Proven Ways to Save on Wall Car Insurance

Did you fall for a flashy sales pitch and buy an overpriced car insurance policy? Believe me, there are many people just like you.

Big-name insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive constantly bombard you with TV and radio ads and it can be hard to sift through the bull and take the time to shop coverage around.

It's important to check car insurance prices every six months because rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the lowest rates a few years ago a different company probably has better rates today. So just block out anything you think you know about car insurance because you're going to learn the tricks you need to know to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.

If you are paying for car insurance now, you stand a good chance to be able to lower your premiums substantially using these methods. Buying car insurance in Wall is easy if you know what you're doing. But South Dakota car owners do need to know how the larger insurance companies sell insurance online and use this information to your advantage.

Take advantage of discounts

Car insurance can cost a lot, but there are discounts available that you may not even be aware of. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically when you get a quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be manually applied before you will receive the discount.

Discount for Good Grades - Performing well in school can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply until age 25.
Homeowners Discount - Being a homeowner may trigger a car insurance policy discount because owning a home is proof that your finances are in order.
Passive Restraint Discount - Vehicles with factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of more than 20%.
Military Rewards - Having a deployed family member could mean lower rates.
Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching to them prior to your current policy expiring. This can save 10% or more.
Accident Free - Drivers with accident-free driving histories can save substantially compared to drivers who are more careless.
Federal Government Employee - Active or retired federal employment may qualify you for a discount with certain companies.
55 and Retired - If you qualify as a senior citizen, you may qualify for reduced rates.
Payment Discounts - If you pay your bill all at once instead of monthly or quarterly installments you can actually save on your bill.

Consumers should know that most credits do not apply to all coverage premiums. Some only reduce individual premiums such as medical payments or collision. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, companies don't profit that way. But all discounts will reduce your overall premium however.

What determines how much you pay?

Smart consumers have a good feel for some of the elements that go into determining your car insurance rates. Having a good understanding of what controls the rates you pay allows you to make educated decisions that can help you get big savings.

How's your driving record? - Your driving record has a huge affect on how much you pay. Good drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Just one ticket can increase rates forty percent or more. Drivers who get serious violations like DWI, reckless driving or hit and run convictions may be required to file a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to continue driving.
Do you know your deductibles? - Insurance for physical damage to your car, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, protects your car from damage. Examples of covered claims are a windshield shattered by a rock, vandalism, and windstorm damage. Your deductibles are the amount of money you are willing to pay before your car insurance pays a claim. The higher the amount you're willing to pay, the less your car insurance will be.
Better credit means lower rates - Your credit score is a important factor in calculating your car insurance rates. So if your credit rating is lower than you'd like, you could potentially save money when insuring your by improving your credit score. Drivers with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records as compared to drivers with poor credit.
Safer cars are cheaper to insure - Vehicles with good safety scores are cheaper to insure. Safer cars result in less severe injuries and fewer injuries means lower claim amounts and more competitive rates for policyholders.
Performance influences rates - The performance level of the car you drive makes a big difference in the rate you pay. Lower performance four cylinder passenger models usually have the lowest rates, but other factors influence the final cost greatly.
Your occupation can affect rates - Did you know your job can affect your rates? Occupations like lawyers, architects and dentists tend to pay the highest average rates because of stressful work requirements and lots of time spent at work. Other professions such as actors, historians and homemakers have the lowest average rates.

Are car insurance companies telling the truth?

Companies like State Farm and Allstate constantly bombard you with ads on TV and radio. All the ads say the same thing that you'll save big if you switch to them. How can each company make the same claim?

All the different companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For example, a preferred risk could be between the ages of 40 and 55, has no driving citations, and has a short commute. A customer who fits that profile will get very good rates and most likely will save when they switch companies.

Drivers who don't qualify for the requirements will be charged higher premiums which usually ends up with business going elsewhere. The ads say "customers that switch" not "people who quote" save money. That's the way companies can make the claims of big savings.

That is why drivers should compare as many rates as you can. Because you never know which car insurance company will fit your personal profile best.

Learn more about South Dakota car insurance

Much more information about car insurance in South Dakota can be found on the website for the South Dakota Division of Insurance located here. Consumers can file complaints about a company, report car insurance fraud, find out industry alerts, and find disaster information.

Shop smart and save

We just showed you a lot of tips how to reduce car insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more you quote, the higher your chance of finding lower rates. Drivers may discover the lowest priced car insurance comes from the least-expected company. Regional companies may often insure only within specific states and give getter rates than their larger competitors like .

Discount car insurance is available from both online companies and with local Wall insurance agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both to have the best chance of lowering rates. Some insurance providers do not offer you the ability to get quotes online and many times these regional insurance providers only sell through independent insurance agents.