Comparing the Cheapest Sumner Auto Insurance

Tired of being strong-armed each month for car insurance? You are in the same boat as millions of other consumers. Companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive increase brand awareness with fancy advertisements and it can be hard to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

It's important to check auto insurance prices before your policy renews because prices are constantly changing. Just because you had the best price six months ago the chances are good that you can find a lower rate today. Ignore everything you know about auto insurance because you're about to find out the proper way to eliminate unnecessary coverages and save money.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance companies do not advertise all their discounts in a way that's easy to find, so we took the time to find both well-publicized and also the lesser-known auto insurance savings. If you aren't receiving every discount available, you're paying more than you need to.

  • Save over 55 - Mature drivers may qualify for reduced rates.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Being employed by or retired from a federal job may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.
  • Passive Restraints - Factory air bags can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
  • Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once instead of paying each month you can actually save on your bill.
  • Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in Sumner may trigger a auto insurance policy discount because owning a home is proof that your finances are in order.

Keep in mind that most credits do not apply to the entire cost. Most only cut specific coverage prices like liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, it just doesn't work that way.

To see a list of companies offering auto insurance discounts in Sumner, follow this link.

Sumner auto insurance comparison

Compare Sumner Auto Insurance Costs

Finding cheaper auto insurance prices is actually quite simple. Just take the time to compare rate quotes provided by online insurance companies. It is quite easy and can be accomplished in just a few minutes using one of these methods.

  • The best way to get quotes is to use a rate comparison form click to view form in new window. This method eliminates the need for boring form submissions to each individual auto insurance company. In just a few minutes this one form will return quotes from all major companies.
  • A more difficult way to compare rate quotes is to take the time to go to each company's website to complete their respective quote request forms. For sake of this example, let's say you want rates from , and . To find out each rate you need to spend time on each company's site and enter your information, which is why the first method is quicker.

    To view a list of companies in Sumner, click here.

Which method you use is up to you, but ensure you're using exactly the same coverages and limits on every quote you get. If you enter different deductibles then you won't be able to determine which rate is truly the best in Sumner.

What determines how much you pay?

An important part of buying insurance is that you know some of the elements that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. Having a good understanding of what influences your rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with big savings.

  • Are you male or female? - The statistics show women are more cautious behind the wheel. That doesn't necessarily mean that women are better drivers. They both tend to get into accidents in similar percentages, but the males cause more damage. They also get cited for more serious violations such as DWI and reckless driving. Young males are the most expensive to insure and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.
  • More claims means more premium - Car insurance companies in Iowa provide cheaper rates to drivers who file claims infrequently. If you tend to file frequent claims, you can expect either higher rates or even cancellation. Insurance coverage is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • Better credit means lower rates - Credit score is a big factor in your rate calculation. So if your credit history is lower than you'd like, you could pay less to insure your by improving your credit score. Drivers with good credit tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than those with poor credit.
  • Special features that cut premiums - Driving a car with a theft deterrent system can help bring down rates. Anti-theft features such as GM's OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers all hinder your car from being stolen.
  • Bump up deductibles to save - Insurance for physical damage to your car, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Examples of covered claims could be collision with another vehicle, vandalism, and windstorm damage. Your deductibles are how much you are willing to pay before your auto insurance pays a claim. The higher the amount you're willing to pay, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
  • Performance influences rates - The make and model of the car you own makes a substantial difference in the rate you pay. Lower performance four cylinder passenger cars generally receive the lowest base rates, but there are many factors that impact the final cost.
  • Careful drivers pay lower rates - Your driving citation history has a huge affect on how much you pay. Just one moving violation can increase rates by as much as thirty percent. Good drivers get better rates than bad drivers. Drivers who have serious citations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may need to file a SR-22 with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
  • Do you have enough liability coverage? - Liability insurance will protect you if ever a court rules you are at fault for damages from an accident. It will provide for a legal defense which can cost thousands of dollars. This coverage is very inexpensive compared to physical damage coverage, so buy as much as you can afford.

Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?

Iowa consumers can't get away from ads for the lowest price auto insurance by companies like Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm. They all seem to say the same thing that you can save if you switch to them.

How can each company make almost identical claims? It's all in the numbers.

All the different companies can use profiling for the type of driver that is profitable for them. For example, a desirable insured could possibly be between 30 and 50, is a homeowner, and has a high credit rating. A customer getting a price quote who fits that profile will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Potential customers who don't qualify for the requirements will have to pay a higher premium which usually ends up with the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "customers who switch" not "people who quote" save money. That's why insurance companies can state the savings. Because of the profiling, drivers must get as many comparisons as possible. It's impossible to know the company that will have the lowest rates.

In the end, you save

As you restructure your insurance plan, it's not a good idea to reduce coverage to reduce premium. There are many occasions where an accident victim reduced physical damage coverage only to discover later that they should have had better coverage. Your aim should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage at the best price.

You just read a lot of information how to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more times you quote, the better your chances of lowering your rates. You may even find the best prices are with some of the smallest insurance companies. These smaller insurers can often insure niche markets at a lower cost than their larger competitors like .

Learn more today

Additional detailed information can be found at the Iowa Insurance Division website. Iowa consumers can learn about insurance regulations, download brochures, find out industry alerts, and view a list of available companies.