Compare Spencer Auto Insurance Prices With These Tips

Are you intimidated by the dozens of auto insurance companies in Spencer? Lot's of other consumers are too. People have so many companies to choose from that it can turn into a big hassle to find lower rates.

Choosing the best insurance company for you in Spencer is not that difficult. If you have insurance now or are shopping for new coverage, you can use these techniques to get lower rates and possibly find even better coverage. South Dakota consumers only need to know the most effective way to find the lowest price online.

How to Compare Auto Insurance in Spencer, South Dakota

Comparing auto insurance rates can take time and effort if you don't know the easiest way. You could spend your day discussing policy coverages with insurance agencies in Spencer, or you can utilize online quoting for quick rates.

All the larger companies participate in an industry program that enables customers to send in one quote, and each company returns a rated price based on that data. This saves time by eliminating quotation requests to each individual auto insurance company. To submit your quote information now, click here (opens in new window).

One minor caviat to pricing coverage this way is you are unable to specify which companies you want pricing from. If you prefer to choose specific providers to compare, we put together a list of low cost auto insurance companies in South Dakota. Click here for list of insurance companies in South Dakota.

It's up to you which method you use, but ensure you are comparing apples-to-apples coverages and limits with every price quote. If you have different deductibles it will be impossible to find the best deal in Spencer.

What determines how much you pay?

It's important that you understand the different types of things that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively impacts premium levels allows you to make educated decisions that could result in lower auto insurance prices.

Don't skimp on liability - Liability insurance provides coverage if a court rules you are at fault for damages from an accident. Liability insurance provides legal defense starting from day one. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap compared to physical damage coverage, so do not cut corners here.
Do you know your deductibles? - Deductibles for physical damage represent how much money you are willing to pay in the event of a claim. Physical damage insurance, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims could be colliding with a building, collision with an animal, and burglary. The more you're willing to pay, the less your auto insurance will be.
What type of vehicle do you drive? - The performance level of the car you are insuring makes a substantial difference in your rates. The most favorable rates are generally reserved for low performance passenger cars, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
Careful drivers pay lower rates - Whether or not you get tickets has a big impact on rates. Only having one citation can increase rates by twenty percent. Good drivers receive lower rates than bad drivers. Drivers with serious tickets like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions are required to file a proof of financial responsibility form (SR-22) with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
Older drivers save more - Teen drivers in South Dakota are statistically proven to get distracted easily when behind the wheel so auto insurance rates are higher. Older insureds are more responsible, tend to file fewer claims and tend to be better behind the wheel.
Pay less if you're married - Having a wife or husband can actually save you money on your policy. Having a spouse is viewed as being more responsible and it's statistically proven that being married results in fewer claims.

Don't pay full price with these discounts

Companies offering auto insurance don't always publicize all available discounts very well, so we researched both well-publicized and the more hidden savings tricks you should be using. If you don't get every credit possible, you're just leaving money on the table.

Club Memberships - Participating in a professional or civic organization is a good way to get lower rates when buying auto insurance.
Homeowners Discount - Owning a home in Spencer can help you save on auto insurance because owning a home shows financial diligence.
Early Signing - A few companies offer discounts for switching policies before your current policy expires. This can save 10% or more.
Discount for Good Grades - Getting good grades can get you a discount of up to 25%. Earning this discount can benefit you until age 25.
Discount for New Cars - Buying coverage on a new vehicle can save up to 30% since new cars are generally safer.
Multi-car Discount - Having more than one vehicle on one policy could earn a price break for each car.
Payment Discounts - If you pay your entire premium ahead of time rather than paying monthly you can actually save on your bill.

A little note about advertised discounts, most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as physical damage coverage or medical payments. So even though it sounds like you can get free auto insurance, you won't be that lucky.

For a list of insurers offering auto insurance discounts in South Dakota, click here to view.

Even more information is located at the South Dakota Division of Insurance website. South Dakota consumers can find out which companies have the most complaints, report car insurance fraud, and learn about specific coverages.

Other useful links include this link for South Dakota auto insurance quotes and this link which helps you find a Spencer agent.

In the end, you save

The cheapest auto insurance is available online and with local Spencer insurance agents, and you need to price shop both to have the best rate selection. There are still a few companies who do not offer online quoting and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

You just read some good ideas how you can lower your auto insurance rates. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the better your comparison will be. You may be surprised to find that the best price on auto insurance is with an unexpected company.

When you buy insurance online, don't be tempted to reduce needed coverages to save money. In too many instances, someone sacrificed liability coverage limits only to discover later that the few dollars in savings costed them thousands. Your focus should be to find the BEST coverage at an affordable rate while not skimping on critical coverages.