How to Find Cheap Springfield Auto Insurance

Shopping for the cheapest Springfield auto insurance on the web can seem to be intimidating for beginners to online price comaprisons. Since there are so many companies in the marketplace, how can consumers even start to compare every one to find the cheapest available price?

Finding affordable coverage in Springfield is quite easy. If you currently have car insurance, you should be able to cut costs considerably using this information. Nevertheless, South Dakota drivers do need to know the way companies market insurance on the web because it can help you find the best coverage.

Policy discounts you shouldn't miss

Companies offering auto insurance do not list all available discounts very clearly, so we researched both well-publicized and the harder-to-find ways to save on auto insurance.

  • Safety Course Discount - Taking a course in driver safety could cut 5% off your bill if you qualify.
  • Save over 55 - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may receive a discount up to 10%.
  • Auto/Life Discount - Larger companies have a discount if you purchase life insurance from them.
  • Pay Now and Pay Less - If paying your policy premium upfront instead of monthly or quarterly installments you could save 5% or more.
  • Accident Waiver - Certain companies will allow you to have one accident before your rates go up so long as you haven't had any claims for a certain period of time.
  • Auto/Home Discount - If you have multiple policies with one company you could get a discount of 10% to 20% off each policy.
  • No Claims - Drivers who don't have accidents pay much less when compared with drivers who are more careless.
  • Drivers Education - Make teen driver coverage more affordable by requiring them to enroll in driver's education if offered at their school.

Consumers should know that most discount credits are not given to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates you could get a free auto insurance policy, companies don't profit that way.

auto insurance in Springfield

Learn How to Buy Auto Insurance Cheaper

Smart consumers have a good feel for the rating factors that play a part in calculating the price you pay for auto insurance. Knowing what determines base rates helps enable you to make changes that could result in better auto insurance rates.

Shown below are a partial list of the pieces that factor into premiums.

  • Extra add-on coverages are wasting money - There are quite a few add-on coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your auto insurance policy. Coverages for vanishing deductibles, accidental death and membership fees may be wasting your money. They may seem good when talking to your agent, but your needs may have changed so eliminate them to save money.
  • Men are more aggressive - Statistics have proven that women are safer drivers than men. Now that doesn't mean men are WORSE drivers than women. Men and women have accidents in similar numbers, but the male of the species tend to have more serious accidents. Men also tend to have more aggressive citations such as DWI and reckless driving.
  • Lower miles equals lower premium - The higher the mileage driven in a year's time the more you'll pay to insure your vehicle. The majority of insurers apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Autos that are left in the garage receive lower rates compared to those used for work or business. Verify your auto insurance declarations sheet shows the correct usage for each vehicle, because improper ratings can cost you money.
  • Theft deterrents lower rates - Purchasing a vehicle with anti-theft technology or alarm system can get you a discount on your auto insurance. Theft prevention devices like vehicle immobilizer systems, General Motors OnStar and LoJack tracking systems all aid in stopping your vehicle from being stolen.
  • Discounts for multiple policies - Some auto insurance companies will award you with lower prices to customers who have multiple policies with them in the form of a multi-policy discount. If you currently are using one company, it's in your best interest to compare other company rates to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.

Insurance agents can help

When it comes to buying the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a one size fits all plan. Everyone's situation is unique.

For example, these questions may help you determine whether your personal situation might need an agent's assistance.

  • Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
  • Should I buy additional glass protection?
  • What happens if I owe more than my vehicle is worth?
  • What can I do if my company won't pay a claim?
  • Does my policy cover me when driving someone else's vehicle?
  • Am I covered when driving in Canada or Mexico?
  • What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
  • Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?

If it's difficult to answer those questions, you may need to chat with a licensed agent. If you don't have a local agent, simply complete this short form.

Save $429 a year? Really?

21st Century, Allstate and State Farm consistently run television and radio advertisements. All the companies make the same claim of big savings if you change your policy. How does each company make almost identical claims? This is how they do it.

Different companies have a preferred profile for the right customer that earns them a profit. For instance, a profitable customer could possibly be between the ages of 30 and 50, insures multiple vehicles, and has a short commute. A driver who matches those parameters will get very good rates and is almost guaranteed to save when switching.

Drivers who don't qualify for these standards must pay higher premiums which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ads say "drivers who switch" but not "drivers who get quotes" save that kind of money. This is how insurance companies can confidently make the claims of big savings. This illustrates why drivers should get a wide range of price quotes. It is impossible to predict which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

More tips and info about auto insurance is located at the South Dakota Division of Insurance website. South Dakota consumers can discover disciplinary actions, learn about insurance regulations, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.

Also read more on this resource for South Dakota auto insurance prices and this link which helps you find a Springfield agent.

Springfield auto insurance comparison

Final considerations

Cost effective auto insurance is attainable online in addition to many Springfield insurance agents, and you should compare price quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers do not provide you the ability to get quotes online and usually these small, regional companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

As you shop your coverage around, make sure you don't skimp on coverage in order to save money. There are a lot of situations where drivers have reduced collision coverage and learned later that saving that couple of dollars actually costed them tens of thousands. The proper strategy is to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price while not skimping on critical coverages.

Insureds leave their current company for any number of reasons including delays in responding to claim requests, denial of a claim, delays in paying claims and even unfair underwriting practices. No matter why you want to switch, switching auto insurance companies is less work than it seems.