Free Guide to Cutting Costs on Waukon Auto Insurance Online

Have you had enough of scraping the payment together each month for car insurance? You're in the same situation as many other drivers in Iowa. Since consumers have many options when it comes to auto insurance, it can be diffult for consumers to find the right insurance company.

It's important to compare rates before your policy renews because insurance rates are constantly changing. Just because you had the lowest rates last year there is a good chance you can find better rates now. So just forget all the misinformation about auto insurance because you're about to learn the tricks you need to know to properly buy coverages and cut your premium.

Finding the best rates in Waukon is quite easy. If you have insurance now or need new coverage, you will benefit by learning to find better prices and possibly find even better coverage. Iowa drivers only need an understanding of the best way to buy auto insurance online.

You have some control over your rates

Consumers need to have an understanding of the rating factors that go into determining the price you pay for auto insurance. When you know what positively or negatively determines base rates enables informed choices that may reward you with big savings.

  • Bump up deductibles to save - Physical damage coverage, termed comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, is used to repair damage to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply could be a windshield shattered by a rock, vandalism, and rolling your vehicle. Physical damage deductibles are how much you are willing to pay in the event of a claim. The higher the amount you are required to pay out-of-pocket, the less your company will charge you for insurance.
  • High numbers of claims are not good - Car insurance companies in Iowa give discounts to policyholders who are claim-free. If you are a frequent claim filer, you can expect either higher rates or even cancellation. Insurance coverage is designed for major claims that would cause financial hardship.
  • What type of vehicle do you drive? - The make and model of the car you own makes a substantial difference in how high your rates are. The lowest rates are for small economy passenger models, but the cost you end up paying is determined by many additional factors.
  • Traffic violations increase rates - Your driving citation history has a big impact on rates. Just one moving violation can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Careful drivers have lower premiums than bad drivers. Drivers who have serious citations like reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to submit a SR-22 form with their state DMV in order to continue driving.
  • Extra add-on coverages are wasting money - There are many extra bells and whistles that you can buy on your auto insurance policy. Things like rental car reimbursement, towing coverage and term life insurance may be wasting your money. They may seem good when you first buy your policy, but if they're wasting money remove them from your policy.
  • More people means more accidents - Being located in less populated areas can be a good thing when insuring your vehicles. Drivers in populated areas regularly have much more traffic and longer commute times. Less people living in that area translates into fewer accidents.
  • Proper usage rating affects rates - The more miles you rack up on your car every year the more you will pay for auto insurance. Most insurance companies apply a rate determined by how the vehicle is used. Autos not used for work or commuting qualify for better rates than vehicles that are driven to work every day. Ask your agent if your auto insurance policy properly reflects how each vehicle is driven.
  • Your occupation can affect rates - Did you know that where you work can have an impact on rates? Jobs such as lawyers, executives and stock brokers tend to have the highest rates because of job stress and lots of time spent at work. On the other hand, occupations such as farmers, students and homemakers receive lower rates.

Comparison of Auto Insurance in Waukon

All major auto insurance companies quote prices on the web. Getting online rates is quite easy as you just type in as detailed in the form. After the form is submitted, the company's rating system will obtain information on your driving record and credit history and generates pricing information. This simplifies rate comparisons, but the time it takes to visit different websites and complete many quote forms can get tiresome after awhile. But it's very important to do this if you are searching for the best price on auto insurance.

There is an easier way!

The preferred way to lower your auto insurance bill uses one simple form that gets price quotes from several companies at one time. The form is fast, requires much less work on your part, and makes price shopping online much more enjoyable and efficient. After sending your information, it is quoted and you can choose any or none of the resulting price quotes. If a lower price is quoted, you simply finish the application and purchase the new policy. It takes less than 15 minutes and can result in significant savings.

To save time and find out if lower rates are available, click here to open in new window and enter your information. To compare your current rates, we recommend you complete the form with the coverage information exactly as they are listed on your policy. This makes sure you will get an apples-to-apples comparison for the exact same coverage.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Companies that sell car insurance don't list all their discounts very well, so we break down both well-publicized as well as the least known ways to save on auto insurance. If you don't get every credit available, you are paying more than you should be.

  • Homeowners Pay Less - Owning a house in Waukon may earn you a small savings because owning a home is proof that your finances are in order.
  • Employee of Federal Government - Employees or retirees of the government may qualify you for a discount with select insurance companies.
  • Early Signing - Some insurance companies reward drivers for switching policies prior to your current policy expiration. This can save 10% or more.
  • Passive Restraint Discount - Factory air bags can receive discounts of up to 25% or more.
  • Defensive Driver - Taking part in a course in driver safety could save 5% or more if your company offers it.
  • Auto/Life Discount - Larger companies have a break if you buy auto and life insurance together.
  • Discount for New Cars - Putting insurance coverage on a new car can cost up to 25% less due to better safety requirements for new cars.

It's important to understand that most discount credits are not given to the entire cost. Most only cut individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates all those discounts means the company will pay you, it doesn't quite work that way.

To choose companies offering auto insurance discounts in Iowa, click this link.

How can State Farm, GEICO and Progressive save drivers who switch?

Iowa consumers can't ignore all the ads for the lowest price auto insurance by State Farm, GEICO and Progressive. They all seem to make the same claim of big savings if you switch to their company.

But how can every company make almost identical claims?

All the different companies can use profiling for the driver that makes them money. For example, a desirable insured could possibly be between the ages of 40 and 55, is a homeowner, and has great credit. A driver who matches those parameters will qualify for the lowest rates and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Potential insureds who are not a match for this ideal profile will have to pay more money which leads to the driver buying from a lower-cost company. The ad wording is "customers that switch" not "everybody who quotes" save that much. That's why insurance companies can confidently advertise the savings. Because of the profiling, you need to get quotes from several different companies. It is impossible to predict the company that will give you the biggest savings.

More tips and info about auto insurance can be found at the Iowa Insurance Division website. Iowa consumers can report car insurance fraud, download brochures, learn about specific coverages, and file complaints about a company.

Other informative sites include this page for Iowa auto insurance and this page for help finding agents in Waukon, IA.

And the best car insurance company is...

Low-cost auto insurance is available online and also from your neighborhood Waukon agents, so you should be comparing quotes from both in order to have the best chance of saving money. There are still a few companies who may not provide online price quotes and most of the time these regional insurance providers sell through independent agents.

In this article, we presented some good ideas how to compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate comparisons you have, the more likely it is that you will get a better rate. You may be surprised to find that the lowest priced auto insurance comes from some of the lesser-known companies. These smaller insurers can often provide lower rates in certain areas than the large multi-state companies such as .