Easy Tips to Save Money on Southaven Auto Insurance

Are you overwhelmed by the sheer number of auto insurance options in Southaven? Many other consumers are too. People have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a real challenge to find better rates.

It's important to shop coverage around at least once a year because insurance rates are constantly changing. Even if you got the lowest rates a few years ago you may be paying too much now. Starting now, block out anything you think you know about auto insurance because you're about to learn the tricks you need to know to find better rates and still maintain coverage.

Compare the Market for Auto Insurance in Southaven

Getting better auto insurance pricing is surprisingly easy. Consumers just need to spend a few minutes on the computer comparing rate quotes provided by online insurance companies. This can be accomplished in several different ways.

The first (and easiest) way to find low rates is a comparison rater form click here to open form in new window. This form keeps you from doing repetitive form entry for each company. Completing one form gets rate comparisons direct from many companies. This is by far the quickest method.

A less efficient way to shop for auto insurance online is spending the time to visit each company's website and complete a new quote form. For example, we'll pretend you want to compare rates from , and . You would have to visit each site and enter your policy data, which is why most consumers use the first method.

For a list of links to companies insuring cars in Southaven, click here.

The hardest method to get comparison rates is to spend time driving to local Southaven insurance agencies. Shopping for auto insurance online makes this process obsolete unless you prefer the trained guidance of a licensed agent. Drivers can compare the best prices online but buy from a local insurance agent.

It doesn't matter which method you choose, just compare apples-to-apples information on every quote. If you have higher or lower deductibles it will be next to impossible to make a fair comparison in Southaven.

Southaven auto insurance comparison

Tips to Get Lower Southaven Rates

It's important that you understand the rating factors that help determine the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels empowers consumers to make smart changes that may reward you with better auto insurance rates.

  • Do men or women drive better? - Statistics demonstrate women tend to be less risk to insure than men. However, this does not mean women are BETTER drivers than men. Men and women have accidents in similar percentages, but the males have costlier accidents. They also have more aggressive citations such as DWI and reckless driving. Youthful male drivers are several times more likely to be in an accident and thus pay the highest rates.
  • Extra add-on coverages are wasting money - There are a ton of extra coverages that you can buy on your auto insurance policy. Things like vanishing deductibles, towing coverage and additional equipment coverage may be wasting your money. These may sound like a good investment at first, but now you might not need them so remove them from your policy.
  • Big city or small town - Choosing to live in a small town can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Drivers in populated areas have to deal with much more traffic and longer commute times. Fewer drivers means a lower chance of having an accident.
  • Discounts for multiple policies - Many auto insurance companies will give a discount to customers who have multiple policies with them, otherwise known as a multi-policy discount. Even if you're getting this discount you may still want to shop around to verify if the discount is saving money. You may still find a better deal by insuring with multiple companies.
  • Safer cars are cheaper to insure - Safer cars tend to have better insurance rates. These vehicles protect occupants better and lower injury rates means lower claim amounts passed on to you as lower rates.
  • The type of vehicle makes a difference - The performance level of the vehicle you own makes a substantial difference in determining your rates. The most favorable rates are generally reserved for low performance passenger models, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
  • Traffic violations increase rates - Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Just one moving violation can bump up the cost forty percent or more. Drivers who don't get tickets receive lower rates compared to drivers with tickets. Drivers who have flagrant citations like DUI or reckless driving may need to submit a SR-22 or proof of financial responsibility with their state DMV in order to keep their license.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies offering auto insurance don't always publicize all their discounts very well, so we break down both well-publicized and the more hidden ways to save on auto insurance. If you don't get every credit possible, you're just leaving money on the table.

  • Save over 55 - Older drivers may be able to get a small decrease in premiums.
  • Driver Safety - Taking a course in driver safety could possibly earn you a 5% discount depending on where you live.
  • Bundle and Save - When you have multiple policies with one company you may save 10% to 20% off each policy.
  • Anti-theft System - Vehicles equipped with anti-theft or alarm systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
  • Drive Less and Save - Fewer annual miles can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
  • Early Switch Discount - A few companies offer discounts for switching policies before your current policy expires. It's a savings of about 10%.

As a disclaimer on discounts, many deductions do not apply the the whole policy. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates you would end up receiving a 100% discount, auto insurance companies aren't that generous.

For a list of companies who offer auto insurance discounts in Mississippi, click this link.

Even more information can be found at the Mississippi Insurance Department website. Mississippi consumers can learn about insurance regulations, discover disciplinary actions, and view agent and company licensing information.

Other useful links include this Car Insurance FAQ and this page of insurance agents in Southaven.

auto insurance in Southaven

In the end, you save

As you shop your coverage around, do not reduce needed coverages to save money. There are many occasions where an insured dropped uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. Your aim should be to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate.

Cheap auto insurance can be purchased online as well as from independent agents in Southaven, so compare prices from both to get a complete price analysis. Some insurance providers don't offer online quoting and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

In this article, we presented many ideas to lower your auto insurance rates. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may even discover the best prices are with a company that doesn't do a lot of advertising.