

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don't reduce coverage to reduce premium. In many instances, an accident victim reduced uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The ultimate goal is to buy the best coverage you can find at the best price.

Cheap auto insurance can be purchased online as well as from independent agents in Sioux Rapids, so you should compare both so you have a total pricing picture. Some insurance providers don't offer online price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.